Would you buy a new M9 in 2012??

[jtm6]

Originally Posted by fstops

If someone is willing to pay $1000 more for an under-featured camera but with better dials and 'feel", then its very hard to argue with that rationally; however, there is nothing wrong with that. The whole luxury goods market will collapse if people begin to rationalize their purchases.

Many would say they aren't under-featured; the others are the result of unnecessary creeping featurism.

[Roger Hicks]

Originally Posted by jtm6

Many would say they aren't under-featured; the others are the result of unnecessary creeping featurism.

Fascinating. Thanks. In the early 80s (or perhaps late 70s) I was involved with ICL's (International Computer Ltd.) Virtual Machine Environments, optimized for different applications, from VME/A (or maybe B) to VME/K -- only two of which, as far as I recall, survived the Darwinian selection of the marketplace.

Cheers,

R.

[ajramirez]

Well, I did buy a new M9P in April 2012, but only when it became reasonably evident that the announcement on May 10th was going to be a monochrome only camera. I do not regret my purchase for a second. However, if I had to make that decision now, I would wait the additional four weeks until Photokina just to see what, if anything, will be announced.

I bought the M9P precisely because it is "under-featured." All I wanted was a camera with a shutter speed dial, lenses with aperture rings, convenient and effective manual focus, and the best possible IQ at reasonable ISOs. I wanted the digital version of my M6.

Regards,

Antonio

[icebear]

I got my M9 in April. I wouldn't want to have it any other way. It's not perfect but for a Leica M user going digital, it is good enough .

I do NOT want:
- to read a 300+ page instruction manual to get the basic settings before going to take the first picture.
- to be confused with countless sub menus and options
- a camera overloaded with nice to have features, that 95% of users might never use, that are loaded in there to bulk up the feature count - you have to pay for this stuff and it makes the use more complicated.

[seakayaker1]

Yes, I would buy a M9, M9P Chrome, or a M9M without any hesitation.

. . . . . the only thing that stops me is not having the money. I could sell off some stuff but do not want to do that right now.

I have enough, more then enough, I often want just one more . . . . .

[gdi]

Originally Posted by Ben Z

But my numbers adjust for the fact the 5D sold at a premium above MSRP at first when it was first announced and in short supply. Street prices settled to normal as supply caught up with demand, and as the camera progressed toward the inevitable end of it's product life. With the M8 OTOH, regardless that supply had caught demand and sales were slowing, Leica arbitrarily chose to jack the price up several times, and as of 6 months prior to the M9 going on sale (when it absolutely had to have been already finalized if not in the beginning stages of production), were still fibbing to us that a full-frame was impossible until current technology advanced. That fib is what convinced me to upgrade my M8 to the tune of $1700, of which I got back maybe $500 on resale above what a non-upgraded body would have fetched.

I don't see how your numbers adjust for anything; you just chose numbers and points in time that make the 5D residual value look most favorable when compared to the M8. The 5d list price was about $3300 when introduced (it makes no sense to try to compare sales at a "premuim" over retail), and since then the price dropped.

The M8 list price did increase. If your point is that Leica takes advantage of their small user base and somewhat unique market position to raise prices on old products, it is well taken - just look at thre absurd price increases on lenses in the last few years (and no, this can not be fully accounted for by FX fluctuations, for those about to say so!).

I can see being upset if you upgraded an old camera; I never saw that as a reasonable value proposition (like paying more for an M9p than an M9), so I was never tempted. Just be glad you didn't buy an M8 based on the explicit promise to make it perpetually upgradable - especially now that Leica indicates (according to reports) that a failed LCD is not repairable!

[fivepointsix]

Originally Posted by ajramirez

Well, I did buy a new M9P in April 2012, but only when it became reasonably evident that the announcement on May 10th was going to be a monochrome only camera. I do not regret my purchase for a second. However, if I had to make that decision now, I would wait the additional four weeks until Photokina just to see what, if anything, will be announced.

I bought the M9P precisely because it is "under-featured." All I wanted was a camera with a shutter speed dial, lenses with aperture rings, convenient and effective manual focus, and the best possible IQ at reasonable ISOs. I wanted the digital version of my M6.

Regards,

Antonio

The very same reason I brought the m9-p,brought it 4 months back to run along side the mp,love how I can switch between cameras with no major difference .if it lost 2 grand before Christmas I don't think I'd be that mad,this ones for life(well as long as Leica can still repair the thing if it fails)

[sailronin]

I did buy a new M9 in 2012. I upgraded from my M8, very happy as I'm not the least bit interested in an EVF version of an M. The M Monochrome was very tempting but was always happy with SilverEfx Pro and the M8 files, M9 files have proved to be just as good (same sensor design, just larger) with SilverEfx. Very happy with the M9.

[__hh]

Never again.

[brokencivilian]

I personally am going to grab an m8 when the prices drop even further. I know its not full frame but it will get my head around a digital M. Then I can see if upgrading to an m9 or whatever would be a good decision.

[IEDEI]

Originally Posted by brokencivilian

I personally am going to grab an m8 when the prices drop even further. I know its not full frame but it will get my head around a digital M. Then I can see if upgrading to an m9 or whatever would be a good decision.

they won't drop much further IMO. I just bought one last week...and have been stalking them for a few months. The prices are very very stable.

when you look at stuff like the Digilux 2 which is stable in the $600-$800 range...then surely the M8s will never go below $1500 and are likely to stay in the $2-$3k range for a long time...

[brokencivilian]

Originally Posted by IEDEI

they won't drop much further IMO. I just bought one last week...and have been stalking them for a few months. The prices are very very stable.

when you look at stuff like the Digilux 2 which is stable in the $600-$800 range...then surely the M8s will never go below $1500 and are likely to stay in the $2-$3k range for a long time...

I've seen a couple around 1900-2100 range, which is lower than the last time I was looking to get one.


But that's true, I doubt they'll drop much. Until they break.

[albygentle]

I would get a M8 in 2012..really the quality i get from my M8.2 and 35 Summilux FLE is pretty amazing..i love how it renders.

Im sure the m9 is just as good. Point is, they are not outdated in my opinion.

[Nick]

Here in Hong Kong, I'm seeing grey market prices for M9-P's at $43,000 HKD ($5544 USD), and standard market prices (with warranty) as low as $48,000 HKD ($6189 USD).

To me, it's approaching the price range where I'd be willing to buy new. The only thing holding me back is September 17. If Leica can bring out a decent full frame at the $5-6k USD mark, I'd definitely buy.

On the used side, there's very little stock I can see across the usual sources.

I'm just worried that M9-P stock might dry up post September 17th, especially if the newly announced stuff is either prices at ridiculous levels, or is completely unavailable. I also doubt there'd be an updated -P equivalent (ie without red dot/markings) for at least a year or two.

[LCT]

Why spending the big bucks for an end of life camera w/o even knowing what the M10 will offer? Hardly reasonable IMHO. M9 prices won't go up anyway so it'll do no harm to be patient a bit for a couple of weeks if there is no urgency.

[helenhill]

Simply No...

in my Opinion just Plain Silly amount of money for a Digi camera
Rather spend it on Film & Completing Film based Projects
And have the Sony RX100 or the OMD5 ........

[wjlapier]

Not new. I purchased Eric Kim's M9 not too long ago. I'd prefer my 35mm 'cron to be 35mm, not whatever it is on a M8. I'm happy with the purchase and am glad it came a little brassed. Still working some files, but what I see color-wise and sharpness-wise I'm amazed. Never saw anything like this with Nikon AIS lenses.

[gdi]

Originally Posted by Nick

Here in Hong Kong, I'm seeing grey market prices for M9-P's at $43,000 HKD ($5544 USD), and standard market prices (with warranty) as low as $48,000 HKD ($6189 USD).

To me, it's approaching the price range where I'd be willing to buy new. The only thing holding me back is September 17. If Leica can bring out a decent full frame at the $5-6k USD mark, I'd definitely buy.

On the used side, there's very little stock I can see across the usual sources.

I'm just worried that M9-P stock might dry up post September 17th, especially if the newly announced stuff is either prices at ridiculous levels, or is completely unavailable. I also doubt there'd be an updated -P equivalent (ie without red dot/markings) for at least a year or two.

I would hold my breath waiting for Leica to offer an M10 for less than an M9/M9P/MM. But I guess anything can happen....

[IEDEI]

Originally Posted by gdi

I would hold my breath waiting for Leica to offer an M10 for less than an M9/M9P/MM. But I guess anything can happen....

there are rumours of 2 different cameras being released....an M10 and something called the "ME" which is supposed to be a stripped down 'budget' M rangefinder.

either way....very exciting to see what's coming.

[jsrockit]

Originally Posted by IEDEI

and something called the "ME" which is supposed to be a stripped down 'budget' M rangefinder.

Curiously, this info came from one source ... and not your typical source.