Special Edition

[aesop]

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This is nothing new. Leica introduced their first "special edition" in 1930. The Luxus was a gold plated version of the Leica I. Much imitated ever since, the Luxus was introduced "only" a lustrum after the Leica itself was introduced.

 

As has already been observed, "special editions" keep them in the news, especially in those markets that constantly crave innovation. The profit margin is high, and the true cost of production not much - if any - higher than the standard model. Those lovely profits get ploughed back into further developing the cameras we know and love.

 

Far from criticising, you should be encouraging any cash-rich, taste-poor magpies you know to go and order one immediately.

 

Regards,

 

Bill

 

...spot on, Bill, although I would not go as far as characterising our esteemed collectors as "taste-poor". To our X1 folks I say this; enjoy your cameras and try to see the bigger picture - collectors rock (well, kind of).

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[Dan States]

Special editions are fine but I'm still amazed that one year after introduction there is still no firmware update. Even seperate of the focus speed there are quite a few easy fixes to the interface and operating stability that should have been implemented months ago.

[anupmc]

...quite a few easy fixes to the interface and operating stability that should have been implemented months ago.

 

Perhaps I'm not using the X1 properly, I've not encountered any "interface and operating stability" issues in over 3 months of daily use. Would you be so kind as to enlighten me on what these issues are that need fixing?

[phancj]

Storm coming? Sure hope not!

[Hythe]

I wish they'd stop mucking about with all of these special editions and fix the flipping problems with the camera already. Good lord.

I agree with h00ligan. I am on my third X1 at the moment. So far the skin seems to be staying on unlike the first two I had.

[AlanG]

This is nothing new. Leica introduced their first "special edition" in 1930. The Luxus was a gold plated version of the Leica I. Much imitated ever since, the Luxus was introduced "only" a lustrum after the Leica itself was introduced.

 

As has already been observed, "special editions" keep them in the news, especially in those markets that constantly crave innovation. The profit margin is high, and the true cost of production not much - if any - higher than the standard model. Those lovely profits get ploughed back into further developing the cameras we know and love.

 

Far from criticising, you should be encouraging any cash-rich, taste-poor magpies you know to go and order one immediately.

 

Regards,

 

Bill

 

If there is easy money to be made, this only helps keep overall prices high.

[charlesphoto99]

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But as long as there are people out there willing to plop down $10K to photograph their kittens and car shows with "better bokeh" then Leica will do what the market demands.

 

I charge my clients what I charge, not what joe blow down the street does, within fair market value of course. Don't you? I think Leica knows what they are doing considering the demand is greater than the supply, no matter how much they price it.

[bill]

If there is easy money to be made, this only helps keep overall prices high.

 

Alan, would you care to explain this gravity, logic and commonsense-defying statement...?

 

Surprised you are having a go at the X1, btw - after all, it is a digital camera...

 

Regards,

 

Bill

[AlanG]

Alan, would you care to explain this gravity, logic and commonsense-defying statement...?

 

Surprised you are having a go at the X1, btw - after all, it is a digital camera...

 

Regards,

 

Bill

 

Simple. People won't pay $400 more for simulated ostrich leather on an inexpensive camera. And if people will pay $2400 for an X1 with a bit of pressed leather on it, this confirms to Leica that they can keep X1 prices high. I'm not having a go against anything... other than to point out that "embossed ostrich skin" is nothing special, but the marketing is. Leica is targeting the upper echelon and is not going to use any profits from the embossed ostrich skin to build more affordable cameras. If these special cameras sell, they'll only do more. Maximizing profits is the goal, not subsidizing photographers needs. I don't think there is anything wrong with this except for those who actually think they are getting genuine ostrich skin. (Which they should at least get for $400.)

 

$200- 800 will get you pretty nice genuine ostrich western boots and you can get embossed leather ones for less.

 

http://www.sheplers.com/mens/full_quill_ostrich/exotic_types/cowboy_boots/boots/

 

I've always wondered about the cost vs. benefit of Leica becoming a "collectible" marque. Did this help keep the company solvent at various times or distract it from producing more competitive and less expensive products? (What would be the status in owning an $800 X1 camera?)

[AlanG]

 

$200 - genuine ostrich and goatskin.

[RichardM8]

I prefer the boots over the camera...

[ravinj]

$200 - genuine ostrich and goatskin.

 

Is that special edition or regular?

[AlanG]

Is that special edition or regular?

 

Regular. That's the least expensive genuine ostrich boot that I saw.

 

Here are the expensive ones:

 

http://www.sheplers.com/mens/300_boots/cowboy_boot_styles/cowboy_boots/boots/

 

I think Leica should team up with a boot company and make a matching camera, camera case, boot, holster, belt, vest line. I could see a pistol style under jacket shoulder holster that would hold the X-1, a pocket for it in the vest and a small case that clips to the belt. "The Leica Asian Cowboy Special Edition Set."

 

$49.95 embossed ostrich leatherette:

 

[phancj]

Regular. That's the least expensive genuine ostrich boot that I saw.

 

Here are the expensive ones:

 

Men's $300 and Up Boots

 

I think Leica should team up with a boot company and make a matching camera, camera case, boot, holster, belt, vest line. I could see a pistol style under jacket shoulder holster that would hold the X-1, a pocket for it in the vest and a small case that clips to the belt. "The Leica Asian Cowboy Special Edition Set."

 

$49.95 embossed ostrich leatherette:

 

 

 

Wow! Nicest boots I have ever seen.....

 

Thanks for sharing!

 

Not sure if I can wear them here though, in this tropical humid place...

[bill]

Leica is targeting the upper echelon and is not going to use any profits from the embossed ostrich skin to build more affordable cameras.

 

You have proof of this, Alan? Where do you think the profits go? Straight into Dr. Kaufmann's pocket? Your view is breathtakingly simplistic.

 

Yes, Leica is targeting potential customers that it knows spends money on such things. That is "marketing".

 

Special editions are of benefit to Leica; they raise awareness of the X1 line as a whole. Taste-poor magpies will buy them. Those with more sense than money will buy the X1. They may be encouraged to do so by the marketing buzz generated by the special edition. Profits are treated as any other profit - some back into the business, some as dividends to shareholders, some as investment in R&D.

 

What those execrable boots have to do with any of this I cannot imagine...

 

Regards,

 

Bill

[phancj]

Like I said many times, as long as people are willing to pay big $$$ to buy these special edition, no one especially not Leica is ever going to complain?

 

For me to date, the only Leica accessory I ever bought is the spare battery coz I thought I might need it, the other being a replacement lens cap coz I broke mine when I dropped the camera). Both were already very expensive for what they are, let alone limited edition stuff.

 

Spare cash can go towards lenses, filters, golf clubs, anything or everything other than the Paris Hilton embellishments. That is just my two cents worth, but I am not going to judge anyone who wants to blow big bucks for frivolous stuff?

 

If anything, go look at vertu phones, good materials and workmanship in exterior, rudimentary and hopeless phone functionality. Still there are takers. haha, amazing!

[earleygallery]

Cowboy boots?

 

You want a pair of these special edition DM's!

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[Dan States]

Perhaps I'm not using the X1 properly, I've not encountered any "interface and operating stability" issues in over 3 months of daily use. Would you be so kind as to enlighten me on what these issues are that need fixing?

 

Well perhaps you are not, but the two issues I encounter are occasional failure to hold focus lock AFTER the green box indicates locked focus (the box turns white as soon as you recompose while hold the shutter at lock position) and occasional wacky readings of aperture and shutter speed when switching between manual and auto modes. It's been discussed at length here and on the German forum. Pulling the battery resets the focus issue.

 

There are also some user glitches like "writing data" screens that overlay your image on burst shooting that drive people nuts.

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Hallo,

Look here: Interesting Leica gear

[fotografr]

 

$200 - genuine ostrich and goatskin.

 

Where is the hole for the lens?

[AlanG]

 

What those execrable boots have to do with any of this I cannot imagine...

 

Regards,

 

Bill

 

It shows what real ostrich looks like and what you can get in ostrich for the money. I bet most people here did not know that "embossed ostrich" meant the pattern is pressed into leather or a synthetic.

 

This is sort of a publicity stunt that also helps re-enforce the image of Leica as an expensive exclusive product. The profit from it won't be that great. Even if they reduce the price of the entire run of X1s by the list price of $32,000 ($400x80), how much less will that be for each camera?

 

You don't think there is a risk that some will think, "If they are over-charging for this simulated ostrich, what else are they over-charging for?"