4 New Cameras was released by Leica for the upcoming Photokina Exhibit.

1) The legendary Leica-M series with new M8
2) Leica DIGILUX 3 (http://www.dpreview.com/news/0609/06091410leicadigilux3.asp)
3)Leica V-LUX 1 (http://www.dpreview.com/news/0609/06091409leicavlux1.asp)
4)Leica D-LUX 3 (http://www.dpreview.com/news/0609/06091408leicadlux3.asp)

www.dpreview.com (http://www.dpreview.com) :Grin:

I've read that Leica's first digital rangefinder, the M8 would cost $4,500. Could this be da bomb in this year's Photokina? :)

i guess so. much more like a collector's edition.

OH MY GOOD JESUS!
The M8 looks very sexy indeed!

Okidokee... Cameras for the filthy-rich!

Sure looks great. Mmm, I read in the Financial Times it would cost $5,300 dollars. Any idea why it's much more expensive than a basic DSLR? Is it just the "Leica" brand?

Fidel,
It's not a dslr first of all. Its a rangefinder camera. Im guessing the reason why Leicas are very expensive is because they are made in germany. That and the name. The Leica name delivers with it prestige. The lens lineup (M-Mount) is ridiculous too. Imagine a 45mm F/1.0 lens thats sharp from center all the way out. They take extra care with producing their cameras and each one is treated like a gem. The Leica's have a history of being the choice camera for street photography and many purists agree on this point. Another reason could be the digital sensor by kodak. Kodak makes sensors for the Hassie digital backs too I think :)

IF, I had the money, I'd get the Leica M7 or the Leica MP and some Nice glasses and buy out a whole lot of Kodak Tri-x 400 film :D

Sonny, I see, I see, so it's the brand name and the attention to manufacturing detail and precision that adds to the price tag.

I did check out your link on Chris Week's street photos; they sure look great! I then googled the Leica M7s and boy, they are expensive too. When I first heard of the M8, I did wish it was cheaper than the M7s but apparently, that's not the case. Oh well, haha.

Goodluck to Leica.

Well good luck with that...

Weird analogy... or isn't it?!? :D

So Leica's are like the "Bentley or RR" of photography?!? :Grin:

So Leica's are like the "Bentley or RR" of photography?!? :Grin:

Yes, I think that's it. So Canons and Nikons are :gasp: Toyotas and Nissans? :Grin:

I don't think you'd be able to appreciate a Leica M unless you own one (or at least used one). Kinda like a Bentley, don't you think?

Still waiting for a DRF (digital rangefinder) I could afford. A Zeiss Ikon Digital, perhaps? Or better (read cheaper) yet, a Bessa R2D/R3D. :)

Just looking at the M Lenses (http://www.leica-camera.us/photography/m_system/lenses/) makes me want to own a Leica one day.

Epson's R-D1 may be the first digital rangefinder in the market, but now the spotlight is in Germany :)

I am a proud owner of a leica m6 (film camera) and I love this camera in particular for street and travel photography (the body and 3 lenses fits into my purse). I love the way it looks and the simplicity of using it. I have been dreaming about this day for a long time. A digital rangefinder made by Leica. The M8:Love: The price tag it has is quite steep I must admit...however, I did buy the 5d when it was first launched at almost the same price as the going rate of the M8 and have not regretted that purchase.... now if I can only convince my husband...:Grin:

Pilar,
I'm curious... what are the other 2 lenses on that M6? :P
Nino told me you have the f/1.0

Really wish I could shoot with a Leica soon. Want to know what it feels like :)

I am a proud owner of a leica m6 (film camera) and I love this camera in particular for street and travel photography (the body and 3 lenses fits into my purse). I love the way it looks and the simplicity of using it. I have been dreaming about this day for a long time. A digital rangefinder made by Leica. The M8:Love: The price tag it has is quite steep I must admit...however, I did buy the 5d when it was first launched at almost the same price as the going rate of the M8 and have not regretted that purchase.... now if I can only convince my husband...:Grin:

:Grin: I believe that Pilar has extraordinary powers of persuasion...
The M8 will be in your hands sooner than you know it... :)

There are L lenses, and there are M lenses :Grin:

Information about rangefinders in general here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rangefinder_camera) and Leica M series and lenses here (http://www.imx.nl/photosite/leica/leicaM.html)

Who deals the Leica brand here in Manila?

Wanna order? Available late November.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/polegario/Cameras/LeicaM8Price.jpg

oh yeah... the M8 is indeed sexy:)

price though is obese:)

oh yeah... the M8 is indeed sexy:)

price though is obese:)

You got that right Bro.! It's not for mere mortals like us... :D

:SunGlass: I also have the Tri-Elmar 28-35-50

All this leica talk is making me want the M8:Love: more and more each day!!
I hope Santa is good to me this year!:Grin:
Oh and btw, I want the black one.

Pilar,
I'm curious... what are the other 2 lenses on that M6? :P
Nino told me you have the f/1.0

Really wish I could shoot with a Leica soon. Want to know what it feels like :)

:SunGlass: I also have the Tri-Elmar 28-35-50

All this leica talk is making me want the M8:Love: more and more each day!!
I hope Santa is good to me this year!:Grin:
Oh and btw, I want the black one.

Pahawak nalang ako Pilar when your M8 arrives... I promise I'll wear gloves... :Grin:

Here's a link (http://www.imx.nl/photosite/leica/m8report/t006.html) taken from Rob Galbraith on initial test reports of the M8.

thats one sweet cam.

i got a silver leica m8 last week and my only lens for it so far, 35mm summicron, last sunday. i've been yearning for this camera since the day it was announced on the net. finally, i can relax now. the long wait is over.

i got a silver leica m8 last week and my only lens for it so far, 35mm summicron, last sunday. i've been yearning for this camera since the day it was announced on the net. finally, i can relax now. the long wait is over.

How about some shots ;)

i hope someday i get to be soooo rich so i can buy me one. these cameras are handsoooome *drool*

marlon,

i'll post some shots as soon as i figure out how to do it. never done it yet kasi eh

http://www.flickr.com/photos/goduco/436453409/
shot in jpg. my aperture software could not read dng profiles yet eh (this is the raw profile for the M8). this was taken around 7pm last night.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/goduco/436453409

i'll try again later. can't figure out how to post pics yet

http://www.flickr.com/photos/goduco/436453409.jpg

either i'm too old or too dumb to post pics here, or both :)

type url of image

If the image is in your flickr photostream, just copy the photo's url from the "All Sizes" tab and use it for the image url above.

Hi Edmundo,

You need to have a photobucket or flickr account. Upload your photo there first. After that copy the url of the image and you can past it here. if you see on this message box there is a toolbox with logo of a yellow mountain. if you place your curser over it it will say insert image. click on that. remove the word http:// and paste the whole url of your image from photobucket or flickr and press post quick reply. Thats it. Not getting too old. I too was confused in the beginning. We are all curious on how it performs.

I've held it and seen it in action. It is SWEET. One "senior" said, he bought it cuz he couldn't carry the big bodies and the lenses of today, the way he used to. O fcourse he was rich too. He got two, one for him and another "senior"...It cost about USD 5,000 for the body, and another USD 4,000 for the lens, plus something else....all in all in pesos it's P250t....It's really EYE CANDY, and it's SHARP. and it's LEICA.

I got the D-Lux 3 with a matching brown leather bag....it's all I can afford....hehehe but it's SWEET too.



Damn these NEEDFUL things.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/goduco/436453409/
shot in jpg. my aperture software could not read dng profiles yet eh (this is the raw profile for the M8). this was taken around 7pm last night.
That's a nice night shot!
Here's what you do. Copy the link of the image itself which is "http://farm1.static.flickr.com/155/436453409_05b7d54dba.jpg?v=0"

then on the message window click the photo button and insert the URL above :)
if you want to use the quick reply feature, the URL above you remove everything after ".jpg" and insert the URL in the IMG tags :)


http://farm1.static.flickr.com/155/436453409_05b7d54dba.jpg

EG, Very clean, crisp output. DG

thanks guys. this is my first time to use a rangefinder too. so i'm still getting used to it. one thing i can say about the m8 though is that it's really heavy despite its small size. i'll post more pics later po

i got a silver leica m8 last week and my only lens for it so far, 35mm summicron, last sunday. i've been yearning for this camera since the day it was announced on the net. finally, i can relax now. the long wait is over.

sir maybe its you who i saw at starbucks greenhills!:Grin: cant help but drool and drool to that cam of yours!hehehe parang na starstruck ako wen i saw it e. :Grin: congratulations that one hell of a cam!hehehe

I've held it and seen it in action. It is SWEET. One "senior" said, he bought it cuz he couldn't carry the big bodies and the lenses of today, the way he used to. O fcourse he was rich too. He got two, one for him and another "senior"...It cost about USD 5,000 for the body, and another USD 4,000 for the lens, plus something else....all in all in pesos it's P250t....It's really EYE CANDY, and it's SHARP. and it's LEICA.

I got the D-Lux 3 with a matching brown leather bag....it's all I can afford....hehehe but it's SWEET too.



Damn these NEEDFUL things.
how's the leica d-lux3 so far sir?:Grin: planning to get one myself for i couldnt afford the m8.hehehe

Fidel,

IF, I had the money, I'd get the Leica M7 or the Leica MP and some Nice glasses and buy out a whole lot of Kodak Tri-x 400 film :D

bro i would do the same and get to the streets with some real street photography.:)
ahhh....Leica.

May I know the dealer of Leica brand (M8) here in Manila.

IF, I had the money, I'd get the Leica M7 or the Leica MP and some Nice glasses and buy out a whole lot of Kodak Tri-x 400 film

bro i would do the same and get to the streets with some real street photography.
ahhh....Leica.


Got a few old Leicas, including one M3. Got many Russian look-a-leicas too. The latter are much more inexpensive and IMHO, can do just about anything those old screwmount Leicas can in street photography.

Leica lenses are expensive, but again there are great alternatives. Again, Russian/ex Soviet :D I have mostly (except for a couple of Elmars and Summitars, and a Summaron) Russian glass on my rangefinders. I've even adapted them on my M-3. They're also on my Epson R-D1s.

"Sharpness" isn't everything. Not to say that Russian lenses aren't sharp- by all means they are competent lenses, having Carl Zeiss Sonnars and Tessars as their ancestors. There is much that these old Soviet lenses do to the photos they shoot- a certain signature (or 'drawing' or whatever that's called) which is hard to define but easy to see. Not better or worse, just different. Cost effective too. How about a really fast f/1,5 50mm lens for less than US$70? Or f/2 50mms at about US$40?

(my M3 with a Jupiter-3 f/1.5/50mm)

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/51/188814119_5329881e5b_o.jpg

I could not say anything about street photography with a digital M, but with the experience I had with the R-D1s, I would say that a film rangefinder camera will still fare better. First, an old film RF will not go to 'sleep mode' when left untouched for a few minutes. It will always be ready to go. No lags, and will fire almost immediately. And in as far as street exposures go, film like TriX have generous exposure latitudes that even faulty exposures will almost always yield a good photo. Digital sensors will tolerate just about a stop in either direction before going bad.

Going out in the mean streets with an expensive trinket of a camera borders on suicide. An inexpensive camera means less thought about damaging or losing it or considering its use as a means for self-defence ! :D
Jay

May I know the dealer of Leica brand (M8) here in Manila.

Island used to carry Leica. Not they only carry Carl Zeiss RF cameras. These also use M mount lenses. There are also CZ lenses made in M mount which can be used for CZ RF, Leica M, and other M mount RF cameras from Cosina Voigtlaender.

Jay

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/175/443405947_31181e52c9.jpg
http://http://farm1.static.flickr.com/173/443402784_f1987dbf32.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/173/443402784_f1987dbf32.jpg

Sure looks great. Mmm, I read in the Financial Times it would cost $5,300 dollars. Any idea why it's much more expensive than a basic DSLR? Is it just the "Leica" brand?


The M cameras are rangefinders. They are hand-made. Plus there are a lot of components in them which are expensive and critical to manufacture. They are not mass produced - unlike most cameras now which go off the lines by the hundreds in a given day, there are probably less than 100 M cameras produced in a month. Many of the M components are real mechanical parts- not printed boards or ICs, but mechanisms which consist of real gears, levers, and chunks of glass. Same could be said of the digital M.
Manufacturing detail+ low volume+ high quality+ German made+Leica brand = $$$$$$$$. Add to that the costs needed to be recovered in the R&D :D