This may be of some interest...

[Mauribix]

Fount it over the Youtube....
YouTube - Made in Germany | Leica -- Focussing on profit

[JumpStart]

This was very interesting info. Thanks for finding it.

The number of cameras (M8) per month at 1,000 - but still producing 500 film bodies is interesting. They didn't talk about the lenses at all, which was a shame.

So the guess would have to be that there are a total of 18,000 M8's as of this month around the world. Still a select group if you consider the D300 does about 70K per month!

DBK

[sliversurger]

imagine this, using simplied math here...

70K D300's per month at 3 years = 2,520,000 D300's will be obsolete by 2011 if you take into consideration people trading up to newer products when D300 life cycle ends. this is a very simplified view but imagine all the waste that's happening with digital photography equipment.

here's a question... what do you do with your old equipment?
1) keep it in the closet
2) trade in for newer equipment/ sell on ebay, etc.
3) give to friend/ family/ etc.
4) throw it out in the dumpster

[andybarton]

Very interesting.

Do we know when this piece was made?

[Michael Hiles]

Originally Posted by andybarton

Very interesting.

Do we know when this piece was made?

5-6 weeks ago.

[andybarton]

The 500 film cameras per month is very encouraging.

[Mauribix]

Originally Posted by andybarton

The 500 film cameras per month is very encouraging.

Yep!

[stunsworth]

Originally Posted by andybarton

The 500 film cameras per month is very encouraging.

Provided they're able to sell them. Otherwise it's a disaster.

[andybarton]

They wouldn't make 'em, if they weren't selling 'em...

Would they...?

Maybe this is the film stockpile we were talking about last week...

[Mauribix]

Originally Posted by JumpStart

This was very interesting info. Thanks for finding it.

The number of cameras (M8) per month at 1,000 - but still producing 500 film bodies is interesting. They didn't talk about the lenses at all, which was a shame.

So the guess would have to be that there are a total of 18,000 M8's as of this month around the world. Still a select group if you consider the D300 does about 70K per month!

DBK

Thanks to you...
Together with Sean, you were the one who made me decide for buying a Sigma DP1 (that i'm waiting.... )

[Jet]

Maurizio,

We will look forward to viewing shots from the DPI. Thanks for the You Tube Post, it was informative.

Jet

[adan]

Nice to see the factory "live" rather than in still pix. Is that a 90 Summarit where the guy is forcing the two pieces together (wink!). Impressed by Rakete's C2-sized calendar as well - I've got to make one of those for myself!

[Thomas Edwards]

...thanks for posting...it seems as if ak is in it for the long-haul by taking the company private...always good when an owner with a successful track record gets personally involved...am beginning to feel better about leica's long term prospects...fwiw...

[cbretteville]

Thanks for posting this.
- Carl

[gyoung]

Originally Posted by sliversurger

imagine this, using simplied math here...

70K D300's per month at 3 years = 2,520,000 D300's will be obsolete by 2011 if you take into consideration people trading up to newer products when D300 life cycle ends. this is a very simplified view but imagine all the waste that's happening with digital photography equipment.

here's a question... what do you do with your old equipment?
1) keep it in the closet
2) trade in for newer equipment/ sell on ebay, etc.
3) give to friend/ family/ etc.
4) throw it out in the dumpster

Yes, this is the dilemma, mostly 1). I have 3 autofocus (Nikon) bodies acquired over the years as they got better, each one was (and is) not worth trading in for the pittance they are worth. Eventually I have gone back to the Ms for day to day work, more satisfaction and less obsolescence and financial loss.
After this experience I am determined not to get into digital until :-
1) They produce better results than film, not just 'good enough' or even as good. I am not in the position of needing their speed and client acceptability etc.
2) they get to a reasonable price. It was bad enough losing roughly £500 on each autofocus body, £3K for an M8 plus extra lenses for a couple of years or so would hurt even more. I am not an 'early adopter', I bought the M3 when the M4 came out and it was obvious that Leica was not going to 'improve' on the M3, likewise the M6ttl. (And have just bought a DVD recorder, when it looks as if they will be obsolete in a year or two!)

Just my Humble Opinion of course, and not intended to spark off a Digital v Film debate!

Gerry

[stevelap]

This isn't new I'm afraid chaps, although still interesting. It was covered and discussed in detail on the forum over a month ago.

Do keep up

[rontr6]

There does seem to be a lot more M8s on Ebay recently usually round about the £2500 mark some claiming to come from camera dealers?
Ron

[fotografr]

Originally Posted by stevelap

This isn't new I'm afraid chaps, although still interesting. It was covered and discussed in detail on the forum over a month ago.

Do keep up

For those of us who *work* and don't have time to read every word on every thread on every forum here, repeats are sometimes beneficial.

[stevelap]

Originally Posted by fotografr

For those of us who *work* and don't have time to read every word on every thread on every forum here, repeats are sometimes beneficial.

Fair enough, I can understand that. By the way, I'm not retired or unemployed and do work (although I'm sure that those who don't, for whatever reason, still might have something to contribute here).

Interestingly, your 'posts per day' strike rate on the forum is over five times higher than mine, which seems to indicate that you still manage to spend some time here, despite the demands upon your time.

[Mauribix]

Originally Posted by stevelap

...Interestingly, your 'posts per day' strike rate on the forum is over five times higher than mine...

Please don't start a clash men!

I know that Brent's high rate is due to his numerous pictures and comments posted generously in the photo Forum...
It's easy to increase the rate up there... look at me too!