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Leica M-E discontinued ?!


LoL22

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Just left a Leica store really confused. I was chatting with the owner who is a very good friend of mine and he said that the "new" M-E is going to be discontinued very soon. He wasn't even trying to sell me anything...

Is it true? Any idea?

 

Thanks

Lo

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There is not much economic sense behind keeping the production lines open for a low-volume product like Leica M-E and Leica M Monochrom. I guess Leica will produce these cameras for stock (or will already have finished doing so) and concentrate on the new products. Don't forget, this is a small company.

Ulrik

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Just left a Leica store really confused. I was chatting with the owner who is a very good friend of mine and he said that the "new" M-E is going to be discontinued very soon. He wasn't even trying to sell me anything...

Is it true? Any idea?

 

Thanks

Lo

 

Hi Lo,

 

Interesting. I was just communicating with a couple of overseas acquaintances (one in the UK and one in Italy). Those overseas told me their dealers said the same thing but here in the States, dealers say ithe M-E is still in the product line and the dealers were asked for future orders. Where are you (your dealer) located? Agree though, it's only a matter of time I suppose.

 

Thanks!

 

Dave (D&A)

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It would probably be the shortest lived M camera of all time. A real collectors' item.

 

I cannot see them stopping production of the Monochrom until they have something that replaces it.

 

Not sure what numbers are but I think M9P had low volume too

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wouldn't surprise me at all....considering how slowly the M-E is selling......it is available everywhere, without waiting. in fact, i've seen 2nd hand M-Es selling for as cheap as $4200....that's $1200 off the sticker price, with minimal use.

 

i actually thought of buying one last week....but alas i decided i didn't really need one at this time. Great camera though...

 

it would be VERY unfortunate though, if Leica discontinues this M9/M-E line.....as honestly all we would be left with is the Super Canikon M240. Maybe i should buy an M-E sooner rather than later....*sigh*

Edited by iedei
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I just hope they stockpile sensors and support the M9, my M9-P was a late 11 vintage that I picked up secondhand in April last year from Stephens when the owner sold to be ready for the M10 on May 10..... Strange when the camera had less than 1,000 actuations. I'm still bonding and learning and I'm currently just over 8k. I'm banking on 5+ years service. I'm sure by then something will be out that is suitably better and a worthwhile upgrade

 

I'm still as chuffed with it as I was in April lat year to be honest, I do hope they keep the Monochrome going for this year 240M late 13, early 14 ?

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Maybe they have made a certain batch and don'tplan, at the moment, for another one... there are still unsold M9-P in the dealers' channel (at least a pair not far from me), and the same is, I think, for the M-E.

 

I think Luigi hits the nail on the head.

 

Leica seems to make all its products, cameras included, in batches. It's not going to keep churning out M-Es if it still has unsold M9-Ps. Once there's stock (even down here), they'll concentrate on something else that has demand, like the M.

 

While they make have stopped production, I doubt they're yet at the stage where the camera is discontinued. The reception of the M is still too uncertain for them to abandon the CCD cameras altogether. Why would they? It's only a question of maintaining the supply chain. If they can keep supplies of parts, there's no reason for them not to continue to meet demand, much like the MP or the M7.

 

If you look at Leica's products (ignoring the PanaLeicas), the X2 is in an odd place (the RX-1 is a more attractive proposition, I would have thought), and the S camera is big and aimed at a different market, I think Leica is in an odd place right now. The only system offering in traditional 35 mm format is the M (if you accept that the other M cameras are not Leica's main offering). With that being a new camera, the M-E has to be a bit of a safety net until everyone is sure about the M.

 

Thorsten's writing on the video is a case in point - when you read that, it seems that the video will be okay, but it doesn't fill the same place as Leica's still images do. It seems the stills are a step better than the M9-P/M-E, but not the Monochrom for B&W.

 

A product line up of X2, M & S still looks like it has holes in it, to my mind.

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wouldn't surprise me at all....considering how slowly the M-E is selling......it is available everywhere, without waiting. in fact, i've seen 2nd hand M-Es selling for as cheap as $4200....that's $1200 off the sticker price, with minimal use.

 

i actually thought of buying one last week....but alas i decided i didn't really need one at this time. Great camera though...

 

it would be VERY unfortunate though, if Leica discontinues this M9/M-E line.....as honestly all we would be left with is the Super Canikon M240. Maybe i should buy an M-E sooner rather than later....*sigh*

 

I can maybe understand why there would be stocks of new ones on dealers shelves, but why so many used ones after such a short time?

 

Dave (D&A)

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I can maybe understand why there would be stocks of new ones on dealers shelves, but why so many used ones after such a short time?

 

Dave (D&A)

 

IIRC, a number of dealers were offering as a sales incentive for the M-E to buy back the M-E with the purchase of an M. Now that the M is being delivered, there are undoubtedly some of those M-Es coming to market used.

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The reception of the M is still too uncertain for them to abandon the CCD cameras altogether. Why would they? It's only a question of maintaining the supply chain. If they can keep supplies of parts, there's no reason for them not to continue to meet demand, much like the MP or the M7.

.

 

I think the answer is "we will have to wait and see". Leica will do what maximizes its profits. The reception of the M is not so uncertain. It is sold out, some say through the end of the year. If there is more profit in M than M-E, then Economics 101 says they will produce Ms and not MEs. But the question is more nuanced. They must also determine whether M-E sales are detracting from M sales. If the ME is no longer available will those who would have bought it instead buy an M? If not then they might keep making MEs, while if the customers would substitute Ms (even if kicking and screaming) they will not make lower profit MEs but will drive customers to the higher priced -and presumably higher profit - M. There is some hopeful precedent after all in the film area re M7 and MP. But the Blackstone's folks might have new ideas on how to profit maximize. One way MEs might continue is if the tools and dies for that generation are already amortized and if they account product by product. Hence, wait and see IMHO are the watchwords. I will not be shocked if the ME is discontinued, nor will I be shocked if it remains in production.

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