What's the deal with M10 Monochrom

[hirohhhh]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I have SL and CL, which combined costs less than M10 Monochrom (which I like btw). Can someone explain why M10 is so much expensive? 

[Advertisement]

The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[Jeff S]

One reason is that Leica CAN...the M line has no direct competition, unlike the crowded mirrorless market, which includes the SL/CL. And the Monochrom is a further niche within the niche. 

Jeff

[hirohhhh]

Beautiful, beautiful camera. I just cannot justify it...

[Jeff S]

A mint first version Monochrom typically sells in the $3-3.5k range, with new sensor and Leica service.  And the M246 is priced between the two.  All terrific cameras, fully capable of producing beautiful files.  Choices.

Jeff 

[jankap]

The rangefinder mechanism is a pure mechanic construction and relatively costly. Electronics is simpler. 

And Leica is marketleader in the area of the Monochrome cameras: Leica CAN.

[lykaman]

Exquisite  Camera - Fantabulous Marketing that Opens Fat Wallets..   L

[a.noctilux]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

6 hours ago, hirohhhh said:

I have SL and CL, which combined costs less than M10 Monochrom (which I like btw). Can someone explain why M10 is so much expensive? 

Expensive things have some appeal or attractive aspect.

I thought the same, "too expensive"  when I did not have the first Monochrom some years ago.

I tried to do with my then M8/M9 converting files, not so bad results.

But ...

I was always haunted by the Monochrom, resistance was futile.

As always, I've found a way ( or ... "managed" in 2015 ) to  have the first Monochrom for acceptable trading with my less used MP plus € .

With some years of Monochrom use, I can say that I had done the right decision, after thousands of so good b&w photos.

Then came the M246 for another satisfaction in b&w files.

 

At the end I don't need/want the M10 Monochrom, ( too high money amount to put in it ) but I'm fortunate to keep those first two Monochroms with satisfaction.

 

Don't we have luck to be able to choose from three M Monochrom ?

 

[farnz]

21 hours ago, hirohhhh said:

Can someone explain why M10 is so much expensive? 

A factor could be the M10M's custom-designed 41 MP sensor and amortization of the design and development costs.

Pete.

[Luft]

From IIIf to M3 in 1954. That camera, stabled among other top cameras of various formats served for over 55 years as a favorite until forced out of the darkroom by cancers. Digital offered an alternate whose capabilities made child"s play of difficult chemical photography manipulation. Initial quality was lacking and equipment upgrades necessary. I never got interested in Leica digital offerings until the M10 Monochrom was announced. There was no resisting it. Sure there are little things I'd like changed but the range of capabilities gives one a sense of power not available elsewhere. Direct access to extensive manual control without some common digital camera restrictions is a boon. All this in a familiar beautifully engineered and manufactured piece of art is why Leiica "can" as some say. As I approach 92 years I'm delighted to have lived to enjoy such technology to challenge my creativity. That is "why," a very personal thing. Luft Pfeiff

[250swb]

On 4/27/2020 at 3:58 AM, hirohhhh said:

I have SL and CL, which combined costs less than M10 Monochrom (which I like btw). Can someone explain why M10 is so much expensive? 

Because they aren't going to sell as many of them. The option would be to raise the price of all the other cameras in the Leica range to subsidise the Monochrom and bring it's price down, but that in itself would be unsustainable because sales numbers for the lower priced cameras would fall. 

[John Miranda]

It’s not rational, is insanely expensive, but I am enjoying my M10M immensely,  and made a metal 20x30 inch print from this camera that I appreciate as much as other prints made in the past 20 years.

Edited April 29, 2020 by John Miranda
text fix

[Ko.Fe.]

Who else sells Monochrome like this?

 

[hirohhhh]

On 4/27/2020 at 6:54 PM, Luft said:

From IIIf to M3 in 1954. That camera, stabled among other top cameras of various formats served for over 55 years as a favorite until forced out of the darkroom by cancers. Digital offered an alternate whose capabilities made child"s play of difficult chemical photography manipulation. Initial quality was lacking and equipment upgrades necessary. I never got interested in Leica digital offerings until the M10 Monochrom was announced. There was no resisting it. Sure there are little things I'd like changed but the range of capabilities gives one a sense of power not available elsewhere. Direct access to extensive manual control without some common digital camera restrictions is a boon. All this in a familiar beautifully engineered and manufactured piece of art is why Leiica "can" as some say. As I approach 92 years I'm delighted to have lived to enjoy such technology to challenge my creativity. That is "why," a very personal thing. Luft Pfeiff

Wow 92, and still taking photos and writing on the forum, that's really for respect! What's your secret? 

I never had an opportunity to try Monochrom, and I won't have it until they open the store again, but I'm wondering, if you don't mind, are these photos taken with M10 special just straight of the camera? Are you taking JPEGs only? How these are different than those shoot with my SL and converted to black & white and adjusted in a post?

In fact, I also have Fuji X100F, that I keep set to B&W since the day I bought the camera. When I feel shooting black & white, I just pick Fuji and 100% of the photos I shot with that camera are monochrome. Of course, most of them are slightly adjusted in post, such as highlights, shadows, contrast etc. The only thing that Fuji was $1000

Also, i don't want to be "that guy" comparing apples and oranges, because I know what Leica brand means (I own couple of Leicas and I paid a fortune for them), but I just want to understand when it comes to the black & white photography, is it worth if I already own SL and CL and I can convert to b&w anytime. Do I really get anything other than feeling shooting with some special model of Leica.

Would really like to go to the store and check myself, but I can't...

[hirohhhh]

2 hours ago, John Miranda said:

It’s not rational, is insanely expensive, but I am enjoying my M10M immensely,  and made a metal 20x30 inch print from this camera that I appreciate as much as other prints made in the past 20 years.

I think you said everything in this sentence. I can hardly justify even my SL to my fellow Nikon photographers, but who ever experienced that feeling, knows.

[frame-it]

3 minutes ago, hirohhhh said:

I can hardly justify even my SL to my fellow Nikon photographers, but who ever experienced that feeling, knows.

and in case you wanna level-UP >

 

[hirohhhh]

19 minutes ago, frame-it said:

and in case you wanna level-UP >

 

Too big

[otto.f]

On 4/27/2020 at 9:03 AM, jankap said:

The rangefinder mechanism is a pure mechanic construction and relatively costly. Electronics is simpler. 

And Leica is marketleader in the area of the Monochrome cameras: Leica CAN.

Yes, and  M10’s rangefinder has been developed through to a toplevel never reached thus far in M. With my 90mm SAA, or Summilux 75, I can make 80% well focused if I use the 1.4 loupe, with the M10 it’s 100% without loupe. 
And then there’s the risk of warranty called in by customers for adjustments, which is higher than for other camera’s. Often Leica is quite lenient with warranty. My M9 sensor was once replaced outside warranty and before corrosion because of a scratch. 

Edited April 29, 2020 by otto.f

[lykaman]

Leica have always been expensive relative to other cameras, they offer something that no one else can and that's why we pay the money..  My wifey was gobsmacked when I purchased my M-P240 Safari Set.. The fact is, one she saw the results the price was a secondary matter.. The Image is what matters & Leica offers us that level we all desire.. If you cannot afford it, it becomes a want (maybe rent for a week) if you can afford it, enjoy.... No food, kids with no shoes, car broken down ~ as I told the repo man ~ I gotta Leica    L

[Advertisement]

Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[robert blu]

On 4/28/2020 at 3:54 AM, Luft said:

From IIIf to M3 in 1954. That camera, stabled among other top cameras of various formats served for over 55 years as a favorite until forced out of the darkroom by cancers. Digital offered an alternate whose capabilities made child"s play of difficult chemical photography manipulation. Initial quality was lacking and equipment upgrades necessary. I never got interested in Leica digital offerings until the M10 Monochrom was announced. There was no resisting it. Sure there are little things I'd like changed but the range of capabilities gives one a sense of power not available elsewhere. Direct access to extensive manual control without some common digital camera restrictions is a boon. All this in a familiar beautifully engineered and manufactured piece of art is why Leiica "can" as some say. As I approach 92 years I'm delighted to have lived to enjoy such technology to challenge my creativity. That is "why," a very personal thing. Luft Pfeiff

Welcome to the forum Luft !

[leicaassassin]

Simply put because you get such a high quality, super high resolution,  monochrome image in such a small form factor that inspires you to take the camera wherever you go.  There is something sexy, emotive, intuitive, and quick about using an M that most don't understand until you own or use the camera for a week or longer. When you master a rangefinder you can focus in a way much quicker than AF.  You can capture streets scenes, fashion, portraits, in a way that feels fun, quick, and with practice it is entirely an extension of your hand and brain ultimately.  My fujifilm GFX 50R never does that no matter how much I practice with it, nor does my hasselblad H5d. If you know how to leverage a camera like this properly you can make the money back quick.