Price of new Leica M lenses

I've been a Leica M user with film cameras over a number of years before digital. There is no doubting what so ever the quality of the images that they produce but yesterday I was just browsing all the latest prices and I must say that IMHO they are now priced out of the market.

Just out of interest I'm using Contax lenses via adapters on my DSLR's and the IQ is very close to what the Leica lenses give. I also have a couple of SLR Leica lenses via adapters and at a much more affordable price they provide the quality.

How say you?
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I feel so much better now that I've given up Hope

http://www.pbase.com/davechilvers

No question some of the more exotic lenses are priced far above most of the competition - where it exists. You can forever argue about the value and benefits. But fact is that the range is actually quite extensive and includes much more affordable lenses, too. There is really no need to fixate only on the expensive stuff...

Most of Leica lenses are priced out of the amateur market, true. The voïgtlander lenses, on the other hand, are not and provide outstanding value.

With the M9, if it works as advertised, Leica will grow again its share of the professional market ans sell all the lenses it can build.

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Stéphane

http://gallery.lumieredargent.com
http://blog.lumieredargent.com

They have sky rocketed after the M8 was introduced and they are still climbing.

Leica could make a living on just the lenses! Maybe they should give the M9 away but you have to promiss to ONLY use Leica lenses! LOL!
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Greg Gebhardt in
Jacksonville, Florida

I agree with the previous poster about other lenses.

I have 15mm f/4.5, 50mm f/1.1 & 75mm f/2.5 Voigtlanders & a Zeiss 28mm f/2.8. They are all excellent for sharpness & build quality. They are also small & light (excluding the 50mm) I get beautiful images on my M8 & I'm particularly looking forward to using the 15mm on an M9 - whenever I can get my hands on one.

There is also the entire legacy of previous lenses to consider.

However new lenses ARE very expensive - I'm in the position of being able to buy pretty much what I like, as its my job & I make a good living from it but I am reluctant to spend 1000's on some of the faster lenses, particularly when there are excellent alternatives.

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They're not more expensive, they're juist one or two stops slower for the money. This is compensated by the 'two-stop-lack-of-mirrorbounce' that the M-shutter provides. the thing is that the Solms people also have faster lenses. At a cost!!!

The M-system fot a professional is not a 'stand alone system' nor is it the Walhalla-camera that some desciribe it to be. What is it for me though, is a way to make photo's without people asking 'How much did that white-rainpipe-piece-of-glass cost?'

For now I keep to my M6TTL, as I do to my 500CM (Portra160VC).

Speedy work (low-light dance photography) is done by my EOS digital-something. They also have some nice (tele-) lenses. I love it. There's no camera that will give me those files. (okay, D700) AF rules!!

There are systems to fit any need. To make an analogue (pun intended): Buy a Lambo: they also make tractors.

There is no M in unobtrousive, but there should've been one.

And: I like the grip of the X1. I'm not pretty, nor should my camera be. I get the job done