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@humerc @benqui  thanks for the serial numbers

@fabior   @egrossman thanks for that, another two new batches ...

Here is the current list of M10-D Batch numbers, implying a total production run of 1400 units:

53265xx    
53323xx        
53324xx
53325xx    
53326xx
53327xx
53332xx
54883xx        
54885xx        
54908xx        
54911xx    
54925xx
55003xx    
55004xx

Anyone who has an M10-D with a serial number not in those series then please do let us know about it ...

 

Edited by Datsch
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On 9/6/2021 at 11:30 PM, Datsch said:

Using the same method as in the M-D thread https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/297947-m-d-type-262-production-numbers/ I had a quick go at seeing how many batches of 100 might have been made using serial numbers. (We gathered serial numbers and found only 15 batches, implying 1500 M-D's in existence. )

For these M10-D numbers I took only serial numbers that have been published, either as an image, eg in a review or for sale picture, or from EXIF info shared on flickr.

5326550  

If you have a serial number that is not in these series, please post it (you can xx out the last 2 digits if you are shy) ...

Thanks

55015xx. Purchased Feb 2021

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Thanks @hutchinson14 and @Phil_P those are both from new batches, which together with 53328xx which I found as the dpreview test camera, brings us to 1700 units.

So I think we can already call it that the M10-D sold in larger numbers than the M-D (1500) though they are both quite limited editions really ...

 

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5332796, one of the first ones delivered in US. (Nov 2018)

I also had (briefly) a pre-production camera which had to go back to be shared at Fotokina.  That one was 5326579.  Some of them are apparently in circulation.  Here's a shot from Sept 2018 with that camera

 

Edited by scott kirkpatrick
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@Steven @scott kirkpatrick @poli @M9reno

 

Thanks folks,

That makes 1900 units.

This time I've also added ?????? where it seems likely there were other batches of M10-Ds, which could be as many as 2600 if it turns out those slots were also made.


53265xx

53323xx
53324xx
53325xx
53326xx
53327xx
53328xx
???????
???????
???????
53332xx

54883xx
???????
54885xx

54908xx        
???????
54910xx        
54911xx

54925xx

55002xx
55003xx
55004xx

55012xx        
???????
???????
55015xx        

 

 

 

 

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I wonder how many units have to be sold for Leica to start to make a profit?  Or, if a profit is possible?  The most expensive series M digital was the Monochrom, and someone posted recently that Leica lost money on each camera.  Not unusual, if true - VW apparently lost a massive amount on each Bugatti Veyron.

I’d love to get inside Leica’s pricing on its cameras.  I’m sure some were relatively cheap and easy to make (the T/TL/TL2 cameras were CNC fabricated and assembled in Portugal, aside from the “hand polishing”), where others must be marginal.  I would hope that each production M camera is profitable, and perhaps the special editions, but small run versions must cost quite a bit more.  Some, like the Monochrom, may not have made a profit regardless how many were produced.

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@Steven is that net sales you're talking about?

Call it 2000 units, at $/E/£7000 each retail. Half goes to the VAT and the retailer. That's 2000 * 7000 / 2 = 7million for Leica's production and marketing and profit.

Sure margins may be low, they may be high, but let's say 10% net profit on 7m which is 700,000

Of course, there are pretty much fixed startup costs of introducing a new model -- R&D, design, testing, tooling, sourcing parts (eg rotary backplate ISO dials ...😄 )

So it's more like 'how many units before it starts to wash its face' and then after that you're churning them out with a decent profit per unit.

We might get a clue from limited edition runs which we must presume are profitable ... they often have extremely small R&D and startup costs as changes are mostly cosmetic (eg sourcing a batch of different coloured leather, setting up the CNC machines for a different engraving, etc), plus they charge more for the product. So even a little change is expensive to make.

The -D's have much harder stuff to produce -- new firmware, new backplate, new dials, so would need to be sold in more than limited edition numbers?

Edited by Datsch
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Whatever the economics, even as a loss leader the -D is so iconic and so much part of the Leica ethos, such distinctive branding and so talked about by non-Leica users, it does a terrific amount of good and so is worth keeping for an M11-D ...

When I now handle cameras with a screen, they seem to be archaic, old-fashioned, primitive ... screenless is stressless ... pure photography ... no menu-anxiety ... no 'did I remember to switch off the auto-ring-tailed-lemur-tracking-mode?' ...

Edited by Datsch
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51 minutes ago, Steven said:

I did. From a forum member. And I couldn’t be happier with it. Such a gorgeous camera. The only pity is how bad the app is designed. It’s so bad that nothing would have been better. 
 

Great, good to hear!

Totally agree about Fotos, it's pathetic........But once the camera is set up with Fotos you can pretty much never use it again until there's a change you want to make. I've not changed my M10-D's setup for two or more years and I never use Fotos for viewing the images, ( what's the point? ).

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1 minute ago, Steven said:

100%. But the wifi icon is still there and bothers me. It adds an ugly touch of modernity I’m a timeless design. Such a pity. 
My biggest gripe with the camera is that I cant format the card without using the app. 

With you in all of that too.....It should have been more like the original MD but in the M10 body size and shape with no Wifi stuff at all.

I've had intermittant troubles formatting SD cards in camera........Sent the camera back to Wetzlar twice for attention and it's still not 100% with that function....Sometimes works, sometimes doesn't. So now I just format the SD cards on my Mac, or even format a few of them in my M10-P, then use them on the M10-D, that works fine. Better than trying to kickstart the flakey WiFi connection, quicker too! 

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  • 1 month later...
On 9/7/2021 at 5:46 AM, sinjun said:

I got the one from MPB - sorry to have pipped you!  I've been watching them come up occasionally for some time, and the price on this one was too good to pass up. I'm sure there'll be other opportunities for you.  Condition is virtually mint but I can't get it to work with Fotos on my phone, which will be a problem if I can't get it resolved.

For connecting to Fotos, first, before starting the Fotos App,

1.) enable the WiFi setting on the back wheel.

2.)Wait for the blinking light at the bottom righthand corner to stop (no more light). 

3.) Startup the Fotos App, You should see your camera's identity spinning to access. If not you will have to register the QR code that is associated with your camera. This is located on the bottom side of the camera, once you remove the bottom plate.

 

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On 9/14/2021 at 10:43 AM, petermullett said:

With you in all of that too.....It should have been more like the original MD but in the M10 body size and shape with no Wifi stuff at all.

I've had intermittant troubles formatting SD cards in camera........Sent the camera back to Wetzlar twice for attention and it's still not 100% with that function....Sometimes works, sometimes doesn't. So now I just format the SD cards on my Mac, or even format a few of them in my M10-P, then use them on the M10-D, that works fine. Better than trying to kickstart the flakey WiFi connection, quicker too! 

You can format your card using the Fotos App

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