Guest flatfour Posted August 25, 2006 Share #1 Posted August 25, 2006 Advertisement (gone after registration) Leica really are trying terribly hard to keep the new camera secret. I rang Milton Keynes today to enquire about delivery on coded customer lenses from Solms. The charming girl said £75 and 3 to 4 weeks. I said that will fbe ine because the camera will be launched by then. Silence. I asked whether they were taking orders for the M8. She said she didn't know anything about an M8 or M8.2 for that matter. I asked her what M lenses were being coded for then ? She replied 'a digital camera'. So that will be the M8 then. She said she didn't know anything about an M8. I must give her and Leica full marks for keeping this so quiet and doing it so charmingly. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted August 25, 2006 Posted August 25, 2006 Hi Guest flatfour, Take a look here Leica trying very hard.. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
marknorton Posted August 25, 2006 Share #2 Posted August 25, 2006 My contact in Solms Customer Service similarly responded "What camera ;-)" when I send a mail to thank them for the excellent work they did coding my lenses and CLA'ing one of them and mentioned "All I need now is a camera to put them on!". I think it's incredible that in this age of the Internet, there isn't a single plausible picture doing the rounds; a few sighting reports, certainly, some of which may be valid but others may just be attention seeking by people who should get a life. They've done a great job in keeping it under wraps. I expect the Leica stand at Photokina to be mobbed. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
franklinh Posted August 25, 2006 Share #3 Posted August 25, 2006 Yes, they are keeping it secret. I admire them for doing it as well. There is some considerable integrity about a company that does not speak or announce a product until you can actually buy it. Apple has been considerable successful with that approach to product announcements. Have you noticed that Canon and Nikon have announced their new digital camera and printer products that will be shown at Photokina. They seem like products that are only incrementally different than previous models. Though I am biased in my interest in Leica Rangefinders, Leica has a chance to show a dramatically new ground-breaking digital camera. My contact in Solms Customer Service similarly responded "What camera ;-)" when I send a mail to thank them for the excellent work they did coding my lenses and CLA'ing one of them and mentioned "All I need now is a camera to put them on!". I think it's incredible that in this age of the Internet, there isn't a single plausible picture doing the rounds; a few sighting reports, certainly, some of which may be valid but others may just be attention seeking by people who should get a life. They've done a great job in keeping it under wraps. I expect the Leica stand at Photokina to be mobbed. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wparsonsgisnet Posted August 25, 2006 Share #4 Posted August 25, 2006 I agree -- and add that based on the leaks we ARE getting, it appears that "a new digital camera" will be pretty much what we have asked for in the Forum. Good for Leica. Not only do they know how to keep their mouths closed, they know how to build good, new products. If I get what I am expecting, I am going to be very pleased -- in other words, I will continue to be a happy Leica user. And based on the buzz that I for one am feeling, they really know how to generate buzz. Won't it be nice when the people who started it all and who make the best lenses are once again a name that people know? Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marknorton Posted August 25, 2006 Share #5 Posted August 25, 2006 Bill/Franklin: Agree absolutely. So good that they are not shouting from the roof-tops. Of couurse us enthusiasts want to know every detail but it's much better that they bide their time and present the camera when they are ready. I'm very much looking forward to this thing. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrc Posted August 25, 2006 Share #6 Posted August 25, 2006 Yeah...but what if it were not announced? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marknorton Posted August 25, 2006 Share #7 Posted August 25, 2006 Advertisement (gone after registration) In that case, we'd all have egg on our faces but I think it's inconceivable that they will not announce it on 15 September and show it to the Great Unwashed like me on 26 September. As it happens, I am driving past Solms on 12 September, so I might stop by and rattle their cage. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guy_mancuso Posted August 25, 2006 Share #8 Posted August 25, 2006 Honestly i bought the DMR site unseen and now have 2 of them. Success all the way around . The M8 is a absolute no brianer for a site unseen product. this is going to be huge and bigger than the DMR splash. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marknorton Posted August 25, 2006 Share #9 Posted August 25, 2006 Thank you Guy, good to see such optimism! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ho_co Posted August 25, 2006 Share #10 Posted August 25, 2006 Honestly i bought the DMR site unseen and now have 2 of them. Success all the way around . The M8 is a absolute no brianer for a site unseen product. this is going to be huge and bigger than the DMR splash. I agree completely, Guy. I think it will be even bigger than Solms expects. The M series has always outsold the R, and we're all ready to blow our tops for this one. Remember with the DMR, Leica had two different internet chats to announce the product and sustain interest. Nothing like that necessary here! Why, the demand for the M8 may be enough to keep Leica in business for another year or so! --HC Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
philipotto Posted August 25, 2006 Share #11 Posted August 25, 2006 Guy, Will you be purchasing an M8? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
adan Posted August 26, 2006 Share #12 Posted August 26, 2006 I heard today that camera dealers breaking the NDA will have their M8 shipments embargoed until January. That explains the "What M8?" response. Punishment for Leica reps and employees breaking the NDA involve acid vats and fingernails, I'm told - 8^) Not sure what Leica threatened Sean Reid with - double 8^) I also heard that Leica USA folks are following our threads on the M8 (here, RFF, Photo.net, etc.) for the entertainment value - some of our speculations have them ROTFLTAO - and some guesses are actually pretty close to the truth ("Gee, they were SO close with that one") Source would not, of course, say WHICH guesses were close! The "picture of the Digital Leica" that showed a guy with an 8x10 (and no computer) was especially appreciated - a link to that one was emailed to Solms. I understand the 'send' button will be pressed on emails announcing the REAL DEAL at 12:01 am (00:01 for those on 24-hours clocks) Sept. 15 - but it is not clear yet whether that will be 12:01 in Solms - or 12:01 at Leica NY - or 12:01 local times. Reading (or listening) between the lines - we may have been a week or two optimistic in terms of shipping dates. I.E. don't necessarily count on shooting pix of All Souls Night (Halloween) with your new M8 - but Armistice Day/Veteran's Day (Nov. 11) parades are likely a safe bet as subject matter. Since Leica has NOT revealed any official shipping date up to this point, this does not mean they have missed a deadline - just that our imaginary shipping date may be premature. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guy_mancuso Posted August 26, 2006 Share #13 Posted August 26, 2006 Phillip i want real bad and if the leica guys are reading this , i want a freaking test camera to run against the DMR , you owe me. Seriously i do really want one and i know myself much to much , I do turn 50 in December, could someone leak this info to my wife. i know i will buy one , i simply can't resist but i just dropped about 10k on a complete platform change to Mac. Macpro Laptop and a Mac pro desktop. so i need to figure out how to fund this which i estimate with 3 lenses about 9k. i have a tin can here anyone got a dime. :) There is a image of it floating around. looks even better than what i thought Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marknorton Posted August 26, 2006 Share #14 Posted August 26, 2006 It's interesting that there is much more apparent interest and speculation on the International forum that there is on the German forum... As for which features had them rolling in the aisles, I hold my hand up to some blue-skying, but I didn't think they were THAT off the wall! The idea of a €2500 Tri-Elmar might have got them going though... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveYork Posted August 26, 2006 Share #15 Posted August 26, 2006 Yes, they are keeping it secret. I admire them for doing it as well. There is some considerable integrity about a company that does not speak or announce a product until you can actually buy it. Apple has been considerable successful with that approach to product announcements. Have you noticed that Canon and Nikon have announced their new digital camera and printer products that will be shown at Photokina. They seem like products that are only incrementally different than previous models. Though I am biased in my interest in Leica Rangefinders, Leica has a chance to show a dramatically new ground-breaking digital camera. Integrity? Maybe. But am I the only one who fiinds this both annoying and unecessary? At some modest level, it's a little disrespectful to ans presumptuous of your customers. I can understand with the DMR debacle why they might be a little reticent about delivery dates, but one of the few things they mentioned. It'll soon be water under the bridge, but in my mind they're not buidling any type of customer loyalty this way. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveYork Posted August 26, 2006 Share #16 Posted August 26, 2006 Honestly i bought the DMR site unseen and now have 2 of them. Success all the way around . The M8 is a absolute no brianer for a site unseen product. this is going to be huge and bigger than the DMR splash. Yes, it's going to be a huge seller, at least for the first couple of years. And you can expect a severe back log in getting one unless you pre-order. And that's one of the reasopns they probaly don't feel the need to leak any information. But I don't understand what is the purpose behind this hush, hush policy. Why? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlm Posted August 26, 2006 Share #17 Posted August 26, 2006 When the camera is finally revealed, could there possibly be any negative features that would be a deal breaker for Guy and Mark? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marknorton Posted August 26, 2006 Share #18 Posted August 26, 2006 I am of course anxious to see all the details revealed but I respect Leica's desire to keep it under wraps until the last minute, especially if the camera is then available within a reasonable time. Contrast that with the ludicrous Panasonic L1 situation where 6 months in, it was dribbled onto the market to a decidedly luke-warm reception. No deal breakers for me. I feel certain Leica will have got this camera right because their future depends on it and I'm certainly not going to wait for the opinion of some reviewer with an axe to grind and gripes about the price. I'm No 2 at my dealer for a black one, paid my deposit and will order another once the viewfinder/finish/a la carte options are clear. The only thing which might cause a sharp intake of breath is the price of the new wide-angle solution whatever form it takes. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ho_co Posted August 26, 2006 Share #19 Posted August 26, 2006 I don't understand what is the purpose behind this hush, hush policy. Why? Better question might be, why not? As I recall, only the DMR was announced in advance. The internet chats helped spur interest, but only generalities were known before its release. Otherwise: M5 just appeared one day, though we knew "something was in the wind." Same with M6, same with M7. This is no different except that they told us ahead of time they would go digital, and gave us a date. And this one is big and we're ready. Our speculation is their best advertising. As for 'deal-breakers,' I don't think Leica has ever messed up on an M body. (That includes the M5, my favorite M to date. And I don't see the MD or MDa as an "M body" in the same sense.) Roll on 9/15! --HC Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marknorton Posted August 26, 2006 Share #20 Posted August 26, 2006 Roll on 9/15 Less than 3 weeks... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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