3 DMRs for sale in the Classifieds

[andybarton]

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I wonder what people are replacing them with?

[earleygallery]

Good point. Perhaps they've found their film backs?

[graham_mitchell]

Perhaps they were backups.

[andybarton]

I think that the DMR must go down as the shortest lived and least supported Leica product ever.

 

I bet they wish they'd never bothered with it at all.

[dhsimmonds]

I think that the DMR is the best digital product in both idea, execution and image quality that Leica have ever marketed. I certainly won't be selling mine yet! Although I agree that it has been poorly supported by Leica. I just love it, even with it's odd occasional quirks!

 

It must be the easiest DSLR to sensor clean ever!

[stunsworth]

I'm not so sure Andy, I think it kept interest in the R series alive and stopped the final users from jumping ship to Canon or Nikon - I always saw that as being it's main purpose. They need the R10 before too long though. It'll be interesting to see what they come up with. I can't believe they make much money on the R range these days.

 

I have to admit when we were getting a 100 threads a day saying how bad the M8 was I considered switching my order to a DMR. I'm glad now that I kept my nerve, excellent though the DMR is <grin>.

[topoxforddoc]

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I like my DMR a lot. Personally I'm not planning to get a M8 for all sorts of reasons. Yes I like my film Ms, but I use my DMR so much I can't really justify the expense. Everyone has moaned about the DMR firmware issues, but hey that's a lot less hassle than the M8 with its IR/filter, backfocussing, RF accuracy and firmware issues.

On top of that the demise of the DMR has seen R lenses go into freefall, with bargains to be had by those of us staying.

 

Charlie

[rsolomon]

Andy,

i think you are spot on.

 

support has been very weak, it surprises me when people defend it - this is not to say it's not a great peice of engineering - what a great concept !.

 

Perhaps leica learned something about "partnerships" with this product - i would like to see leica somehow take care of those who have invested in the DMR with significant consideration on future product(s).

 

The DMR at 4-5k (usd) was a big invsetment - and cost more then an M8 or an R9.

 

When adding the price for an R9 + DMR this is a significant investment and rivals as the most expense 35 mm camera that i am aware of.

 

the worst part for me is that while you say:

"I bet they wish they'd never bothered with it at all."

 

Considering all, I wish they never did either....

[Guest Motivfindender]

I wouldn´t hesitate at all to by one instantly - if not the crop 1,35 would be a major negative point.

The wide-angle is very important for me.

This is the one, single negative point for me, so I will wait for the FF R10 to come.

 

In the meantime, I will invest in a 5D.

 

regards

Dirk

[earleygallery]

Oh come on, hindsight is a wonderful thing.

 

All reviews at the time gave the DMR top marks for image quality. When it was released the typical pro SLR was much more expensive, digital prices have tumbled since so whilst it now looks expensive, at the time it was comparable.

 

As a design concept I thought and still think it was brilliant, far more so than the M8 - I mean, they took their film SLR and managed to fit a quality digital back to it, that's quite something. Easy for the likes of Hasselblad but for a Leica?

 

Its just a shame they haven't supported it, or developed it further. But I'm guessing they have other plans in progress. Exisitng DMR owners still have a unique & very high quality system.

[andybarton]

Don't misunderstand me, James.

 

I think the DMR with my R8 is absolutely fantastic and does everything I could want out of a digital camera. I played with my daughter's 350D yesterday afternoon (OK, in a different league altogether), but it is just so unintuitive to work. It has a menu screen that is unreadable in daylight, more buttons than the TV remote and just doesn't feel right.

 

Whoever designed the DMR for Leica was in a class of his/her own.

[rsolomon]

Dirk,

just to clarifiy .... your post is a bit confusing to me ....are you saying your very happy with the DMR but,

 

1 . you are a non-DMR user

2 .recently made a decision to go with the 5D

[Guest guy_mancuso]

You have it all wrong. at the time the partnership was good with Imacon and the product was well supported. what happened was Hasselblad bought Imacon and it all went to hell in a handbasket because the DMR was a threat to the hassy market. Plain and simple, than hassy went with a closed system for there own products and hurt there own customers on a short term basis. Hasselblad by it's current management put the DMR straight in the can with support. Along with other MF back manufacteurs like Phase One that can't use there new closed system. Basically took all the competion and support it orginally had and took it all away for DMR and Phase users. Fast forward Steven Lee took the helm and pretty much said screw this,if there is no support from Imacon than we will not produce anymore on it, we will make our own. Reason the DMR is discontinued and really the only reason because it was to heavyly based on Imacon. This will never happen to Leica again is rely on another vendor so deeply. Not to say there is no support that still exist today, they still have a contract folks with Imacon and it has most likely not been fufiled for there latest firmware because Imacon never got it right. It's still out there.

[andybarton]

... It's still out there.

 

Never to see the light of day...

[Guest guy_mancuso]

Maybe / Maybe not. It's really a unforunate situation all around. If Hassy stayed out of the mix than it would have been a huge success. Next

[robsteve]

I wonder what people are replacing them with?

 

Andy:

 

I think they are just fishing, hoping to get a good price.

 

I am keeping my DMR until the R10 comes out.

 

Robert

[earleygallery]

Don't misunderstand me, James.

 

I played with my daughter's 350D yesterday afternoon (OK, in a different league altogether), but it is just so unintuitive to work. It has a menu screen that is unreadable in daylight, more buttons than the TV remote and just doesn't feel right.

 

 

That's worth knowing Andy, I have come close on a few occassions to buying one to try out with my R lenses, but I really don't think I'd use it that much. When I bought the M2 it was a close call between that and a Canon body.

[jlancasterd]

Andy:I am keeping my DMR until the R10 comes out.

 

Robert

 

Hear, hear! I have an M8 and a suite of lenses, but there are still times when it is more convenient to use my R8+DMR and a 28-90 zoom. It will also do things (eg. telephoto work above 90mm) that the M8 can't without a lot of inconvenience (and yes - I do have a Visoflex!). The M8 really only wins on portabilty and its ability to use cheap ultra-wide lenses which are not even made by Leica. Image quality is a score draw.

[Guest Motivfindender]

Dirk,

just to clarifiy .... your post is a bit confusing to me ....are you saying your very happy with the DMR but,

 

1 . you are a non-DMR user

2 .recently made a decision to go with the 5D

 

 

Sorry for unclear formulation, perhaps because I did not have enough "u"s to type..

 

It has to be "buy" instead of "by" - sorry.

 

I wouldn´t hesitate at all to buy one instantly - if not the crop 1,35 would be a major negative point.

The wide-angle is very important for me.

This is the one, single negative point for me, so I will wait for the FF R10 to come.

 

In the meantime, I will invest in a 5D.

 

regards

Dirk

 

hope, now my posting with one more "u" is less kryptic.. ?

In fact, the immense amount of posted pictures of damn high-quality out-of-DMR here in the LUF is convincing enough to get rid of any doubts concerning Image Quality of the DMR, isn´t it?

 

So. the one and only resting problem ist the non-existing superwide-angle-photography due to the 1,35_Crop . Unfortunately, this is a negative point because I love landscapes. So, this is killing the idea of buying a DMR. Hope Kodak will present a Fullframe-Chip and leica will intergrate this in the R-10. If yes, I will be soon on my way to the dealer to buy one.

 

Thanks

 

Dirk

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[ptomsu]

You have it all wrong. at the time the partnership was good with Imacon and the product was well supported. what happened was Hasselblad bought Imacon and it all went to hell in a handbasket because the DMR was a threat to the hassy market. Plain and simple, than hassy went with a closed system for there own products and hurt there own customers on a short term basis. Hasselblad by it's current management put the DMR straight in the can with support. Along with other MF back manufacteurs like Phase One that can't use there new closed system. Basically took all the competion and support it orginally had and took it all away for DMR and Phase users. Fast forward Steven Lee took the helm and pretty much said screw this,if there is no support from Imacon than we will not produce anymore on it, we will make our own. Reason the DMR is discontinued and really the only reason because it was to heavyly based on Imacon. This will never happen to Leica again is rely on another vendor so deeply. Not to say there is no support that still exist today, they still have a contract folks with Imacon and it has most likely not been fufiled for there latest firmware because Imacon never got it right. It's still out there.

 

Well Guy, you are VERY right!

 

But the reason a lot of folks are trying to sell their DMR is because there

 

1) IS NO SUPPORT

2) since there is no support and Leica has to go their own way it is forseeable what will happen to DMR prices once there is the new R10 (hopefully)

 

So it is only natural that some people try to sell in tinme. Especially if they have alternative solutions.

 

And - did you not already sell your 2 DMRs ?