Jump to content

Pricing of the X1 and M9


jimleicam3

Recommended Posts

So that was the mistake, it would have stayed upright when avoiding other animals :D

 

Actually, this characteristic of the Mercedes A was discovered by a Swedish car magazine. The run a test they call "the Elk test" on all cars they test.

 

The reason for performing this test is that Elks in the road is a problem in Scandinavian forrests. We (in Norway) even have our own warning sign for this:

http://www.grong.kommune.no/nordtrondelag/grong/grongk.nsf/bilder/j0427905.jpg/$FILE/j0427905.jpg

 

Forgive for posting a picture that probably not is taken with an M

Link to post
Share on other sites

By the time you finish processing 500 rolls, either film or M9 will be history :eek:

 

Really? I don't think that'd be all that hard to do even at hobby levels in 2 years...

 

I hope the M9 costs the same as 500 rolls of B&W film, processed. Even name brand stuff like Tri-X is only $4/roll, and chemicals to process it is about $15/50 rolls. So that'd be only $2150 :)

 

Honestly, if there's any hope of me buying one, it has to be around $5k (or less). Maybe, just maybe, it will come in at that price, but I suspect it will be a bit more expensive.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Really? I don't think that'd be all that hard to do even at hobby levels in 2 years...

 

 

yes, why not? like many people, if one shoots his/her dog, garden weeds, son, and occasionally the poor spouse - then even 250 rolls x 36 shots / year might fall short to vent one's "creativity".

Link to post
Share on other sites

I shoot a lot more than 500 rolls/year, but I'm not a hobbyist. Many pros would have no problem justifying the price of an M9 kit. And for amateurs, if you figure out the monthly cost of your hobby over a, say, 3-5 year lifespan for the camera, then it's easy to decide if you can or can't live with the cost.

 

I'd be thrilled if the M9 price comes in about the same as the M8.2 or a tad higher. I'm hoping for $6000-6500, though I fear it might be higher. I already told my dealer that I want two if they're priced reasonably.

 

I don't believe in the whole concept that buyers jumping in because the camera is priced low is a bad thing. Go over to lightstalkers or anywhere else young pros hang out, and it's clear that lots of people love rangefinders, but what they don't love is paying a high price for a camera like the M8.2 that (on paper at least) doesn't even match the specs of a 5dII.

 

If, however, it was priced more in line with the other manufacturers high-end dslrs, people who love rangefinders but have switched to DSLRs (since they need digital for assignment work) might again consider Leica.

 

The M9 doesn't need to be competitive with the 5dII price, but if it offers similar specs at a price close to the D3x or 1dMKIII, maybe it will be taken seriously as a tool instead of a luxury item.

 

Same for the X1, or whatever it's called. I've heard countless photographers ask for a compact fixed-lens camera with a good fast lens and a large sensor. If this camera is priced below or around $1k US, they'll sell like crazy. I'll buy one for backup, holidays and for a camera I can hand over to my girlfriend, etc.

 

For $2500, it'll be a flop (see my point about luxury items above).

Link to post
Share on other sites

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I hope the M9 costs the same as 500 rolls of B&W film, processed. Even name brand stuff like Tri-X is only $4/roll, and chemicals to process it is about $15/50 rolls. So that'd be only $2150 :)

.

 

My math worked out more at around $7.50/36 and just over $8/roll for processing.

 

I'm hoping the M9 will remain worth about 200 rolls of processed film by the time Leica returns for their triennial dip into my pocket, sometime in the fall of 2012.

 

As you can see, half a lifetime of coming up with justifications and rationalization for buying insanely expensive toys has yielded rich dividends...:p

Link to post
Share on other sites

My math worked out more at around $7.50/36 and just over $8/roll for processing.

 

I'm hoping the M9 will remain worth about 200 rolls of processed film by the time Leica returns for their triennial dip into my pocket, sometime in the fall of 2012.

 

As you can see, half a lifetime of coming up with justifications and rationalization for buying insanely expensive toys has yielded rich dividends...:p

 

Yeah :D I process at home :)

Link to post
Share on other sites

I shoot a lot more than 500 rolls/year, but I'm not a hobbyist. Many pros would have no problem justifying the price of an M9 kit. And for amateurs, if you figure out the monthly cost of your hobby over a, say, 3-5 year lifespan for the camera, then it's easy to decide if you can or can't live with the cost.

 

I'd be thrilled if the M9 price comes in about the same as the M8.2 or a tad higher. I'm hoping for $6000-6500, though I fear it might be higher. I already told my dealer that I want two if they're priced reasonably.

 

I don't believe in the whole concept that buyers jumping in because the camera is priced low is a bad thing. Go over to lightstalkers or anywhere else young pros hang out, and it's clear that lots of people love rangefinders, but what they don't love is paying a high price for a camera like the M8.2 that (on paper at least) doesn't even match the specs of a 5dII.

 

If, however, it was priced more in line with the other manufacturers high-end dslrs, people who love rangefinders but have switched to DSLRs (since they need digital for assignment work) might again consider Leica.

 

The M9 doesn't need to be competitive with the 5dII price, but if it offers similar specs at a price close to the D3x or 1dMKIII, maybe it will be taken seriously as a tool instead of a luxury item.

 

Same for the X1, or whatever it's called. I've heard countless photographers ask for a compact fixed-lens camera with a good fast lens and a large sensor. If this camera is priced below or around $1k US, they'll sell like crazy. I'll buy one for backup, holidays and for a camera I can hand over to my girlfriend, etc.

 

For $2500, it'll be a flop (see my point about luxury items above).

 

Maybe a bit off-topic.

 

I've just visited your website. You're a really great photojournalist. As far as I can judge that from my humble position. I saw a lot of strong pictures in your portfolio.

'positive buzz-sentences' (I don't know if this word really exists in the English language lol) like 'a picture must tell a story' apply very well.

 

To make the link to the thread title. Tell us how a M9 supports your work and results and I'm sure a few M9's more will be sold. :)

 

Good light!

Link to post
Share on other sites

 

I'm hoping the M9 will remain worth about 200 rolls of processed film by the time Leica returns for their triennial dip into my pocket, sometime in the fall of 2012.

 

If it's $8000 , then my time frame for acquiring M9 will match yours. But, who knows, by then Canon and Nikon will dish out Leica Middle format at a much cheaper rate, and PhaseOne and Hassy would further drop their price - all fighting for the "$8000 for a 35 MP-16 bit-15 stop DR camera" pie. M9 will look like an odd expensive one out there.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...