georgio Posted October 28, 2009 Share #1 Posted October 28, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) Just saw a picture on the net of an M9 with top engraving. Limited Edition for Japan only. I really like that idea and wonder why Leica did not do that in the first place. Please do'nt say that it was a budget question. G Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/101764-m9-top-plate-engraving/?do=findComment&comment=1093016'>More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted October 28, 2009 Posted October 28, 2009 Hi georgio, Take a look here M9 Top plate engraving. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
dpattinson Posted October 28, 2009 Share #2 Posted October 28, 2009 It's because people in Japan can be relied upon to pay a premium for such things Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy Posted October 28, 2009 Share #3 Posted October 28, 2009 Please do'nt say that it was a budget question. Why not? The cost is one good reason not to have the top plate engraving. Looked at another way, if all M9s had the top plate engraving, it would be one less thing that Leica can pimp as part of a special edition (like they seem to be doing here). If you want top plate engraving enough, I'm sure Leica will do it for you (at a price). Personally, I'd rather they stuck an informative LCD on the top. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted October 28, 2009 Share #4 Posted October 28, 2009 Buy one from a retailer in Japan then? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thrice Posted October 28, 2009 Share #5 Posted October 28, 2009 The camera looks nice though, I must say! I might get a black dot replacement for mine when I get it Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
biglouis Posted October 28, 2009 Share #6 Posted October 28, 2009 I wouldn't mind a stealth M9 with top engraving and nothing else. Mind you, I wouldn't have minded that with the M8 but unfortunately that hasn't been offered. LouisB Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
georgio Posted October 28, 2009 Author Share #7 Posted October 28, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) Well I just think that Leica with all it's options and extra's is getting a bit ridiculous. Up to the M6, most M's had top engraving, now Leica is releasing a top of the line cam and the engraving is gonna be a limited edition. I love the company, I really do, but I don't eat all they serve. Geo Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
adan Posted October 28, 2009 Share #8 Posted October 28, 2009 Actually, I saw an engraved M8 a week ago. Someone had it done when they sent it in to have the quieter shutter installed. It meant a longer trip to Germany rather than just to Leica USA. It had the MP script plus the owner's name, but I'm sure your could get the generic "Leica Camera Germany" if you wanted. For a price, of course. $340 according to the A La Carte configurator. ----------------- "Up to the M6...." = "Up until 25 years ago......" - and realistically, the classic Leica engraving ended with the M5 (34 years ago). The M4-2 and M4-P had stamped "Leitz" with no secondary engraving. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
deedub Posted October 28, 2009 Share #9 Posted October 28, 2009 I'm very pleased with the "blank" top plate, as on my M6's. It's very industrial; you already know what kind of camera it is, and why would you want to read (for the nth time) some logo while you are setting shutter speeds? I used to use black lacquer to blank the white engravings, but this time I just used three pieces of tape, most important to cover the big red "I am recording you" dot and the billboard-sized "M9." I am a 40-year user, and proud of the marque, but I'd prefer that people look at my pictures instead of my camera. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArtZ Posted October 28, 2009 Share #10 Posted October 28, 2009 I wouldn't mind a stealth M9 with top engraving and nothing else. Mind you, I wouldn't have minded that with the M8 but unfortunately that hasn't been offered. LouisB Leica offered me my signature on one of my M8s for free! (even the "Black Dot") Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/101764-m9-top-plate-engraving/?do=findComment&comment=1093392'>More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted October 28, 2009 Share #11 Posted October 28, 2009 I spoke just today with an Italian dealer, who for personal reasons has many links with Japan: he told me that spoke with Japanese colleagues, who told him that the question is very simple: Leica, as adan says, can engrave almost anything you like, even for a single customer, at a certain cost: if a number of dealers from Japan (or any other Country) agree to have a common engraving, obviously there is an economy of scale, and you can obtain a "country-branded M" that can sell to your customers at a price not too much different from the std.... or anyway into some "normal" negotiating ranges. What is a bit ridicolus is the phrase in itself : "Limited Edition" suggests a camera that has something "unique"... well.... any custom engraving makes a camera "unique" : I hope there is not a tentative to put on the market numbers of "special" M9s pretending they bring an add-on value which is no way justified... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BigSplash Posted October 28, 2009 Share #12 Posted October 28, 2009 I spoke just today with an Italian dealer, who for personal reasons has many links with Japan: he told me that spoke with Japanese colleagues, who told him that the question is very simple: Leica, as adan says, can engrave almost anything you like, even for a single customer, at a certain cost: if a number of dealers from Japan (or any other Country) agree to have a common engraving, obviously there is an economy of scale, and you can obtain a "country-branded M" that can sell to your customers at a price not too much different from the std.... or anyway into some "normal" negotiating ranges. What is a bit ridicolus is the phrase in itself : "Limited Edition" suggests a camera that has something "unique"... well.... any custom engraving makes a camera "unique" : I hope there is not a tentative to put on the market numbers of "special" M9s pretending they bring an add-on value which is no way justified... Given that the M9 is in short supply I am surprised that Solms allow ANY customisations of ANY type. Surely they would be smart to focus cranking out units: It helps their P&L, and It helps clear a delinquent backlog that people have suggested will not be clean until March 2010 earliest and maybe well beyond that date. If Japanese dealers get together and say order a 1000 units with "Limited Japan Edition" I guess that allows Leica to focus on serious production, but would that not be an issue if ALL cameras in the 1000 batch have to go to Japan! Previously Leica suggested that "a la Carte" was not going to happen for M9 until late 2010 ...now they seem to be taking a different approach. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brill64 Posted October 28, 2009 Share #13 Posted October 28, 2009 if you love it so much you can send your m9 back to solms for 12 weeks to engrave the top plate for around US900. maybe by the time it's returned back to you the m9.2 will have been released, then you'll be kicking yourself.. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted October 28, 2009 Share #14 Posted October 28, 2009 if you love it so much you can send your m9 back to solms for 12 weeks to engrave the top plate for around US900. maybe by the time it's returned back to you the m9.2 will have been released, then you'll be kicking yourself.. ... well said.... but could be that before M9.2 release they offer some "safari-like" or "white-like" edition... now we have understood the plot, so if they appear we will know... (but hope they are rather smart to know that we know... ..."perseverare diabolicum") Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeicaRumors Posted October 28, 2009 Share #15 Posted October 28, 2009 I have updated my post with a front facing picture of this limited edition M9. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted November 3, 2009 Share #16 Posted November 3, 2009 I have similar engravings on both my M8 cameras- those cost me 270 Euro each, not 900$ - and just sent my M9 in to have the same (amongst other things) I can hardly call it special or limited - anybody can have this done by Leica since time immemorial. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
M. Valdemar Posted November 3, 2009 Share #17 Posted November 3, 2009 I have similar engravings on both my M8 cameras- those cost me 270 Euro each, not 900$ - and just sent my M9 in to have the same (amongst other things) I can hardly call it special or limited - anybody can have this done by Leica since time immemorial. Boy, oh, boy. You must really be hitting the Kool-Aid. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Overgaard Posted November 4, 2009 Share #18 Posted November 4, 2009 I have similar engravings on both my M8 cameras- those cost me 270 Euro each, not 900$ - and just sent my M9 in to have the same (amongst other things) I can hardly call it special or limited - anybody can have this done by Leica since time immemorial. Jaap, we have to mee one day to clarify why we only have 90% the same toys I like the clean top plate but decided for an engraving whilst the M9 was anyways home at the mothership in Solms for a buffer up-warping. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mauribix Posted November 4, 2009 Share #19 Posted November 4, 2009 Leica offered me my signature on one of my M8s for free! (even the "Black Dot") e che cazzo! I'm still waiting for a reply to my Black Dot request! Sei il solito raccomandato Artz! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted November 4, 2009 Share #20 Posted November 4, 2009 If you have a steady hand buy a Dremmel and some white paint. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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