The Rumor Mill – Two Special Edition M8.2s Comming

[BillBlackwell]

I have heard from two separate sources that Leica is coming out with two special edition M8.2 cameras – one is a Hammertone finish and the other is a green "safari" finish.

I suppose it was only a matter of time before Leica’s special editions entered into the digital age.

[capitalK]

When are they going to open the M8's to the A-La-Carte service?

The Safari M6 is so ugly it's beautiful, in my opinion. The closest I'd probably ever get is an olive Bessa R2, though and even that is unlikely.

http://www.cameraquest.com/LM6G.htm

[Nh3]

The oil prices fell by $8 (per barrel) overnight, the Toronto TSX is down by 700 as I type this.

Who in their right mind would buy an M8.2, Nikon D3x or any of these overpriced digital cameras in this economy?

Perhaps the marketing team of these companies are out of touch with the reality... or is the digital camera bubble the next mini-bubble which will kill a lot of small time camera makers and severely damage the bottom line of big guys like Canon and Nikon...?

[Sparrow]

Purple harmmertone would be nice

[Al Patterson]

Originally Posted by Nh3

The oil prices fell by $8 (per barrel) overnight, the Toronto TSX is down by 700 as I type this.

Who in their right mind would buy an M8.2, Nikon D3x or any of these overpriced digital cameras in this economy?

Perhaps the marketing team of these companies are out of touch with the reality... or is the digital camera bubble the next mini-bubble which will kill a lot of small time camera makers and severely damage the bottom line of big guys like Canon and Nikon...?

If we do end up with a period of deflation, these things will all be cheaper the longer you wait for them....

[dcsang]

Originally Posted by Nh3

<snip>
Who in their right mind would buy an M8.2, Nikon D3x or any of these overpriced digital cameras in this economy? </snip>

That's easy.
Those that can afford them and those that, perhaps, "need" them for work or such.

Dave

[funkaoshi]

The people who will buy them are the people that usually buy stuff like this: professionals who need a fancy Nikon or Leica body for their work. I doubt the hobby market for the D3 is big enough Nikon will care if hobbyists don't buy them. I am guessing the same is true for the Leica market, but perhaps things are more tight here? Still, people with several thousand to blow on new Leica gear are probably not the sort of people effected by an economic downturn.

[icebear]

Originally Posted by Sparrow

Purple harmmertone would be nice

That might be too close to Tom A.'s Jerry Garcia M4 though .

[icebear]

Whatever special edition they might come up with, unless they make it a FF , Fx i.e. 24x36mm sensor I'll not be buying into it. So some more time to buy lottery tickets and trying to do the impossible (nearly) .

[Double Negative]

I don't know, I don't see digital cameras being quite as collectible as film cameras. For one thing, the technology becomes "obsolete" so quickly, and there's also the issue of support for various file formats, etc. Though in Leica's favor, they chose the DNG format. At least with film cameras, the very latest model is in a way, exactly the same as a 50 y/o body.

But I guess with the status quo in photography being what it is these days, this sort of thing is inevitable...

[Olsen]

The '2008 Credit Crunch Memorial M8' or the 'George B..', ah never mind, - there should be a lot of other ocations to celebrate. Or...?

[pastafazul]

It says the new rebate is for M8 (excluding special editions)...

http://us.leica-camera.com/news/news/1/6164.html

this could be a true rumor.

[Keith]

Nice ... there's nothing like a bit of 'bling' to make you feel better about life in general!

[Vickko]

.... black paint and lifetime warranty.

Vick

[JPSuisse]

I want the M8 special à la carte version with the shutter speed dial that turns the OTHER way. That is, the same way as my MP.

Does anybody know when the special edition dMP is coming???!

JP

[noimmunity]

Originally Posted by icebear

That might be too close to Tom A.'s Jerry Garcia M4 though .

I like Jerry Garcia. Makes me really want to see Tom's M4.

[kevin m]

Cripes, isn't this what women do when they approach a "certain age:" Start wearing more scarves, jewelry and make-up? It ain't helpin'. No amount of lizard skin and hammertone can hide that sagging old sensor once the bar lights go up.

[FrankS]

Professionals aren't going to be buying commemorative special editions.

I think this is a silly idea. Digital cameras do not have the longevity (no, not even a Leica digital) to have collector's editions make any sense. It is a bit strange to begin with for film cameras, but for digital cameras, a truly silly idea, IMO.

[Keith]

Originally Posted by kevin m

Cripes, isn't this what women do when they approach a "certain age:" Start wearing more scarves, jewelry and make-up? It ain't helpin'. No amount of lizard skin and hammertone can hide that sagging old sensor once the bar lights go up.

Maybe the whole process could be structured like one of those television make overs ... where the M8 enters the room to rapturous applause and gasps of amazement with the rest of the Leica family watching on ... tears rolling down their faces!

[kevin m]

Maybe the whole process could be structured like one of those television make overs ... where the M8 enters the room to rapturous applause and gasps of amazement with the rest of the Leica family watching on ... tears rolling down their faces!

LOL!

And in a follow-up episode, we learn the husband left his wife for a Nikon D700.

[Keith]

Originally Posted by kevin m

LOL!

And in a follow-up episode, we learn the husband left his wife for a Nikon D700.

Not that I've ever watched one of those shows mind you ... someone told me about it!

[dcsang]

For some reason or other I'm now thinking that the Special Edition M8 is going to be akin to "Bubbles De Verre"...

Go figure

Dave

[Atom]

Isn't the M8 'supposed' to be an upgrabeable system that one can have and hold for years to come with new upgraded whirly gigs and such? I mean, if they charge about the same for the special editions as the M8.2 they might find an audience. I remember at the last Tamarkin auction they had the first production M8 up on the block, so maybe their is some sort of bizzarro land collectibility for digitial cameras.

[FrankS]

I think that the previous Leica CEO, who predicted FF sensor upgrades to existing M8s, was fired. Or maybe it was just FF M8s in the near future.

[Fred Burton]

I think it is pretty certain there will be no further upgrades for the M8.