M9P Hermes

[dave lackey]

Originally Posted by jsrockit

Yeah, I'm well aware of those types... I didn't always live in NYC. However, I still wonder what makes someone look at someone's clothes and then get so angry that they have to beat the piss out of someone.

I am sure it is a joke. But the concept is frightening.

It is called intolerance, ego, envy, arrogance, hate and a slew of other things. Not sure I have run across anyone who has actually done that though.

Hopefully it doesn't happen often... or someone may take offense at my carrying a green M3.

People are people and should remember the golden rule or... (another joke here), there was someone in my biker days' that referred me to a quote that said, "Don't pick a fight with an old man, if he really is old, and can't fight, he'll just kill you."

Ok, back on topic...I did check out Hermes' website and found they have a store here in Atlanta. The items I saw were priced in the stratosphere as to make a Leica S2 look like chump change. Whew!

[jsrockit]

Originally Posted by dave lackey

Ok, back on topic...I did check out Hermes' website and found they have a store here in Atlanta. The items I saw were priced in the stratosphere as to make a Leica S2 look like chump change. Whew!

Yes, there is one accross the street from my work...and it is outrageous. It's empty most of the time. Certainly Leica type customers...

[sanmich]

I discovered something today, on the same planet where I live:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/30-HERMES-BI...item53eccdf832

Soooooo....
the hermes bag there is surely most of the cost.
I like the accessories they put there, you know, a camera and a few lenses to decorate the bag

[Bruno Gracia]

I saw Today in the Mayfair Leica Store, London, absolutely beautiful.

[albygentle]

Originally Posted by sanmich

I discovered something today, on the same planet where I live:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/30-HERMES-BI...item53eccdf832

Soooooo....
the hermes bag there is surely most of the cost.
I like the accessories they put there, you know, a camera and a few lenses to decorate the bag

Well, that one on ebay is much higher quality than the one provided with the Leica.

[Mephiloco]

I like the M7 Hermes edition, imo the best looking non 'standard' Leica there ever was. I see the M7 Hermes as being more collectable than the M9P-Hermes; I'd be surprised if all the M9P-Hermes weren't already accounted for. Leica has positioned itself as a super luxury item where a new Leica anything is somewhat of a status symbol, let alone a Hermes edition.

[jaapv]

Originally Posted by sanmich

I discovered something today, on the same planet where I live:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/30-HERMES-BI...item53eccdf832

Soooooo....
the hermes bag there is surely most of the cost.
I like the accessories they put there, you know, a camera and a few lenses to decorate the bag

Hand-delivered too I guess: Shipping 300 $...

[jaapv]

Originally Posted by Mephiloco

I like the M7 Hermes edition, imo the best looking non 'standard' Leica there ever was. I see the M7 Hermes as being more collectable than the M9P-Hermes; I'd be surprised if all the M9P-Hermes weren't already accounted for. Leica has positioned itself as a super luxury item where a new Leica anything is somewhat of a status symbol, let alone a Hermes edition.

Nonsense. Selling a special edition is not making the rest of the brand less of a tool. Selling Bentleys does not make Volkswagen a luxury brand.

[MikeAUS]

It's a fuc*ing waste of money. But if you have 50K to waste good luck to you

[tom.w.bn]

That's a very beautiful design. The top plate is so nice.

[Archiver]

Originally Posted by jaapv

Nonsense. Selling a special edition is not making the rest of the brand less of a tool. Selling Bentleys does not make Volkswagen a luxury brand.

Leica's marketing appears to be straddling two worlds. On one hand they maintain links to a professionally-driven past and make much of their current partnership with Magnum. On the other, their combination of features and pricing is moving them into luxury goods territory. Many Swiss watch brands have a similar heritage but have taken the luxury goods route, like Omega, Rolex, Breitling etc.

During the 60's, 70's and 80's, Rolex print ads were all about the explorers and adventurers who used their watches. They were capitalizing on their workhorse past to sell the quality of their watches, which is rather like what Leica is still doing today. But they have since gone to make blingier and blingier watches and appeal to the monied set much more directly. Rolex may move in this direction over time, if other companies are any indication.

At the moment, they can't encrust a M with gems like Breitling does to their watches or Vertu does to their phones because this would undermine their 'camera that took the most iconic images of history' image. The most they can do at the moment is make Hermes-type limited edition sets, and I'll bet they will sell super-well in the Asian markets.

Mainland Chinese are buying designer goods in droves with all the new money that is emerging. The Japanese have been one of the highest consumers of luxury goods for many years, as well as Leica cameras. Bringing these two brands together is a wet dream for many of these buyers.

[albygentle]

Originally Posted by jaapv

Hand-delivered too I guess: Shipping 300 $...

and it's sold. Some woman will be very happy with her 40k blue ostrich leather purse.

[jaapv]

I don’t understand these pricing complaints. The M9 is in the same price bracket as other full-frame top end cameras and their lens prices are rivaled by the top series of Olympus, to name but one. Summarit prices compare to Zeiss.

Originally Posted by Archiver

Leica's marketing appears to be straddling two worlds. On one hand they maintain links to a professionally-driven past and make much of their current partnership with Magnum. On the other, their combination of features and pricing is moving them into luxury goods territory. Many Swiss watch brands have a similar heritage but have taken the luxury goods route, like Omega, Rolex, Breitling etc.

During the 60's, 70's and 80's, Rolex print ads were all about the explorers and adventurers who used their watches. They were capitalizing on their workhorse past to sell the quality of their watches, which is rather like what Leica is still doing today. But they have since gone to make blingier and blingier watches and appeal to the monied set much more directly. Rolex may move in this direction over time, if other companies are any indication.

At the moment, they can't encrust a M with gems like Breitling does to their watches or Vertu does to their phones because this would undermine their 'camera that took the most iconic images of history' image. The most they can do at the moment is make Hermes-type limited edition sets, and I'll bet they will sell super-well in the Asian markets.

Mainland Chinese are buying designer goods in droves with all the new money that is emerging. The Japanese have been one of the highest consumers of luxury goods for many years, as well as Leica cameras. Bringing these two brands together is a wet dream for many of these buyers.

[celluloidprop]

The complaints probably come from few people seeing the feature-set or sensor of a M9 as comparable to a D4 or 1DX, and from the complete lack of lower priced M9 alternative (such as the D800 or 5D3) from Leica.

[Frank Version Two]

I always call them "Herpes Leicas" to myself. And now you.

[jaapv]

How nice....:roll eyes: I had a now departed relation who flew Lancasters in WWII. Whenever he boarded a Lufthansa flight he would tell the stewardess: “ I love to fly Luftwaffe”. You should see his collection of blank stares.

[CrisR]

I personally don't understand why anyone complains about the prices of non-essential items?

Too much money? Don't buy it. Buy a Nikon. Buy 2nd hand.

Leica owes no one a $1000 M9, if they want to sell them all for $100,000, that's their business decision, for better or worse.

[clayne]

I personally think Leica is almost doing these as some form of internal joke just to see how many people buy it. You're out of your mind if you pay 50 grand for a still camera - of any type - that isn't made out of solid gold.

The reason this pisses off so many people is that it's supposed to be about solid gear for solid photography - not show-offs or other BS. So many kooks with Leica whatever these days, and cameras like these don't really make it anymore about real photography.

[jaapv]

Well, this camera will net Leica over three million $. If you had an easy market of three million wouldn’t you profit from it?

[sig]

I think this is not an internal joke. It is about building / reassuring Leica as a luxury brand. Leica as all other businesses is in it to make money, branding themself as a luxury brand and selling luxury items has made and is making money for Leica.

Originally Posted by clayne

I personally think Leica is almost doing these as some form of internal joke just to see how many people buy it. You're out of your mind if you pay 50 grand for a still camera - of any type - that isn't made out of solid gold.

The reason this pisses off so many people is that it's supposed to be about solid gear for solid photography - not show-offs or other BS. So many kooks with Leica whatever these days, and cameras like these don't really make it anymore about real photography.

[sig]

Originally Posted by jaapv

Well, this camera will net Leica over three million $. If you had an easy market of three million wouldn’t you profit from it?

How much does the dealer get per sale?

[Moriturii]

I just hope they implement that gorgeous top plate to future Leica M's

[jaapv]

Originally Posted by sig

How much does the dealer get per sale?

No idea. A thousand?, Maybe two?

[Jamie123]

Originally Posted by clayne

The reason this pisses off so many people is that it's supposed to be about solid gear for solid photography - not show-offs or other BS. So many kooks with Leica whatever these days, and cameras like these don't really make it anymore about real photography.

So is some RFF wannabe Cartier-Bresson who roams the street with his M3 to produce generic black and white photos more of a 'real photographer' than some wealthy Leica enthusiast who uses his M9Hermes to take pictures of his friends on a sailing trip? I'm not so sure about that. I could even say that i'd probably be more interested in the rich guy's photos.
Don't get me wrong, the person who buys a $50k Leica to show off might be an douche but there's plenty of those around making interesting photos.

[CrisR]

Originally Posted by clayne

The reason this pisses off so many people is that it's supposed to be about solid gear for solid photography - not show-offs or other BS.

They still sell the regular M9? How is offering a different product aimed at a different market, in any way affecting the rest of their line?

if that line isn't focused on "solid gear for solid photography" how does that effect you or the other lines that are? It doesn't make your M9/8/6/2 take any worse a photo?

You do realise that car makers have been doing this for decades? The "standard" car that the families buy and then the 2 seater, turbo charged drop-top for 5-10x the price?

Originally Posted by Moriturii

I just hope they implement that gorgeous top plate to future Leica M's

Totally with you on this. Tho i would like the flash shoe back