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Michael Reichmann on the Leica M8.2 Safari.

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Stovall

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"Under the heading From the Sublime to the Ridiculous today brings a press release from Leica that they have produced a limited edition Leica M8.2 in olive green paint finish and a silver anodized LEICA ELMARIT-M 28 mm f/2.8 ASPH. lens in a 'Safari' edition.

Let me know when they produce a verison covered in reticulated Ostrich testicles and I just might be interested."

http://luminous-landscape.com/whatsnew/#337

--

'No matter how capable it may be, any camera you have to hold out in front of you like a tourist is not cool.'
Dean Forbes
 
"With a production run limited to only 500 units , this special-edition "Safari" includes as well as the olive green painted LEICA M8.2 and the silver anodised finished LEICA ELMARIT-M 28mm f/2.8 ASPH.lens, an exclusive Billingham camera case and an elegant carrying strap, bearing an embossed Leica logo. The inspiration for the olive green paint has been the M cameras supplied by Leitz to the „Bundeswehr" (German Army) in the 1960's as well as the LEICA R3 „Safari", both of which are much sought after today and therefore very expensive."

http://us.leica-camera.com/photography/special_editions/leica_M8-2_safari/?mid=430

It was in the January Leica Newsletter.

--

'No matter how capable it may be, any camera you have to hold out in front of you like a tourist is not cool.'
Dean Forbes
 
Leica makes these things because collectors (not photographers) buy them. I don't like when companies rely on past reputation to sling products. Who cares if the German army used these in the sixties? What are they using now? What did they use in the seventies for Pete's sake? Leica should be offering R series SLRs at a reasonable price to compete with D700s and 5D Mk IIs. Everytime I see a photographer who used to be known for working with a Leica (Thomas Hoeppker, David Alan Harvey, etc etc) they are now holding a Nikon or Canon. I don't like it, I love Leicas, but if they don't offer a competitive product, why bother with one?
 
I think it is not cool to pick on Leica because the company introduces a limited edition of the M8.2. There are many people who like the M8 and they have money to buy it. People value Leica products differently compared to Nikon or Canon. It is a low blow (i.e., substandard) that degrade those who make such comments. If you don't like it don't buy it. Leica cameras are always built with high standard, the M8 and M8.2 are the first attempt, the M9 (in the future) will be a better camera. If you don't think the M8 (or M8.2) is good enough then wait for the M9 or buy other camera.
 
because to me Leica is a tool and it is meant to be used. The reason I hate these limited editions is the knowledge that they will never be used. It's such a gigantic waste of fine instruments. It is the waste that I detest.
 
Some seem to take thei own "OPINIONS" a little to seriously.

If someone wants & can afford a "Special Edition, for whatever reason - be it Titanium or Olive Paint, Silver Plated ... or Solid Gold - who's to say "it's wrong?"

I appreciate the fact that Leica can offer, & has a market for these "exclusive" items - more power to them!

Foolish? "You can't take it with you" ...

Best.

--
Vaya con Dios.
imo
(c) fastglass
 
My understanding on this is not the brand, but the way how Leica do their part as they proclaim, the top quality photographic equipment Mfr and how they go about their business.

I recall in earlier years when Leica keep pumping out incarnation and incarnations of M6 , and yet without any sight of any real improved M7 in sight ... the similar logic can be said for Leica today within context.

There is no Leica R10 as of yet but the DMR is long gone. The S2 is not even a current product. the M8.2 do not fix the one single most problematic part of the M8, namely the Sensor's spectral response.

If they had the time and effort to do the S2, and keep tauting it while nobody sure if they can had one on time. Or doing things like the safari ... then they might as well do a proper R10 and M9 instead.

Its that kind of how Leica doing business that drives many old Leica user away. We do apprecaite the craftsmanship, we do appreciate the quality, but then we ask that the equipment to work and perform top as they demand the price. as of today, that is questionable
--
  • Franka -
 
Frank

Be patient.... I had a M6 for years and decided that the M8 or M8.2 are not good enough for me to buy. I believe that leica has to do things in parallel: to get the R body a nd the S2 series ready but in the mean time, the company has to make some money (from those who like those limited edition series) to survive.
 
... helps Leica pad its bottom line and, in turn keeps the company in business. To claim that a camera sold to a collector (which I'm not, all my gear is decidedly user though well-kept) is a waste is akin to claiming that a camera sold to a novice is a waste because they won't use it to its "potential" by an arbitrary standard.

There are some people out there, no doubt, who bought an M8.2 who will set it to auto everything and just focus, set the aperture and go. Where on the continuum of proper use does that fit vs. people who put them up on the shelf?

--
'Nice pen, bet you write good stories with it.'
 
Well , I had my screw mount leica, and a nice film scanner .... I suppose I am patient enough.

I guess I am old enough to know the price hike Leica been starting since the day of the M4-2, and seeing the logic or rather illogic of it all. I would wagre the dilemma Leica been having, but as a consumer, I can only put it this way, Leica put themselves there, not the market.

I would not object to them making those collector's item, its their inability to develop, deploy, and market up to date ( and not faulty ) product that's made it so negative on the implication. In fact, one of my friend who is an avid Leica Collector, had even more acute word on the matter ( which I cannot put on this forum as its public and those wording are well just not appropriate )

--
  • Franka -
 
I don't own the Leica yet, I generally read about something, here as well, for about a year to edumacate' myself.

But I just have to echo, with what Reichmann did on his first review of the M8 by holding back on the faults and watching so many people purchase this camera and become SO upset, I would not trust him if he told me the sky was blue. (well, the sky really is NOT blue, but you get my meaning I hope)

It was the worst thing I've ever seen in this business and I don't know how he keeps LL running.

Best of luck.
T
--
Regards,
Tom
My Blog for Photographers with Challenges and/or disabilities:
http://www.thewarriorseye.org/blog
 
Stovall said:
"The inspiration for
the olive green paint has been the M cameras supplied by Leitz to the
„Bundeswehr" (German Army) in the 1960's as well as the LEICA R3
„Safari", both of which are much sought after today and therefore
very expensive."
Click to expand...
Inspiration? I'd prefer the word Desperation!

Neither the Bundeswehr Leica M, nor the Leica R3, is particularly 'sought after' today. Both are hard to sell, and do not fetch inflated 'collector' prices. Had you bought one of these cameras (say) ten years ago, you'd be very lucky to get back what you originally paid. This is especially so with the Safari R3.

The Bundeswehr M is more desirable, especially if you have one with the green case and lenses. But the interest in such things is not what it used to be. Part of the problem with these particular editions is that neither camera looks all that attractive. Quite frankly, Olive Drab is a pretty awful colour!

What's especially absurd about the so-called 'Safari' M8.2 is its complete lack of suitability for its intended purpose. I mean, come-on - if you were going on Safari, almost the LAST camera you'd choose to take with you would be an M8.2 with 28mm lens! I know it's got a nice quiet shutter, but you're still likely to be eaten alive or trampled to death if you approached a wild animal holding this camera.

J M Hughes
 
James M Hughes said:
I know it's
got a nice quiet shutter, but you're still likely to be eaten alive
or trampled to death if you approached a wild animal holding this
camera.

J M Hughes
Click to expand...
Hmm.....: you could swing the whole heavy package in its face. certainly with the green 180mm/F4, which was a dog anyway: might cause a welcome diversion :-)
 
--Obviously, there are those who will buy a Leica M8.2 Safari because they want to. They may use it like a glorified p&s, or may never use it at all but want to be seen with a special edition Leica. The same people spend premium bucks on a Land Rover that they will never leave the suburbs with.

W.C.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/29320396@N05/show/
Digilux 2
FZ18
'Are you warm, are you real, Mona Lisa?
Or just a cold and lonely, lovely work of art?'
  • 'Mona Lisa', recorded by Nat King Cole - 1950
 
In addition, the majority of those who buy leica M have money to spend, they are the ones who have 5 digits salary scale and they don't have time to read this forum (not like most of us who are on this forum). Taking cheap shots at Leica on this topic are degrading, just to show how low can you go... (with the language used on that website about the issue) I expect a gentleman to behave better. "To buy a Leica range finder M is a love commitment not a business decision".
 
for the unreticulated version myself.
 
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