earleygallery Posted May 23, 2008 Share #41 Posted May 23, 2008 Advertisement (gone after registration) That would be a bit like buying a limited edition Aston Martin without an engine. Totally pointless after all it is the performance of both the lens and the car which is the appeal to owners and collectors alike. Flagship manufacturers produce limited editions of their because they can and I would say well done Leica. I am sure it must be very satisfying for the workers of these companies to these celebration pieces launched Of course, it's the same 'logic' which makes people buy the best performing 4X4 but only ever drive it in the city, or a divers watch which they take off before going into the shower! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted May 23, 2008 Posted May 23, 2008 Hi earleygallery, Take a look here Special Limited Edition Noctilux-M. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
andybarton Posted May 23, 2008 Share #42 Posted May 23, 2008 That would be a bit like buying a limited edition Aston Martin without an engine. Totally pointless after all it is the performance of both the lens and the car which is the appeal to owners and collectors alike. In that case, why are there collectors who buy shrink-wrapped pieces from the factory, and never remove the shrink wrap? It's all about rarity, not any intrinsic respect or appreciation of the actual object itself, in many cases. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craftsman Posted May 23, 2008 Share #43 Posted May 23, 2008 That would be a bit like buying a limited edition Aston Martin without an engine. Totally pointless after all it is the performance of both the lens and the car which is the appeal to owners and collectors alike. Flagship manufacturers produce limited editions of their because they can and I would say well done Leica. I am sure it must be very satisfying for the workers of these companies to these celebration pieces launched __________________ The workers are probably laughing at the gualibilty of anyone who would spend $16,000.00 for something that they could buy for $6,000.00. I could see something like this in a museum where everyone could ogle at "the last Noctilux" ooooooohhh , but sold to individuals so they can take it out once and a while and look at it and think just how special they are to own one of "the last one hundred" or maybe brag to their Lieca friends. Most special, limited, one of a kind. never to be duplicated, objects are made for the idiots with more money than comon sense.Yea, well done Leica. There truly is a sucker born every minute and for this offering you only need a hundred. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thai.charlie Posted May 23, 2008 Share #44 Posted May 23, 2008 Leica isn't giving us the full story. How about the 10 units that the Sultan of Brunei had made in gold? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted May 23, 2008 Share #45 Posted May 23, 2008 ...It's all about rarity, not any intrinsic respect or appreciation of the actual object itself, in many cases. All collectors are not the same. Some of them are not interested in rarity that much. Pleasure to fondle a masterwork. Not so easy with a nikanopus digicam to be honest. With an M8 either but it is another story... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted May 23, 2008 Share #46 Posted May 23, 2008 ...The workers are probably laughing at the gualibilty of anyone who would spend $16,000.00 for something... At the exception of the craftsmen who made this very thing perhaps? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenneth Posted May 23, 2008 Share #47 Posted May 23, 2008 Advertisement (gone after registration) In that case, why are there collectors who buy shrink-wrapped pieces from the factory, and never remove the shrink wrap? It's all about rarity, not any intrinsic respect or appreciation of the actual object itself, in many cases. I totally agree but we must remember we are talking addictions here. Collecting is very addictive. It is comparable to OBD obsessive behaviour disorder for which there is a 12 step program to help sufferers. But I do not think Leica can be blamed for tapping into this lucrative market. Whatever we say about Leica they are first and foremost a commercial organisation responsible to their shareholders Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speenth Posted May 23, 2008 Share #48 Posted May 23, 2008 I just wish Leica would get off this horse. Leica's strength lies is in its understanding of the science and practice of photography, paired with engineering precision, craftsmanship and commitment to excellence. Leica should play to its strengths and stop making a fool out of itself by trying to appeal to the bling brigade. At this critical juncture in Leica's evolution, this is entirely the wrong message to be sending to the greater mass of potential customers. This bit of nonsense states quite clearly that if you have taste you should look elsewhere. It says that if you are a serious photographer, you should look elsewhere. It says that if you are anything less than stinking rich, you should look elsewhere. Sad, that at a stroke, Leica alienates the very customer-base its struggling to attract in order to win over a few rich gits. Please Leica - stop parading your frilly panties to those with more money than taste. You're insulting all of us that love you ... and we remember when you so disastrously went down this road once before. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ddp Posted May 23, 2008 Share #49 Posted May 23, 2008 Sad, that at a stroke, Leica alienates the very customer-base its struggling to attract in order to win over a few rich gits. What is Leica's target demographic these days? The recent grad from art school looking to get into the business? A photojournalist in their early 20's? Let's say a kid get's $5000 USD for his graduation...he's a talented photographer and wants to push his craft further. Well...right now, a Canon 5D, and 85 1.2 and a fast wide are going to gert him a lot further than an M8 with no lens. And to be fair - Nikon and Canon have their share of ultra exotic, hard to find glass out there. Nikon has made special editions of the F5 and other cameras that were collector oriented. Personally, I like gear....I like using it as well, but I also like reading about the exotic stuff I'll never see or touch. I'll probably never drive a Koenigsegg or a Veyron, but I love reading about them. Before the M8 came along, the Noctilux was usually the most polarizing topic on a Leica or rangefinder based forum. Nice to see it back at the top.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted May 23, 2008 Share #50 Posted May 23, 2008 I just wish Leica would get off this horse. Leica's strength lies is in its understanding of the science and practice of photography, paired with engineering precision, craftsmanship and commitment to excellence. Leica should play to its strengths and stop making a fool out of itself by trying to appeal to the bling brigade. At this critical juncture in Leica's evolution, this is entirely the wrong message to be sending to the greater mass of potential customers. This bit of nonsense states quite clearly that if you have taste you should look elsewhere. It says that if you are a serious photographer, you should look elsewhere. It says that if you are anything less than stinking rich, you should look elsewhere. Sad, that at a stroke, Leica alienates the very customer-base its struggling to attract in order to win over a few rich gits. Please Leica - stop parading your frilly panties to those with more money than taste. You're insulting all of us that love you ... and we remember when you so disastrously went down this road once before. Rubbish. It's a bit of clever marketing. Don't get excited about it. Regards, Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speenth Posted May 23, 2008 Share #51 Posted May 23, 2008 Rubbish. It's a bit of clever marketing. Don't get excited about it. Regards, Bill "Marketing is the management process responsible for identifying, anticipating and satisfying consumers' requirements profitably" (Chartered Institute of Marketing UK). I see no evidence of marketing here, clever or otherwise. This little bit of nonsense is not an issue in itself - my concern lies in the corporate decision-making behind it. Leica must wake up and live in the real World or it will fail. I just hope that Porsche Consulting will be giving that message very clearly, very soon, or this time, we truly will be seeing the last ermine lined, panther-skinned, pink, pearly Leica boxed set. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenneth Posted May 23, 2008 Share #52 Posted May 23, 2008 Rubbish. It's a bit of clever marketing. Don't get excited about it. Regards, Bill Without a bit if clever marketing, as you put there may not be a Leica. As I mentioned early, all flagship companies take advantage to bring out limited edition commemorative models because they know there is a ready market for them and anyway they are "not personally doing you any harm at all": so maybe we all need to get over it. Hands up if you copied and pasted the pictures of the lens posted at the beginning of this thread, I did. On a slightly different note I find it sad that there is not a Leica stockist in my home city, Leeds. There were 4 a few years ago. In fact Leeds cannot boast to having a real photographic retailer at all Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craftsman Posted May 23, 2008 Share #53 Posted May 23, 2008 It's like the line from the Beetles song "would you walk away from a fool and his money" Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speenth Posted May 23, 2008 Share #54 Posted May 23, 2008 It's like the line from the Beetles song "would you walk away from a fool and his money" A sanguine viewpoint. In the Graben, one of the more upmarket shopping streets in the heart of posh, wealthy, conservative Vienna, there's long been a traditional huntin', shootin' 'n' fishin' shop - all tweeds, walking sticks, wicker hampers, good guns, classy survival gear and old world values. Very expensive, very snooty, very good address. A quality shop in a country where hunting, shooting and fishing are still big business. This weekend I noticed it was gone - and the 'Fossil' fashion bag shop has replaced it. A marketing failure I fear. That traditional sporting shop's twindling band of loyal patrons would no doubt have admired the dreadful humidor-imprisoned Noctilux. The Fossil generation would just laugh and walk away, contempt for Leica forever fixed in their collective subconscious ... and that's the real harm done here. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted May 23, 2008 Share #55 Posted May 23, 2008 Without a bit if clever marketing, as you put there may not be a Leica. As I mentioned early, all flagship companies take advantage to bring out limited edition commemorative models because they know there is a ready market for them and anyway they are "not personally doing you any harm at all": so maybe we all need to get over it. Kenneth, we are of one mind on this. Regards, Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael_b_elmer Posted May 23, 2008 Share #56 Posted May 23, 2008 They do have a great sense of humour, those Germans! The price in Germany for the Noctilux with its humidor is 10.000 €, see MEISTER CAMERA Berlin: Neuheiten Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
zapp Posted May 23, 2008 Share #57 Posted May 23, 2008 Leica has just announced a special, limited edition Noctilux. These will be the very last 100 Noctiluxes ever made. They come in a special, custom humidor box hand-made by Elie Bleu Tabletier in Paris. Only 100 are being offered world-wide, which means only a handful will be offered in the US. Price is $16,100 for this collectable edition. Delivery will start in July 2008. You can check out more info on our website: Leica Special Edition Noctilux-M 50mm f/1.0 David The only sad thing about this offer is that Leica used insider knowledge to push the price. If somebody tells you that you have just bought the last Noctilux, you would try to get rid of it on eBay for 10000 and more. So they had the idea first. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
elviskennedy Posted May 23, 2008 Share #58 Posted May 23, 2008 In all of the angst over this item have we missed the possibility that a newly designed ASPH version is on the way? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saloti Posted May 23, 2008 Share #59 Posted May 23, 2008 I would not expect a new 1.0 lens, more I would expect that Leica has decided -for good reasons- to leave, step by step, their historically very narrow niche position. Let us be honest : who really makes/made use of an aperture of 1.0 ? Saying this I have to admit that I bought the Noctilux 2 years ago, for 1.500,- €, second hand, perfect condition.... However, I would never put 5000 Euros or more into such a lens, definitely not! From a commercial point of view it makes sense for them to sell the last 100 ex. at this price, why not. What might happen is that they will launch e.g. a 1.2/50 ASPH at a much more reasonable price, offering basically the same lens quality... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted May 23, 2008 Share #60 Posted May 23, 2008 I would not expect a new 1.0 lens, more I would expect that Leica has decided -for good reasons- to leave, step by step, their historically very narrow niche position... Why? Never change a winning team A 50/0.95 is expected according to some rumors. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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