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Monochrom special event


jaapv

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I just had time to attend the last bit (with the wine and snacks ;)) of the Leica Ralph Gibson presentation and Leica Store opening in Lisse, Holland.

Quite an animated event attended by Leica top brass, the local importer, obviously Mr Gibson and some of the Dutch Leica community. Simon and I did the honors for LUF.

The star of the show was the Monochrom Ralph Gibson. One of the nicest M specials I ever saw, quite tasteful. The price - not revealed (If you have to ask you can’t afford it…) The number made: 35. Availability: sold out before presentation…:o

 

The Leica Store is quite nice, not as high-class as Mayfair though ;) Well stocked (Both black and silver M, ME, good assortment of lenses, etc) Very friendly staff.

They have a nice exhibition of specials, both digital and film. Very good selection of books.

 

We even got a nice departure gift in the form of Ralph Gibson’s Mono book, the ubiquitous Leica Myself book and a voucher for studio portrait.

 

All is well with the Leica world..:)

 

 

A few images. Simon got some nice ones of the part I missed, I hope he’ll post.

 

 

 

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All in all, it was a great event. Nice to meet Alfred Schopf, Leica CEO, in person. Foto Henny Hoogeveen put on a great show, and the departure gift was well appreciated. Previously Henny Hoogeveen was 'just' a Leica boutique, but now they have been upgraded to a Leica Store. Alfred explained that normally boutiques are outlets that sell Leica and also other camera brands, whereas a Store is only allowed to sell Leica cameras. However in the case of Henny Hoogeveen they have made an exception, and they will be allowed to continue to sell various other high end camera brands.

 

As Jaap said, the camera was sold out before the presentation and no one was talking about the price, however a bit of googling found a press release that mentioned the price as €18000.

 

Here are some photos from the event. All shot on the M-E with 28mm Summicron wide open:

 

1) Alfred Schopf, Leica CEO

2) Handing the camera over to Ralph Gibson

3) It's mine!

4+5) Alfred Schopf, Duncan Meeder (shop owner), Ralph Gibson, and Transcontinenta MD (the importer)

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A few more. Paulus, it looks like we were standing very close to one another during Alfred's speech....

 

1) More joking

2) The Ralph Gibson Monochrom Limited Edition, designed by Duncan Meeder

3) Alfred eating his own dog food

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A few more. Paulus, it looks like we were standing very close to one another during Alfred's speech....

 

 

You're right, I was standing next to Alfred Schopf before he dilivered his speech.( I always thought he was a very tall man because the M looks so small in his hands...) In retrospect I think you were standing right the blonde woman ( i stood at her left side ) and switched places once with her, to give her the opportunity to have a better angle of view ( very galant:))

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This appears to be a nice camera, but given the success of the Monochrome, it would be nice if Leica launched a chrome bodied version of the camera more generally. Offering a camera in which all production is already sold out is not a way to endear a company to its customers.

 

Nick

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Offering a camera in which all production is already sold out is not a way to endear a company to its customers.

 

Yes, the whole exercise does have a bit of a "fuck off" vibe about it.

There were two members of this forum who managed to order a chrome version of the Monochrom last year – one example here – and were charged, I believe, only a modest premium over the regular price. Leica probably realised they were missing a trick and this is probably why they apparently will no longer fulfil such an order. If you are desperately keen for a chrome Monochrom you could always buy a chrome M9-P and have the outer shells swapped over.:D

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They did mention on the evening that this would be the first of many special editions, so one can hope that next time it is a little bit less exclusive with a more agreeable price....

If it's not exclusive and outrageously expensive... can it be a special edition at all? ;)

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This appears to be a nice camera, but given the success of the Monochrome, it would be nice if Leica launched a chrome bodied version of the camera more generally. Offering a camera in which all production is already sold out is not a way to endear a company to its customers.

 

Nick

Well, it is not really a company camera, but a small run as specified by the Dutch importer, albeit with Leica's support. The idea was to inaugurate the first Leica Store in our country.

As for the chrome body version, who knows...

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Ralph Gibson is an interesting guy. Spent some time with him over the course of several days on the Leica stand at the PMA show (pre-digital M days, so some years ago). He gave me a signed copy of one of his books. Also at an LHSA annual meeting where he was our keynote speaker at our banquet. But what is that jacket made out of that he is wearing? Looks like a North Face blazer.

 

No one can top Jim Marshall, another key note speaker at an LHSA annual meeting. Drinking with him in the hotel bar until about 3am was the experience of a life time! He bought a bottle of wine for every table at the dinner. The man knew how to party!

 

Nice looking camera BTW.:D

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