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X Vario reduced price


Overgaard

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Several UK dealers have discounted the X Vario for some time. It is now a more realistic price and seems to appeal to more 'doubters'. It is a superb camera, especially if you can live with a seemingly slow but excellent zoom lens.

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In Italy too price has lowered, and me too think it's a move related to new announcement to come (and can be seen in a postive sense...if they will announce an APS EVIL and a lenses' set including a AF zoom... this combo must be correctly positioned vs. the X Vario... some money more but not too much)

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Price reductions mean that a product isn't selling well enough, or that there's a replacement in the pipeline.

 

The new T isn't meant to be a replacement for the X Vario but maybe Leica can imagine most people buying the newer camera which will offer more versatility.

 

This also would suggest that the price of the new camera with standard zoom is close to the original X Vario price.

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I'm more sure than before that Leica has a new camera coming that will displace the X Vario.

As far as I know, the X Vario won’t be replaced anytime soon.

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Price reductions mean that a product isn't selling well enough, or that there's a replacement in the pipeline.

 

The new T isn't meant to be a replacement for the X Vario but maybe Leica can imagine most people buying the newer camera which will offer more versatility.

...

 

I got bollocked for daring to suggest such "heresy"... :rolleyes:

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I got bollocked for daring to suggest such "heresy"... :rolleyes:

 

Well people who have bought an X Vario seem to like it, but then take any criticism of the camera as a personal attack of some kind.

 

I like the photos I've seen from those using it, as I do the X1 and X2. I wouldn't spend my own money on any of them though, I just don't think they're worth the money for the features they offer. I don't like the design.

 

Maybe Leica can do better with the 'T' but I expect another mediocre offering which they'll use the brand to market to the Burlington Arcade set.

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Two London dealers have X Vario with free grip or half case at below £2k for limited period (Red Dot/RG Lewis).

 

there is a Leica "millennium" deal with a set of extras for the x-vario and D-lux6 until the end of the month. It doesn't effect the price of the camera as the extras are supplied by Leica, not the dealer

 

rgds

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Well, if the X-Vario is a good camera and has fantastic image quality, and the new whatever it is T camera doesn't replace the X-Vario (in market sector or perception), why is the price being dropped?

 

Could it be, heresy of heresies, that as a product it isn't selling? The words market flop spring to mind. It's Leica's latest camera, and already the price is dropping.

 

But, the T camera will change all that. It is also an APS-C camera, of course, but that's not what's important ... is it?

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Perhaps the "X" serves as a great target of opportunity. I believe most negative comments have not come from personal ownership and usage. It does not have a "fast" lens, but it definitely makes up for its sharpness, file quality and usability. In general, if I want shallow DOF in day time, I will resort to my M9 or MM + Lux or Nocti with ND filters. In darker conditions such as jazz clubs, the MM is my choice. For a walk-about the city, the XVario is so useful. Besides, it has a flash and a close-up ability. For the instances when you want to be in the photo, the X can be easily operated by anyone! This feature alone makes my wife happy!

Edited by tmldds
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Well, if the X-Vario is a good camera and has fantastic image quality, and the new whatever it is T camera doesn't replace the X-Vario (in market sector or perception), why is the price being dropped?

 

Could it be, heresy of heresies, that as a product it isn't selling? The words market flop spring to mind. It's Leica's latest camera, and already the price is dropping.

 

But, the T camera will change all that. It is also an APS-C camera, of course, but that's not what's important ... is it?

 

The price is dropped either to assist sales or be in line with a new release.

It's not a secret that the XV, whilst selling ok, has underperformed in the market.

 

Leica wanted to produce a versatile zoom camera with a zoom as good as primes. The current lens range and aperture is the only way it could be done within a reasonable size.

However this requirement, combined with sheer hate from people who have never used it, have made it a minority persuit. Although interestingly I heard that sales are now better then they were at launch, meaning it's picking up.

Also sensor size is irrelevant if the results bear out. One only had to look at the success of the Fuji T1.

 

There are a number of things which make the XV unique for me and irreplaceable in the market. No other camera has all of these things together:

1. Silent shutter

2. Zoom lens that does not move much and does not extend out of the camera when it is switched on.

3. Build quality and design

4. Lens quality

5. Colours are amazing

6. Dynamic range

7. Manual focus methodology - the best yet for any digital camera

 

I would like an AEL button (this could be solved in a firmware release) and a 1/4000 shutter but otherwise I can't think of anything.

 

Again, the XV is a minority persuit for photography geeks, but if you know what you are getting and can take advantage of it there is nothing out there like it.

 

There is however another class of people who buy this camera who don't post on forums. I saw a few X2s sell only last week in Harrods to a number of well heeled Chinese young people. I suspect there are many who want a "posh" product of good quality without having to think about settings much. This is also a target for Leica and totally different from most posters here.

Edited by colonel
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No one is criticizing your camera, or your choice to buy it.

 

However, I hated apartheid, and never visited South Africa; I have a Ducati, and no interest in Harley Davidson. I don't have to own these things to hold an informed opinion.

 

Leica is a long way from being price conscious. But, lack of volume sales is a powerful indication of success for any business venture.

 

Why did they drop the price; and why will an APS-C camera, with interchangeable lenses fare any better? So far, the X1, the X2 and X-Vario have been APS-C.

 

We have a saying down here at the bottom of the World - " when you're in a hole, it's a good time to stop digging".

 

I'm sure every buyer of the new T camera will swear black and blue that it's IQ is fantastic. Michael will write eloquently about its technical virtues. Jono will post some really good images, and will tell us he's sold all his other camera gear for this camera.

 

And in less than a year, Leica will drop the price and dealers will be offering all sorts of deals to shift dead stock.

 

No matter how beautifully wrapped, this won't sell volume, and it won't attract the premium markup. None of the Leica APS-C cameras did - adding an. Interchangeable mount won't make a jot of difference.

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There is however another class of people who buy this camera who don't post on forums. I saw a few X2s sell only last week in Harrods to a number of well heeled Chinese young people. I suspect there are many who want a "posh" product of good quality without having to think about settings much. This is also a target for Leica and totally different from most posters here.

 

I'm certain that the vast majority who own an XV don't even know this forum exists and probably have no interest in it either. They probably fit the type of profile you mention, although I wouldn't make it specific to any one nationality.

 

These are the exact customers Leica have in mind for the XV and I bet the new camera too - they are after new customers.

 

Without intending to insult anyone, I also expect that this new customer profile are people who use a camera infrequently, holidays, parties etc., and want something simple. They're not 'into' photography as such. But they are relatively wealthy and don't want a run of the mill brand like everyone else. They ask, what 'designer' brand cameras are available? Leica fill that niche.

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