Leica announces $1300 special edition 'G-Star RAW' D-Lux 6

Oh my, the video is bordering on hilarious. Easily some of the most pretentious drivel I've heard in years:
"So the challenge becomes more about...sort of...how little design you can add, just to underline the usefullness of an object"
WHaaa?
"Instead of redesigning the camera, we're re-imagining it".
The only thing they're imagining is how much money they can rake off of their devoted clan of suckers.

All of these extensive comments and nary a one about the functionality of the camera or any appreciation for aesthetics - at all. Y'all must not be good photographers, having zero appreciation for aesthetics or fashion. Maybe everyone here applied at Vogue and was turned down? If I were Vogue, I'd check to see what my applicants say online.

This is hilarious. I finally sold all my Leica stuff this year. I started becoming uncomfortable to be seen with it. These days the brand is more recognizable as nouveau-riche jewelry than as bullet-proof tools of photography. Call me vain for not wanting to look like an ostentatious tourist in my own city... (I sure got some amazing M43 gear for a fraction of the Leica investment.)

I love how they are still selling the cameras with tripe like this: "Discretion and unobtrusiveness are particular strengths of the M-System. For instance, the Leica M-E’s shutter action is extremely quiet.... ...a reason why M-Photographers often go unnoticed and simply blend into the scenery."

Really? Even with all that Breitling, Armani, Prada, Fendi, etc... on?? :D

This is no new modification for for special clients, this is simply a joke with the customer's intelligence

Tsk, tsk, tsk

From a full frame film legend...

To a paltry 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) speck.

How the mighty have fallen...

.

Leica has been doing this kind of stuff for years. The latest is only the most recent of a long line of so-called "collector's items." Why do they do this? Because there are a bunch of suckers out there.

If Leica isn't careful they are going to end up hurting themselves with these silly releases.
Leica has always been a well respected brand, but moves like these are... Well, to put it simply- people are starting to laugh at Leica.

Okay, there is just one thing you guys have forgotten:
Leica did contribute its lens design to base LX7 and is the fastest arguably sharpest lens in the advanced compact category. Image quality and sharpness is a step above the Fuji X20, for example, as a result. And this is achieved on ten megapixels versus 12. So Leica should be given some liberties to market its own versions.

I wish that the likes of Leica and HB would use their resources and the ability to sell cameras at premium prices to create (or at least collaborate on) cutting-edge innovations instead of pathetic gimmicky niche-market toys.

as for any leica announcement, I have to cite Andreas kaufmann that possess LEICA : “We’re not a luxury brand, but we are elite, and price plays a role in how we see products.”

It's Enerst & Young that posted that: http://www.ey.com/RU/en/Services/Strategic-Growth-Markets/Exceptional-CIS--September-2012-January-2013---Picture-perfect---Leica

This camera is built on asian countries, designed by panasonic, and itj's agreat $450 camera from my point of view.

Maybe this camera (the panasonix LX7) is worth $1000+ when you add a "Red Dot" and fake leather on it?

I only got so far down this page and found myself agreeing/lining every comment.

Leica have been producing 'Emperors suit of clothes' cameras for yonks and if there are people out there daft enough to pay then good look to them. Hopefully, I'm not that daft...

that's the most smelly commercial bullsh!t I've read today! or even this week.

Why only $1300? I bet Rolex could make a killing by re-badging Timex and Swatch watches.

hahahaha next.

Bullshi*

All my friends who can only afford Panasonics will be so jealous when I pull this baby out of my Gucci man bag.

Just because you wouldn't buy this camera doesn't mean its bad. The camera is aimed at those that want to make a fashion statement and have extra disposable income.

You won't see these buyers hanging on forums to put down the vanilla cameras that other manufacturers produce.

It seems the people here only approve of gear they actually own and everything else is inferior. I feel sorry for you guys who look through life half empty.

What's all the whining about? This camera is not for the average Joe. It is targeting consumers who buy a pair of Manolo Blahnik shoes for $2000 and drive them home with an Aston Martin Zagato. For those people the price of the Leica is a bargain. The world is heading to a way of serving the upper 10% only, even Adobe is walking this way. It's becoming a big club and you ain't in it!
(me too btw)

Uninteresting edition of an already uninteresting camera...

Why don't you just buy a Panasonic LX7 and a G-Star Raw t-shirt?

I like my D-Lux 6 just the way it is. It serves a specific purpose. I don't like Leica AG's bad habit of putting bad marketing ahead of good (or great) photography, tip-toeing around the marketplace with "almost M" cameras that are more status symbol than precision tools. And often at absurd prices. Dressing up a perfectly good D-Lux 6 in odd colors and textures and brand logos doesn't make it a an M. That so many photographers are will to spend five-figures on decades old Leicas just show how irrelevant the new Leica fashion cameras have become. Here's an idea: Buy up and refurbish many of the secondary market used Leicas cameras and donate them to art schools under the condition they remain school property. Go back to making the very best new professional tools and the market will follow.

this Leica reminds me of Hasselblad Lunar which is just a rebadge of NEX-7

Leica should be a case study for stand-up comedians in late night shows. How to produce useless things for rich people making poor photos.

WTF Happened to Leica ? This use to b the bench mark of what all cameras aspire to be & should be .. Now u buy one of these and as u walk of people will giggle and think& whisper " poser " behind ur back

It used to be Leica's camera's made the name, now the name makes the camera. This is what happens when marketing trumps engineering.

Nice looking camera ...... but not 1000$ nice

Does anyone know any of the customers Leica is targeting with this thing? I'd like to sell them some land...

I have no issue with any of this. The LX7 is a fine compact camera. The D-Lux 6 adds the Leica improved colour processing, a copy of Lightroom and the red dot branding.

This designer special extends the idea further giving the very fetching leather trim (making it a fine looking camera to me) and the designer case and strap.

My ex-wife often blew a grand on some overpriced fancy designer bag. It was part of her costume to help her feel at ease in the various social circles she mingled in. It wasn't my thing, and could have thought of a hundred other things to blow the money on, but it made her happy.

The best camera is the one you always have with you. One approach is a good compact camera. But there's no doubt these have a consumer electronics or tech-geek look about them.

This is a very smart looking camera which could help the stylish, who would normally shun carrying a gadget, to enjoy the benefits of the camera you have with you.