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A Few Thoughts On The Leica Announcements


edmond_terakopian

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"In my opinion, the M9-P is definitely aimed more towards the pro who uses his camera as a tool"

 

Oh come on Edmond, do you really believe that? I like the new versions of the M9 as much as the next man (and certainly wouldn't rule out buying one if/when I decide to buy another) but swallowing the Leica marketing spin seems a bit silly.:)

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"In my opinion, the M9-P is definitely aimed more towards the pro who uses his camera as a tool"

 

Oh come on Edmond, do you really believe that? I like the new versions of the M9 as much as the next man (and certainly wouldn't rule out buying one if/when I decide to buy another) but swallowing the Leica marketing spin is a bit silly.:)

 

Ian,

 

Not swallowing any spin - I'd appreciate a little bit more respect. I have an M9 which has black tape covering the red dot on the front. Most people have no idea what a Leica looks like, only what it costs and that's the kind of person I want to shield my camera from. I'm a press photographer who works in all kinds of conditions and all kinds places.

The fact that the M9-P has the simple and clean front suits me perfectly; I also like the fact that the rear screen is tougher - given the choice between the M9 and the M9-P, I would think most photojournalists would opt for the M9-P. I'm certainly hoping it'll be my second body.

 

Edmond

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A profesional photographer does not give a rat's @ss on how his camera looks, so long as it works and is reliable. I do not believe anyone knows what a Leica costs or that they even exists (except some pro photographers & even in that part of the population they are a minority). So covering the logo or the M9 lettering is an exercise in futility.

 

The M9P looks great, no further excuses are required but it is not a quantum leap away from anything else they have made before. Also, after a few years of use my M8 screen is fine (i.e. NO scratches) so sapphire is fun but not essential.

 

Time for a sanity check?

 

And, yes I do like the M9P if that is not clear from the above. It looks like a digital M2/MP which is the ultimate camera in terms of design.

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"In my opinion, the M9-P is definitely aimed more towards the pro who uses his camera as a tool"

 

Edmond, I'm an established Pro photographer. Please explain how the M9-P serves the pro better than the M9 as a photo tool ?

 

As Pro, we're particularly interested in the Return On Investment. How can the extra cost of the M9-P be used to get a higher return ?

 

My view is that you're attempting to influence us to buy M9-P and Noctilux lenses without making it known that you have an interest by being a Leica sub-contractor. There are some who recommend Leica gear that haven't actually spent any of their own money on it, or had a big, big discount. Don't be one of them.

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Not swallowing any spin - I'd appreciate a little bit more respect.

 

Hmm. Presumably you put the piece up for comment? - I was giving my view. Frankly, I was expecting to read something that had a few more "thoughts" in it and was a little less like a quick re-hash of yesterday's Leica press material.

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The M9 is already pretty nice but I would appreciate an updated model to have at least a higher resolution screen in the back in case I need to check critical focus from time to time. I am not a pro but can do with such a feature none the less. Maybe a pro would prefer nothing in the back at all. Obviously Leica knows what the pros want.

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A profesional photographer does not give a rat's @ss on how his camera looks, so long as it works and is reliable.

 

Some of us covered the brand/model because we appeared in photos, too, and did not want to advertise. I feel the same about a lot of things, like removing the badges from cars.

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Some of us covered the brand/model because we appeared in photos, too, and did not want to advertise. I feel the same about a lot of things, like removing the badges from cars.

Hi

 

Seems like denial

Simpler wearing a veil - cept if you are in France...

Most people detect my M2 is a Leica, though they seem to think it is an expensive digital Leica.

 

Noel

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"In my opinion, the M9-P is definitely aimed more towards the pro who uses his camera as a tool."

 

Huh!? That's absurd! In the Vimeo video clip by Leica Camera AG on the M9-P it says, "Leica M9-P—Digital photography enters a whole new dimension." This slogan is so ridiculous it's almost embarassing. The producer of this video really should sober up from his LSD trips before going to work. This definitely does not aim at working pro photographers. It rather aims at professional sons and daughters ... and maybe dentists :D

 

The M9-P's style, without the "M9" writing and red Leica logo, is purely about aesthetics, not stealth. Stealth comes from how you, as a photographer, blend into the scene; it depends on your behaviour and demeanour, not on the lettering on your camera. An estimated 99.8 % of the people out in the streets have no idea what a Leica M is and couldn't care less about the camera in your hands anyway—and the rest will spot a Leica no matter whether there's a red dot on it or not. So if taping off the logo or switching from M9 to M9-P makes you feel better then more power to you, but don't mislead yourself into thinking it's going to make any difference to anyone else.

 

Don't get me wrong—I like the M9-P, and I do believe pros will like it, too, and releasing it was a smart move on Leica's side. But we shouldn't cherish any illusions about who this camera was aimed at :rolleyes:

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A profesional photographer does not give a rat's @ss on how his camera looks, so long as it works and is reliable. I do not believe anyone knows what a Leica costs or that they even exists (except some pro photographers & even in that part of the population they are a minority). So covering the logo or the M9 lettering is an exercise in futility.

 

The M9P looks great, no further excuses are required but it is not a quantum leap away from anything else they have made before. Also, after a few years of use my M8 screen is fine (i.e. NO scratches) so sapphire is fun but not essential.

 

Time for a sanity check?

 

And, yes I do like the M9P if that is not clear from the above. It looks like a digital M2/MP which is the ultimate camera in terms of design.

 

Thanks Stephen. Just to check I understand you correctly, you are saying if I was a pro photographer I would share your point?

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Edmond, like you I love the look of the M9-P - but please...you cover the tiny red dot with tape to disguise the fact the camera is a Leica but how do you disguise that thumping great Noctilux on the front? ;)

 

Cheers, Tony

 

Like I said, people who live in the unsavoury parts of town I sometimes work in, are in the know of what's worth stealing - the brand Leica is known as one such thing. However, that same person would imagine this expensive brand not to look like a 50s design. I've been in situations where colleagues with DSLRs have got much more hassle as they're cameras look professional and look expensive - a rangefinder looks nothing like this, Noctilux or not. I'm talking from experience and observation.

 

Edmond

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Hmm. Presumably you put the piece up for comment? - I was giving my view. Frankly, I was expecting to read something that had a few more "thoughts" in it and was a little less like a quick re-hash of yesterday's Leica press material.

 

Absolutely comments are welcome but there's a way to write; you're fully entitled to your opinion as am I, but speaking to me in that tone (just read your words) is disrespectful. I have no issues with your comments or feedback.

 

Edmond

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"In my opinion' date=' the M9-P is definitely aimed more towards the pro who uses his camera as a tool"

 

Edmond, I'm an established Pro photographer. Please explain how the M9-P serves the pro better than the M9 as a photo tool ?

 

As Pro, we're particularly interested in the Return On Investment. How can the extra cost of the M9-P be used to get a higher return ?

 

My view is that you're attempting to influence us to buy M9-P and Noctilux lenses without making it known that you have an interest by being a Leica sub-contractor. There are some who recommend Leica gear that haven't actually spent any of their own money on it, or had a big, big discount. Don't be one of them.[/quote']

 

Erm, where did you get the idea I'm a Leica subcontractor?! I have bought all of my Leica gear, going back to the early 90s, with my money. So let's get that fact right please.

 

The short answer is, a Leica, any Leica, or a Canon L prime or Zeiss lens on a 1DS MkIII or a D3X with an 85mm f1.4 etc... isn't going to bring more return. It'll help create images that we're happy and proud of. In this day and age, certainly my industry of publishing doesn't care anymore about the photographs it publishes - as long as they are ok, that will do. As long as they are cheap, that's the main consideration. Commissions are down, spending generally is down. I use the equipment I use because it brings be quality and this in turn makes me happy. I don't get paid more because I use a Noctilux for example. If I was purely a business minded photographer, I'd get a couple of cheap, low end DSLRs with a couple of lenses and be done with it. I'd probably still make the same money but my work, for my sake, will suffer.

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Hmm. Presumably you put the piece up for comment? - I was giving my view. Frankly, I was expecting to read something that had a few more "thoughts" in it and was a little less like a quick re-hash of yesterday's Leica press material.

 

...sorry, forgot to add, that my piece was written before I fully read the Leica press releases. I only saw the mentions of taping up etc on the Leica press release well after my article was posted. Purely for your information.

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