WOW-only 200 of these lenses will be made!

[patrickcolpron]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

36 minutes ago, 250swb said:

But then they discover another way to make a variant and bingo, you have another limited edition. Personally I think if Leica intend to make it so difficult for me to buy one (should the decadence of the whole concept appeal to me) they can stuff it where the sun doesn’t shine.

That dead horse keeps being beaten to no end. It needs to be put to rest.

It is a choice and I respect it, or you could develop a relationship with a brand you appreciate - over time they get to know you and what you want, you'd surely get priority access to these "limited edition" special lenses.

When I say Leica knows their customers, it is because I talk to Leica's staff about the lenses I want, i.e. knowing Leica, there will be a limited edition of this lens in black, when it comes and I'd like one. Just like they did with the Summaron 5.6 black and the 50/1.2 Chrome, there is a limited black version of it. Where I come from, the squeaky wheel gets the grease. I told them 4 times since the release of the Steel Rim reissue, I wanted a black Steel Rim when it came. 

I was offered the lens first, a week or two before it was even announced. I decided not to buy it a day after seeing it. I think for me, it was the wiser choice, wise choice even when I really wanted it. 

Regarding the high price of the special edition, I may not agree with it, but I am not in charge of Leica's pricing structure. It is the law of the jungle, he who wants the fruit must climb the tree first, Leica not only knows its customers and clients, Leica knows how much they are willing to pay to have those bragging rights. I am more into the end results, the photos I make with what I have than I am into the bragging side of it all... I don't baby my stuff. 

To be blunt I would have much preferred to have the choice or either a black or a chrome version of the Steel Rim from the get go, at 4K I would surely have purchased one of each. Sadly, it is not how Leica works but at €9995, more than double the price of the silver version it didn't make any real sense to me and I still almost made the decision to buy it.

They don't sell that many €4000 euros lens, it would be financially irresponsible to offer it in the colors of the rainbow, but... Shueido camera can help you with that. The husband of a friend of my wife customise Mercedes cars, makes custom modifications Mercedes doesn't do themselves, and even Mercedes sends him customers... All of this to say to every problem there is a solution. 

Or... or, you can decide you really had 'nuff of this and move on to Fujifilm* cameras. One can always decide to throw the baby out with the bath water... to each his own. 

And there might be something to that because every time I stopped buying a given brand for x-reason, I always discovered there was a better product and a better customer experience elsewhere. Pixii makes an m-mount, a modern digital range finder... I only have heard good things from them, who knows where one will find happiness. 

*insert any brand other than Leica you prefer here

Edited March 23, 2024 by patrickcolpron
P.S.: Too damn long but I hope this makes sense

[250swb]

18 minutes ago, patrickcolpron said:

That dead horse keeps being beaten to no end. It needs to be put to rest.

It is a choice and I respect it, or you could develop a relationship with a brand you appreciate - over time they get to know you and what you want, you'd surely get priority access to these "limited edition" special lenses.

When I say Leica knows their customers, it is because I talk to Leica's staff about the lenses I want, i.e. knowing Leica, there will be a limited edition of this lens in black, when it comes and I'd like one. Just like they did with the Summaron 5.6 black and the 50/1.2 Chrome, there is a limited black version of it. Where I come from, the squeaky wheel gets the grease. I told them 4 times since the release of the Steel Rim reissue, I wanted a black Steel Rim when it came. 

I was offered the lens first, a week or two before it was even announced. I decided not to buy it a day after seeing it. I think for me, it was the wiser choice, wise choice even when I really wanted it. 

Regarding the high price of the special edition, I may not agree with it, but I am not in charge of Leica's pricing structure. It is the law of the jungle, he who wants the fruit must climb the tree first, Leica not only knows its customers and clients, Leica knows how much they are willing to pay to have those bragging rights. I am more into the end results, the photos I make with what I have than I am into the bragging side of it all... I don't baby my stuff. 

To be blunt I would have much preferred to have the choice or either a black or a chrome version of the Steel Rim from the get go, at 4K I would surely have purchased one of each. Sadly, it is not how Leica works but at €9995, more than double the price of the silver version it didn't make any real sense to me and I still almost made the decision to buy it.

They don't sell that many €4000 euros lens, it would be financially irresponsible to offer it in the colors of the rainbow, but... Shueido camera can help you with that. The husband of a friend of my wife customise Mercedes cars, makes custom modifications Mercedes doesn't do themselves, and even Mercedes sends him customers... All of this to say to every problem there is a solution. 

Or... or, you can decide you really had 'nuff of this and move on to Fujifilm* cameras. One can always decide to throw the baby out with the bath water... to each his own. 

And there might be something to that because every time I stopped buying a given brand for x-reason, I always discovered there was a better product and a better customer experience elsewhere. Pixii makes an m-mount, a modern digital range finder... I only have heard good things from them, who knows where one will find happiness. 

*insert any brand other than Leica you prefer here

I don’t agree with having to suck up to any company by ‘developing a relationship’ to buy something, that makes you in their employ while charging you for the ‘privilege’ of getting a steel rim. Never heard anything so pathetic except for Ferrari owners who also embrace this form of bending over to get one.

Edited March 23, 2024 by 250swb

[patrickcolpron]

10 minutes ago, 250swb said:

I don’t agree with having to suck up to any company by ‘developing a relationship’ to buy something, that makes you in their employ while charging you for the ‘privilege’ of getting a steel rim. Never heard anything so pathetic except for Ferrari owners who also embrace this form of bending over to get one.

Call it what you want, it is not sucking up. 

I have been a long time client for Leica and over the years I got to know some of the staff very well.

I love people who mostly buy occasionally, I don't know you, this generalization is not about you*, anyhoo I love people who occasionally make purchases then complain when other people get limited edition lenses. Or how hard Leica makes it to purchase some of their products.

If they don't know you - don't expect preferred treatment. If you do, that's silly.

I don't agree or appreciate a chrome only version and a limited black edition, not even black paint at that. I'd rather Leica leave the choice of finish to the customer, me. But, they are building a brand, which keeps a high resale value. 
 

What I hear here is exactly the same complaints and arguments found on Rolex and Porsche forums, would you like some cheese with that whine? 

I also don't like the fact it is hard to get black paint versions of modern Digital M cameras, and lenses. Now if want to make sure you get a Black Paint M11, contact a Leica store soon, surely an M11 black paint is coming. Just like there was a black paint M10, or...

... or you can complain about how impossible Leica makes it to get these limited edition items after the fact, of course that's always easier. 

I certainly don't suck up to Leica and I know for a fact some people at Leica really don't like me at all because I have no qualms critiquing openly their bad products and design choices.

So not only my wife would tell you I am an idiot, she'd also tell you I am jerk, my wife is always right.

This is not here or there, you don't know me but are so quick to judge. That says more about you than it says about me. Anyhoo... 'nuff of this.

My father taught me well, he told me never to argue with people who are quick to judge. Just tell them they are absolutely right and move on. 

You are obviously 100% right in your assessment   

* if the hat fits...  

[Anbaric]

57 minutes ago, patrickcolpron said:

It is the law of the jungle, he who wants the fruit must climb the tree first, Leica not only knows its customers and clients, Leica knows how much they are willing to pay to have those bragging rights.

Leica take their customers for monkeys?

[hdmesa]

The problem with this 35 1.4 SR reissue black version (IMO) is not that it's expensive, it's that Leica chose the most common finish offered by every lens maker on the planet, which is anodized black.

 

 

[250swb]

53 minutes ago, patrickcolpron said:

 

I certainly don't suck up to Leica and I know for a fact some people at Leica really don't like me at all because I have no qualms critiquing openly their bad products and design choices.

 

You think that people at Leica don't like you, how high up in the company would that be for them to take notice and worry about your opinion? 

[overexposed]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

We need more pics of the lens attached to a black paint camera🥰

[FrozenInTime]

Over on the FM forum it has been commented on that in Leica's product  images, this new black chrome lens is shown with the flawed filter hood that vignettes rather than the lower profile replacement !

https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1779165/25#16504758

[TomB_tx]

The anodized aluminum reissue is clearly much cheaper to produce than the current 35 1.4 FLE design, so I could see Leica making a follow-up version also black anodized but without the stainless ring. Price it almost as much but more widely available. Would be a good profit...

[farnz]

I feel sure there was a saying about not feeding trolls or influencers but I can't quite put my finger on it. 🤔

Pete.

[charles tay]

On 3/22/2024 at 11:57 PM, algrove said:

The Steel Rim reissue in black will be sold at USD10,495 with just 200 copies made period. Talk about rare for the future of this lens.

If the sales prices of the black 28/5.6 lens are any indication, will this lens could also go up by a factor of 2-5 within a few years.

Given an opportunity would you own this lens? 

[TomB_tx]

5 hours ago, charles tay said:

Given an opportunity would you own this lens? 

No

[charles tay]

27 minutes ago, TomB_tx said:

No

Maybe I take the money to build the collection of second hand SL n M lens 

[Eoin]

14 hours ago, patrickcolpron said:

Call it what you want, it is not sucking up. 

I have been a long time client for Leica and over the years I got to know some of the staff very well.

I love people who mostly buy occasionally, I don't know you, this generalization is not about you*, anyhoo I love people who occasionally make purchases then complain when other people get limited edition lenses. Or how hard Leica makes it to purchase some of their products.

If they don't know you - don't expect preferred treatment. If you do, that's silly.

Therein lies the difference, you are a well know “Client” of Leica Camera AG, I and many like me are just  users.

I’ve registered every Leica camera, lens and accessory with Leica over the past 20 years and I still have quite a holding of current equipment. I have never had any communication from Leica other than one I started.

So as you say, one must become pro-active in nurturing the relationship.

 

[Jeff S]

Relationships are best built with dealers, not with Leica, for most. Good dealers maintain a Leica connection as needed.

Jeff

[algrove]

13 hours ago, charles tay said:

Given an opportunity would you own this lens? 

Probably.

[Rollei35]

4 hours ago, Jeff S said:

Relationships are best built with dealers, not with Leica, for most. Good dealers maintain a Leica connection as needed.

Jeff

This is the first time I heard about "relationship" to describe Leica users and dealers.

Last time I heard this non-sense is from Rolex forums. Rolex clients are systematically being gaslighted by the dealers to buy hundreds thousands dollars worth jewelries to build the "relationship" in order for them to just qualify to be on a waiting list to buy a Rolex watch, which may or may not be materialized in 2-5 years.

I can see Leica is very jealous about Rolex. Rolex is mass producing million watches, literally a million, every year, which are sold out before they get out of the door.

Leica has a long way to go.

Edited March 24, 2024 by Rollei35

[Jeff S]

46 minutes ago, Rollei35 said:

This is the first time I heard about "relationship" to describe Leica users and dealers.

Last time I heard this non-sense is from Rolex forums. Rolex clients are systematically being gaslighted by the dealers to buy hundreds thousands dollars worth jewelries to build the "relationship" in order for them to just qualify to be on a waiting list to buy a Rolex watch, which may or may not be materialized in 2-5 years.

I can see Leica is very jealous about Rolex. Rolex is mass producing million watches, literally a million, every year, which are sold out before they get out of the door.

Leica has a long way to go.

You must have some interesting personal relationships, given such dramatic  assumptions and requirements.  My experience having good business relationships with various Leica dealers for over 40 years has been far simpler.

Jeff

[overexposed]

First chinese seller is offering the lens for 122k usd

seems someone broke a contract

[Advertisement]

Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[RobW0]

4 minutes ago, overexposed said:

First chinese seller is offering the lens for 122k usd

seems someone broke a contract

Or the seller know that if they can find someone to buy at that price they can find someone willing to break the contract for a price that still give them a profit.