New Doug said: > This is why I have little respect these days for > Leica. It seems to me that they build cameras only for > rich camera collectors, not for actual photographers.
> I cannot respect any camera that is manufactured > specially to sit in someone's collection, rather than > to actually be used as a camera. For that matter, even > as a collectible, I do not see the value of a camera > made specially to be collected - it is as though the > camera has not "earned" the right to be a valuable > collectible! He also asked: > Is the M7 really worth more than more than SIX times > the price of the R3A? > I find this extremely hard to believe. Leica still builds - and always has built - their basic camera, the current versions being the M7 and MP variants, as well as a replica Barnack edition. The Barnack edition is the least expensive of the three. Yes, you can buy a dressed up Leica, and there's not a damned thing wrong with that. Some people like fancier-looking cameras. Why, right on this list there are some people using "designer" Pentax cameras, and Pentax has also made some limited edition models, such as the gold LX and one or two anniversary edition LX bodies. I believe there were also some special bodies made for the K1000, with different focusing screens and brown leather coverings, which also sold for a premium. And let's not forget some of the better-known collectible Nikons - The Gold Nikon FA European Gran Prix 1984 Camera of the Year, the Gold Nikon FM 60th Anniversary of Nippon Kogaku, and the Nikon FM2 Titanium Year of the Dog with a total Production only 300 - more than many of the Leica collectibles. Further, many of the real collector edition Leicas are mostly contracted for by various organizations and, in some cases, individuals, who want to commemorate an event or try to generate some extra income for themselves or their organization. Leica doesn't just build them without special orders. For example, there's a doctor in Hong Kong who, over the years, commissioned Leica to make some special colors (olive drab comes to mind as one of them) that he resold for a premium to collectors, or just those users who wanted special colors. Many Leica owners over the years have modified or customized their cameras to reflect their unique needs or preferences. BFD ... This page may interest you: http://www.cameraquest.com/TAnotcoll.htm And to perhaps anticipate a further objection, that Leicas are over priced or very expensive, and suited only for the rich user or collector, bear in mind that Leica has always been expensive. Why people insist on bashing Leica as primarily a manufacturer of high-priced collectible cameras seems a little strange, but the nice thing is that these collectibles put money in Leica's coffers and allow the company to stay in business. The Bessa is a piece of mass-produced crap based on a cheap body that Cosina has been using for a variety of cameras and brands for years. As I said before, Leica has always been expensive. Pick up and use a Bessa and spend some time with it, and do the same for your basic Leica. The quality difference will be obvious. What makes some Canon and Nikons worth five and six times more than their entry level cameras? I find the price difference extremely hard to believe. Shel (Leica M3 and custom modified M2 user) -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
