The next Lecia M film camera

[Nikkor AIS]

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My question is what is what is the next Leica film camera.

Is there room to improve over the M7/MP?

 

 

Gregory

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[Jaques H]

There is a rumour that Leica have ceased film camera production.

[Viv]

I doubt that there will be one. Nor will there be new film cameras from Nikon or Canon.

[veraikon]

=>

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-kundenforum/129677-leica-agieren-statt-aussitzen-2.html#post1365111

[jplomley]

Not good news at all. Just bought my second M7 two months ago and am sure glad I did. I would only expect prices for used MPs and M7s to escalate from here on out.

[chrism]

Perhaps I got the second MP just in time. I understood the Japanese market for film Ms was quite strong. Could it be that they have temporarily stopped film camera production to concentrate on back orders of the M9?

 

Chris

[luigi bertolotti]

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"Stop of production" doesn't mean "they won't ever will make" : I think it will need years and years before a new film leica will not be orderable anymore: market is so "special" that they will not have difficulties, imho, to manage production based on worldwide demand. At the moment, I think, production is running full capacity on M9, and probably there is a decent number of new bodies spread in the channel (my dealer, in a rather small town, has a M7 and a MP on the shelves).

[Steve Ash]

I do not believe and don't want to believe in this rumor either. I could imagine that they paused production to follow high demands on M9's. But there are also M9 user who get interested in film M's. So I do not see that Leica will cease film camera production.

 

It would be great if someone with close contacts to Leica could comment on the rumor.

 

Regards

Steve

[Steve Ash]

Someone from Leica replied on Leica's facebook page that Leica is still producing the M7 and the MP.

 

Regards

Steve

[earleygallery]

Why would they stop making them? They still sell a reasonable number from anecdotal evidence I have heard, especially the 'collector' editions.

 

Now, making them to order, rather than there being a regular production run is a different matter, and I suspect that is actually what is happening.

[peter_n]

Storm in a teacup. Leica manufacture in batches. They're almost certainly churning out M9s as fast as they can.

[adan]

First - I doubt there is much to improve on either the M7 or MP. People who like them, like them as is, and those who might be attracted by modernizations moved on to digital (or film SLRs) long ago. What is there to add? Incorporated motor-wind? 24mm framelines? Sophisticated flash system? AF?

 

As to the rumor - I can be as skeptical as anyone. But the new(ish) CEO Rudy Spiller has a track record of being no sentimentalist when it comes to marginal products or services. R system - gone; 28 'cron in chrome - gone; Milton Keynes (UK Leica office) - gone.

 

The question is not can Leica still sell some film cameras - the question is, can they make them and sell them without losing money on each one? It's a business, not a charity for nostalgia buffs.

 

The biggest local photo-store chain in Denver (3 stores) has taken all their Leica gear except the M8 (yes, M8, not M9) off the shelves - I asked a manager about that and he said they were "de-emphasizing" Leica and eBaying most of their lenses. The national chain with many outlets here (Wolf/Ritz) hasn't carried Leica in a decade.

 

The one store with significant used Leica stock has a couple of C/D/V-luxes, a 50 Summarit-M and some M8 batteries as their total new inventory (they do have M9s on back-order and already spoken for - they expect to get 3 by Sept.). They also eBayed their last new film-Leica stock (commemorative Millennium stuff, mostly) and returned their "a la carte" demo kit (red-leather M7, couple of MPs) at Leica's request a year ago.

[plasticman]

Here we go again - the doom and gloom brigade.

 

One thing I've noticed over the last few months is that the proportion of people viewing the film forum has gradually grown in relation to the combined digital fora. Still a minority, but then again there's not so many new problems in film (other than the 'sky is falling' crowd, of course).

 

Another 'problem' for people like me trying to branch into MF film is the upward price spiral of decent film cameras - that also includes Leica and other similar bodies, such as Nikon RFs.

 

I don't think Leica needs to release any new film cameras. And naturally they like the new business model: everyone who rushed to buy the M9 straight after the M8 will probably do the same with the M10 in a year or so.

But even if they were to stop producing film cameras (which I doubt), there are plenty units out there snapping away. And more and more 'film-hipsters' joining every day.

[armanius]

I'd like to see the M film camera in a smaller and lighter package while still maintaining the tank like feel. I'd also like a faster shutter speed. Higher magnification of VF like the M3 would be nice. Not sure if any of these things are possible, but that's my wish list.

[SteveYork]

Some Leica will stop making analog cameras. But before that happens, I expect them to limit their batches and then offer a la carte only.

[andym911]

Some Leica will stop making analog cameras. But before that happens, I expect them to limit their batches and then offer a la carte only.

 

Makes sense to me too

 

Andy

 

p.s grab your as new M7 while you can for 1500 Eurini:D

[luigi bertolotti]

Some Leica will stop making analog cameras. But before that happens, I expect them to limit their batches and then offer a la carte only.

 

Exactly what I think : shifting (gradually) to " a la carte only" offering that can go on for years in a quiet phasing out from THEIR pricelist, then again (and I'll be OLD) sell tools, drawings, machining data etc. to some labs... which can accept orders and guarantee maintenance: in my opinion, as long as film will be somway available in the market, some "as new" Leica will be available, period.

[jacarape]

It's sad that the thread was hijacked from the next film M to they've already stopped making the cameras. Thre are a lot of interesting and talented folks here and a subject worth speculation.

 

I would like to see a data back offered. Maybe even a film door instead of a bottom loader. With a motor drive, auto film loading, without an attached motor, manual loading. A tad smaller would be nice also.

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[Jaques H]

It's sad that the thread was hijacked from the next film M to they've already stopped making the cameras. Thre are a lot of interesting and talented folks here and a subject worth speculation.

 

I'm sorry if I broke your bubble, but if you think it a subject worth speculation, hey, knock yourself out.

[Nikkor AIS]

I'm late to the party as far as the M system goes but getting in when everyone else is leaving has its advantages. For instance, the Leica MP I just got in a trade for some Nikon gear became available because its owner got an M9. The same person owned the M7. Both were mint and barely used when I got them. A couple of hundred rolls later, there now, just getting broken in .

 

One thing that I just don't understand is the lack of support from Leica in regard to their M camera system. For instance the event in NY with fifty M9s and not a single film M on the table for people to try for the day, IMO is a huge lost opportunity to promote the M7/MP. Especially since the M9 is so severely backordered. Take me, for instance. I've gotten four film Ms waiting for an M9.

 

I think the fact that the M7/MP have far more moving parts compared to digital M9 cameras has something to do with it. The profit margins on the Leica M9 must be huge compared to the film M Leica still makes.

 

 

 

Gregory