satureyes Posted February 3, 2013 Share #121 Posted February 3, 2013 Advertisement (gone after registration) Leica has done a great job of their PR- but the moment a Leica camera appears in GQ magazine as a 'desirable object' the days of slinking into the background are over. Having celebs touting Leicas who are photographically retarded doesn't help. We are a celebrity obsessed world and people see Leicas and by association want one for their status rather than photographic journey. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted February 3, 2013 Posted February 3, 2013 Hi satureyes, Take a look here The average aged won't buy a M240. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
MarkP Posted February 4, 2013 Share #122 Posted February 4, 2013 Leica has done a great job of their PR- but the moment a Leica camera appears in GQ magazine as a 'desirable object' the days of slinking into the background are over. Having celebs touting Leicas who are photographically retarded doesn't help. We are a celebrity obsessed world and people see Leicas and by association want one for their status rather than photographic journey. Hi Sature, I assume you mean: Having celebs who are photographically retarded carrying Leicas doesn't help. but so what? Most 'professional' photographers use Canikons. Do you think they care that most amateurs and wannabe photographers buy their kit? Sure Leica is now being targeted by 'celebrities' and as a status symbol, but the sales all help keep the company afloat. This was the company that almost went under some years ago. It's a bit like saying if you're not a really good driver you shouldn't have an expensive status-symbol car like a Merc, Porsche, etc. The celebrity and status symbol fad may pass (or the camera will be left at home) when they realise that taking good photographs with an M Leica requires some intellectual input, experience, and hard work. The camera will be left at home and they will head out with the iPhone or P&S. If they persist then good on them, perhaps they may really embark on a photographic journey (especially those who work in media, acting, etc. who may be exposed to good photography/cinematography through their work). The only annoying thing though is that everyone waits a bit longer for their camera or lens . Mark Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeinzX Posted February 4, 2013 Share #123 Posted February 4, 2013 I am 64 and and using a M 9 (and a Canon DSLR with a lot of glass). Probably I will buy a M, but I will not be one of the first buyers. I will wait, because I want to know really before if there is enough improvement for me to buy one. For me the focussing with the Live View is an interesting point. With my M 9 I sometimes have problems when using the M Macro Elmarit 90 mm - especially with the macro adapter. Another point is thepossibility to use the R Macro Elmarit 60 mm 2.8 - eventually plus extender or with the 2ply APO converter. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marcbo Posted February 4, 2013 Share #124 Posted February 4, 2013 I don't agree although I understand I'm 64 and started with a Canon and later a Hasselblad over 50 years ago. I loved the Hasselblad because it was always possible to frame impeccable photos on the screen. Over 75% of the pictures I took was good, to satisfying; The downside of the Hasselblad was that it was heavy, difficult for action pictures and the color quality (certainly in the beginning) was not on par with Leica. There was the price issue too. One additional advantage of the Hasselblad that I found very important is that one has to carry it at shoulder height. That allows for easier picture taking than with 35 mm cameras and also gives more flattering portraits at a lower angle than with 35 mm. I have since passed over to Leica a long time ago. I admire the quality of the cameras, the lenses and the color rendition, and the weight of the equipment. Action pictures, instant pictures have become possible.No compromises. Now with the 240 I believe I can have the best of both worlds. I find it important to be able to frame correctly before taking a picture. With the EVF it will be easier to shoot from below again. So the 240 is for me. Thank you Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sps Posted February 5, 2013 Share #125 Posted February 5, 2013 No we won't ... Me neither. Mid 40's and going strong when it comes to M series. Glad to part with the $$ for a 240. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulus Posted February 24, 2013 Author Share #126 Posted February 24, 2013 Why? Again, are you a beta tester? Do you regularly have lunch with the engineers at Leica? How do you know how the sensor in the 240 will perform? Small step? The M8/M9 sensor is +8 years old, which may as well be a millennium in the world of digital photography. It's about three generations behind today's cutting edge. That's not a small step. As someone who has actually made a living in digital imaging for the past 20 years I would be shocked, if there wasn't an enormous improvement in the overall performance of the M240 sensor. The market for pro users for whom the M is the right camera is a lot smaller than it used to be in it's glory days. Simply the way access is handled these days requires longer lenses for most jobs, a more sophisticated metering / flash system and higher operating speed. Most working photographers require a more flexible system, that can do everything from sophisticated flash work, to utilizing everything from tilt shift to long glass. The M8/M9 has also been too quirky or lacking in certain features (weather sealing) for most pro shooters. Obviously there are exceptions like Thorsten Overgaard, but he is not exactly running in a press pack or shooting sports. And last but not least most of them do not want to work with a camera that offers little or no automation. In short it's now a specialized tool, that will never again see the wide spread professional use it did in the 1950's and 60's. Add to that, that these days the vast majority of working photographers can't afford at least two 240 bodies and lenses in addition to their other gear and it's pretty clear why more pros don't use the M line. The unknown market? There are a few thousand posts on this forum, with M8/M9 owners clamoring for everything from better high iso performance to more exposure range, better battery life, a better LCD, bigger buffer, Live view, weather sealing, faster processing, more reliable electronics etc. The 'looks' of the camera? As in a fashion accessory looks or do you mean the manual rangefinder approach to photography? The future always belongs to the youth, because the rest of us will be dead. You're right. All the old geezers with enough money to buy a 240 are going to just hold on to their M8/M9 bodies for sake of nostalgia or because they lack 20/20 vision and can't see the difference. None of them want a better performing sensor or be able to take their camera out in the rain, without it short circuiting. And those quirky M8/M9 electronics that make your camera randomly freeze up or fail to write to a card, just add to the charm. You're right. None of these people are going to buy a 240, even if they have the money. Shades of "Apple ][ forever!" in that thinking. Leica needs this camera to stay competitive in a constantly changing market and because it's the camera they have been trying to build since they embarked on this adventure. In the LFI 2/2013 Michael J. Hussman/Holger Sparr write: Page 63 " Der Sprung ist spürbar, aber für sich betrachtet sicher kein Grund, eine M9 dafür zu verkaufen." There is a difference in image quality, but the M9 is good enough. The new M is better, but not enough to have a reason to sell the M9 and buy an M? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thrid Posted February 24, 2013 Share #127 Posted February 24, 2013 Advertisement (gone after registration) In the LFI 2/2013 Michael J. Hussman/Holger Sparr write: Page 63 " Der Sprung ist spürbar, aber für sich betrachtet sicher kein Grund, eine M9 dafür zu verkaufen." There is a difference in image quality, but the M9 is good enough. The new M is better, but not enough to have a reason to sell the M9 and buy an M? Paulus it makes no difference in my life if you keep your M9 and pass on the 240. It's your money, your camera and your life. Do as you please. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
henning Posted March 1, 2013 Share #128 Posted March 1, 2013 The thought just struck me. We, the averaged Leica user with an average age of 48 years, will stop buying cameras in two years from now. Does that mean that for me (shortly to be 68), this might be my last camera, and that for the last 17 years my purchases (including all digital ones) have been completely unnecessary and misguided??? Truthfully, that had never occurred to me. I guess that when I pick up my M in the next day or two, I better treasure the experience. To balance things out, I better notify my wife that she will shortly be buying her last jewellery. I think I will email her, so I don't have to be in the same room when that hits her. Henning Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lax Jought Posted March 1, 2013 Share #129 Posted March 1, 2013 There are a fair number of people who have posted in this thread whom I would love to have a beer with. Great comments, and some of you have had some awesome lives and experience. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulus Posted March 24, 2013 Author Share #130 Posted March 24, 2013 Does that mean that for me (shortly to be 68), this might be my last camera, and that for the last 17 years my purchases (including all digital ones) have been completely unnecessary and misguided??? Truthfully, that had never occurred to me. I guess that when I pick up my M in the next day or two, I better treasure the experience. To balance things out, I better notify my wife that she will shortly be buying her last jewellery. I think I will email her, so I don't have to be in the same room when that hits her. Henning I did not think you could compare a tool to jewellery, but I suppose you are right if one sees it this way. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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