A Leica costs more because it’s ‘hand made’?

PerTulip said:

T_T said:

photokandi said:

Leica cameras are made for celebrities with lots of money & zero talent. lol

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Yea like Steve McCurry, Elliot Erwitt, Joel Meyerowitz, Bruce Gilden, etc etc.

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All of them over 70. Yes, Leica was a thing for professional photographers back then, when they started their careers half a century ago. And yes, with some googling you will find some professional photographer under 50 who is using Leica today. It doesn't change the fact that there is some truth in the polemic statement you quoted. I don't have any quotable numbers, but the bulk of Leicas go to fashionistas+collectors. Which, in fact, was a smart move by Leica. When photography moved to digital, M6s were being sold on eBay and similar platforms for €500. The biggest regret in my life: not buying them in bulk to sell them today. Then Leica focused on making it a luxury brand. Which kept the company alive.

McCurrys best-known photo was shot with a Nikon BTW.

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Aloha, yes in some ways you are correct, I don't agree that just 'posers' now buy Leica's, lots of 'Joe Bloggs' appreciate the equipment and fine quality. Why we like Leica is pretty much the same question is why people buy MB, BMW or Audi.. Choice.. Some of us save up, buy used or trade other equipment towards the cost. Yes, I am proud to use my Leica's as I am my Canons - I have no doubt many other lenses can outperform or equal the Leica IQ, but that's not the point, we all make our decisions and use what we feel is best for us.. Leica 35mm cameras are a totally different breed and really should not be included or compared to anything in the digital world. Lenses on the other hand are imho the most important part of any combo.. As for Leica's Special Editions, if they can make it pay, why not! I had the M-P 240 Safari set, I bought it for my 75th birthday.. The cost was not exorbitant compared to a high end Nikon/Canon + a good lens.. Enjoy your equipment, enjoy your photography, enjoy life.. Regards. L

LeicaEye said:

LeicaEye said:

... As for Leica's Special Editions, if they can make it pay, why not! ...

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And that's the point. If only "true photographers" would buy Leicas, they would have gone out of business years ago. Yes, we might laugh at the "M-P Correspondent" (pre-worn at the factory to show brass edges, starting price €22500), but it's keeping the company afloat.

PerTulip said:

LeicaEye said:

PerTulip said:

... As for Leica's Special Editions, if they can make it pay, why not! ...

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And that's the point. If only "true photographers" would buy Leicas, they would have gone out of business years ago. Yes, we might laugh at the "M-P Correspondent" (pre-worn at the factory to show brass edges, starting price €22500), but it's keeping the company afloat.

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L

Thanks. You said it better than I could. There's cameras I use because they're there, there's cameras I own because they get the job done and make financial sense. I call those the "good enoughs".

Then there's a few cameras I've used or owned because they resonated with me. They're the "invisible cameras". They're instinctive, they disappear in my hand, they're predictable and they just feel right. Leica M's are one of those cameras for me.

I could ask the big question here: why prefer any brand? The IQ's and features are now so similar it hardly matters. Bang for the buck? But what about long term value?

thinkinginimages said:

Thanks. You said it better than I could. There's cameras I use because they're there, there's cameras I own because they get the job done and make financial sense. I call those the "good enoughs".

Then there's a few cameras I've used or owned because they resonated with me. They're the "invisible cameras". They're instinctive, they disappear in my hand, they're predictable and they just feel right. Leica M's are one of those cameras for me.

I could ask the big question here: why prefer any brand? The IQ's and features are now so similar it hardly matters. Bang for the buck? But what about long term value?

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Admittedly IQ on all modern whizz boxes is more than acceptable. How much tweaking in camera and PP is something that needs consideration. Long term value (digital) imho is meh. Who wants a used 10year old digital! Only those looking for a bargain to boast about. L

That's the thing. We're starting to see "canned IQ". Add a generous amount to a technically "off" image and voila! Instant "masterpiece". It's beyond the camera. It's programming.