Has the SL been discontinued?

[thighslapper]

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This might be more illuminating from Clifton Cameras ...... as the deal is presumably underwritten by Leica ..... note the dates ......

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....... so I'll stick my neck out and predict an announcement (as leaked) in late June with a release date of september, with the first limited deliveries a few weeks earlier to europe and later to the rest of the world. I cannot recall Leica ever running stock down to zero before releasing a new update ...... the old and new often run concurrently for a fair while afterwards with the former discounted a fair bit. It's hard to guess how much the S1 and S1R have influenced Leica's release plans .... in interviews they were allegedly 'surprised' by the Panasonic release, but I suspect they have just shrugged their shoulders and continued with the original timescales. 

Edited April 28, 2019 by thighslapper

[earleygallery]

3 hours ago, thighslapper said:

Wex have never been a big Leica re-seller.

Possibly more a decision it is discontinued by WEX because of low sales, Lumix competition or the anticipation of a new model. 

In fact ...... if you search 'Leica' on the Wex website you will find nothing listed at all (apart from a handful of used items) ..... so I would take this with a pinch of salt. 

Yes it could be that as well.

[Bob Andersson]

Fair point about Wex not being much of a Leica retailer but I thought I'd do a sanity check on their web site. I used Google site search (appending site:wexphotovideo.com) to see what Wex had listed for the SL, CL, TL, TL2 and M10. Here's the listing for the TL:

Quote

Leica TL Mirrorless Camera type 8854

This product has been discontinued by the manufacturer and we will not be receiving any new stock. Check below for availability of second-hand units.

Condition	Availability
New	Discontinued - we can no longer source new stock of this product

And, for those new to the thread, here's a repeat of the listing for the SL in which I've taken the liberty of highlighting the critical text:

Quote

Leica SL (Typ 601) Mirrorless Digital Camera

This product has been discontinued by the manufacturer and we will not be receiving any new stock. Check below for availability of second-hand units.

Condition	Availability
New	Discontinued - we can no longer source new stock of this product

So maybe the site is telling the truth and the SL really is discontinued by the manufacturer - if Leica were just refusing to supply Wex then one might expect similar entries under "new" listings for the CL, TL2 or M10 but where pages for those cameras exist at all they are only for used models.

The SL is still in stock (in the UK) at a few outlets although Clifton Cameras and Park Cameras seem to be more typical with no stock but expressing the hope that it is "Usually available in 5-7 days". The current deals on the SL do look attractive and I confess I am tempted but there's no hurry with the trade in discount running until the end of September so I'll wait to see if the SL2 is indeed announced before then. 💡

Edited April 29, 2019 by Bob Andersson
clarity

[scott kirkpatrick]

I wonder how far down the DSLR trade-in discount runs.  I have some Olympus E-M5 mk2's that I could part with, and the savings is more than they would resell for.

[Bob Andersson]

14 minutes ago, scott kirkpatrick said:

I wonder how far down the DSLR trade-in discount runs.  I have some Olympus E-M5 mk2's that I could part with, and the savings is more than they would resell for.

I still have an E-M5 (Mk 1). 🤣

Would many of the traded in cameras actually be resold?

[thighslapper]

1 hour ago, Bob Andersson said:

So maybe the site is telling the truth and the SL really is discontinued by the manufacturer - if Leica were just refusing to supply Wex then one might expect similar entries under "new" listings for the CL, TL2 or M10 but where pages for those cameras exist at all they are only for used models.

sorry .... but this method of searching clearly produces archived old pages ...... it even says the M10 is discontinued. WEX sell NO NEW LEICA cameras or lenses. 

Edited April 29, 2019 by thighslapper

[thighslapper]

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28 minutes ago, scott kirkpatrick said:

I wonder how far down the DSLR trade-in discount runs.  I have some Olympus E-M5 mk2's that I could part with, and the savings is more than they would resell for.

Red Dot are offering the £1300 promotional discount ...... with no mention of having to trade in a pile of junk to get it ...... £3195.

A bargain ...... but unfortunately it means my current trusty SL has lost £1000 in second hand value ...... 

[Bob Andersson]

1 minute ago, thighslapper said:

A bargain ...... but unfortunately it means my current trusty SL has lost £1000 in second hand value ...... 

Ouch! That's not nice at all. 😟

[johnbuckley]

Over on the Monochrom page here, I predicted a while ago -- based on absolutely  zero evidence other than a) a calendar, b) Leica's semi-regularity in its length of time between issuing certain cameras, including the M -- that there would be a new Monochrom in May.* No need to start that debate here! My purpose for posting here is simply to pass this on this non-rumor:

I was in the Leica Store DC five weeks ago this past Friday. The fellow who is responsible for the SL product line for stores in this region was there. I mentioned that I was hoping there would be an SL this summer before I go to Iceland. The SL product manager was brought in on the conversation and he frowned and said he thought that expecting one before August was premature. The distinct impression I got was yes to 2019, but further in the back half of the year. 

He certainly wasn't confirming there was an SL2 coming out in 2019. But he definitely was conveying he did not believe it would be out before my August trip.

For what's it's worth.

 

*May 2019 marks 2 years, 3 months since the M10 was released (last January 2017). The Monochrom-246 was released 2 years, 3 months after the February 2013 release M-240. So if Leica follows its rhythm, there's a Monochrome coming. We have no precedent for how long between SL since there has only been one. Though it has been approximately 3.5 years since the original...

Edited April 29, 2019 by johnbuckley

[Chaemono]

vor 1 Stunde schrieb johnbuckley:

I was in the Leica Store DC five weeks ago this past Friday. The fellow who is responsible for the SL product line for stores in this region was there. I mentioned that I was hoping there would be an SL this summer before I go to Iceland. The SL product manager was brought in on the conversation and he frowned and said he thought that expecting one before August was premature. The distinct impression I got was yes to 2019, but further in the back half of the year. 

He certainly wasn't confirming there was an SL2 coming out in 2019. But he definitely was conveying he did not believe it would be out before my August trip.

+1. The signal used to be May, then September, and now hopefully before year end. 

[bags27]

There are so many variables for Leica. Not least, maybe, is the extraordinary popularity of the Q2. I've heard the fantastic figure of 1/4 M orders. If that's even within the correct universe, it not only puts pressure on supplies (same sensor for the SL2?) and manufacturing capabilities, but Leica may want to clear many of those orders before announcing the superior SL2. Spacing and smoothing production & sales of the SL, Q, and M models is probably a major priority for a relatively small company like Leica.

[Thc879]

I would think the discounting would indicate an announcement of an SL2 much sooner than the end of the year, more like end of May or June.  But of course just guessing like everyone else.

[Bob Andersson]

+1 on that hope.

I've come to the conclusion that, given it seems to be in a minority of one, the claim by Wex that it is Leica that has discontinued the SL is incorrect. I'm quite surprised, though, that Leica's legal department seems content to let it pass.

[ron777]

1 hour ago, Bob Andersson said:

+1 on that hope.

I've come to the conclusion that, given it seems to be in a minority of one, the claim by Wex that it is Leica that has discontinued the SL is incorrect. I'm quite surprised, though, that Leica's legal department seems content to let it pass.

If the statement is erroneous, others are equally guilty.  Scandinavian Photo apparently has listed the Model 601 (SL) as "expired, no longer order-able".

https://leicarumors.com/2017/08/17/leica-sl-typ-601-listed-as-expired-and-no-longer-orderable-at-swedish-retailer.aspx/

Edited May 1, 2019 by ron777

[digitalfx]

5 minutes ago, ron777 said:

If the statement is erroneous, others are equally guilty.  Scandinavian Photo apparently has listed the Model 601 (SL) as "expired, no longer order-able".

https://leicarumors.com/2017/08/17/leica-sl-typ-601-listed-as-expired-and-no-longer-orderable-at-swedish-retailer.aspx/

 

Published: AUGUST 17, 2017

 

 

[ron777]

Yes, the purpose of the post was to point out that this rumor, if you will, is not new. However, it may turn out to have been prophetic.

Edited May 1, 2019 by ron777

[Chaemono]

vor 27 Minuten schrieb ron777:

Yes, the purpose of the post was to point out that this rumor, if you will, is not new. However, it may turn out to have been prophetic.

Prophetic two years ago? Here's another prophetic rumor, the S1R will be discontinued at some point. 😂

[ron777]

1 hour ago, Chaemono said:

Prophetic two years ago? Here's another prophetic rumor, the S1R will be discontinued at some point. 😂

I recognize the veracity of your brand loyalty, but your statement appears to be needlessly anger tinged. And as for being prophetic, even a broken clock is right two times per day. That said, I have no doubt that the SL will be discontinued in the not too distant future. That’s the nature of obsolescence.

[Chaemono]

Calling a rumor that was posted two years ago about a ‘consumer’ electronics product being discontinued prophetic is the funniest thing I read. 🤣 Here’s another prophetic rumor, the iPhone XS will eventually be discontinued. 😂

Edited May 1, 2019 by Chaemono

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[ron777]

16 minutes ago, Chaemono said:

Calling a rumor that was posted two years ago about a ‘consumer’ electronics product being discontinued prophetic is the funniest thing I read. 🤣 Here’s another prophetic rumor, the iPhone XS will eventually be discontinued. 😂

I don’t see the humor, as you took the statement out of context. But if you think it’s funny, have a good laugh on me. I have neither the time nor inclination to pursue a sophomoric repartee.