M9 in 2010. Target price same as m8.2

[eleskin]

In reading the L Camera Forum thread on the future of the digital M, some of the responders had information on the M9:

The M9 will have a target price as the same as the current M8.2

It will be at least 14-18MP

There will be a special IR filter.

Full Frame.

Will be announced after Photokina 2010.

God I hope this is true!!! If so, I am really excited!!!!

[dof]

The folks on the Leica Forum must be having a field day over the news. I got a Server Too Busy message when trying to log on.

All film fanaticism aside (and I do admit to being a zealot at times), announcements of new and updated digital bodies are so close to an everyday occurrence that I find it difficult to get too excited about any of them.

Given the stature that the M system holds in Leica's portfolio of products, the M9 is simply an inevitability. The features mentioned have been so strongly intimated in interviews with Dr. Kaufmann that there's so surprises there either. Any breaks from the traditional feature set would be truly interesting news.

No matter what the design details, it will be interesting to see how maintaining enthusiasm for the new body until Photokina in 2010 will play out.

[FrozenInTime]

A significant proportion of development costs of the M9 ( e.g. payments to Kodak upfront for R&D of custom sensor) would have started long before Lee departed and the financial bubble burst.
Switching to M9 pilot production rather than M8.2 production as early as possible might be the best way to handle the financial balance if M8.2 sales volumes are depressed due to speculation and recession.

Lee's leak was a year too early, but a official leak now might be intentional ?

[kbg32]

No disrespect, but "Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah....."

[FrozenInTime]

What's the harm in a bit of armchair directing ?
None of us really know the facts (and those that do are probably subject to NDAs) so recycling prior rumors is the game.
Perhaps there should be a 'speculation forum' that can be taken with the appropriate level of skepticism or just ignored if you think you've heard it all before.

[thinkfloyd]

Using an RD-1 now, I will keep an eye on these rumors. I feel upgrading to the M8 or M8.2 is not justifiable. But with the M9? We'll see Besides, "9" is my lucky number haha... hoping I'll be lucky enough to afford it when it comes out!

[newsgrunt]

A Leica dealer referred to an M9 as if it was common knowledge when we were just chatting about Leica this 'n' that. Perhaps he thought telling someone who wanted to get a second MP was safe, dunno. More recently, a Leica official just smiled when I recounted this meeting. ymmv of course.

[Double Negative]

If you want full frame now, count downwards. M7.

[Pickett Wilson]

A FF M9 would significantly sink the price of the used M8.2's then on the market if it sold for the same price as the 8.2 does now. This would be a different experience for M users. And used M8's. Might be some real bargains out there. M8's for $1,000? (I love speculating on rumors

[Al Kaplan]

I think that it's time to order some more 400 foot rolls of Eastman 5222 and fill up the freezer.

[sonofdanang]

Ha ha! Al, you made my day, man. As a guy with a digital income stream and a film body of personal work, I totally relate to the film/freezer comment.

I like 18mm FOV. I own a 12mm Heliar. I like that field of view too.
I like color in digital. For panchromes - sorry, it's gonna be film until I like what I see in digital. For now, my dSLR is a back up solution to film.

Bring on the M9. It will have the correct effect on the pricing of the M8, 8.2, and RD-1(s).

[DougFord]

Originally Posted by Pickett Wilson

A FF M9 would significantly sink the price of the used M8.2's then on the market if it sold for the same price as the 8.2 does now. This would be a different experience for M users. And used M8's. Might be some real bargains out there. M8's for $1,000? (I love speculating on rumors

Leica's new found business strategy - Planned obsolescence

[5:00 PM]

I'll never own either, but I don't think a full frame M would completely obsolete the M8. It will be like the Nikon D3/D300 relationship (very popular among Nikon pros) where the lenses do dual-focal length duty depending on which body you choose to use.

[CameraQuest]

IF this rumor is true, its actually very bad news for Leica that someone let out this news early -- before an official annoucement at Photokina 2010.

Leica dealers are already very unhappy with poor 8.2 sales demand. This rumor will likely just about kill 8.2 sales. Leica has to stay alive and pay the bills long enough to make the M9. Dead 8.2 sales with the impending M9 release will only make profits far worse than they would have been otherwise. Just like releasing the M8 before it was ready for market, Leica corporate is often its own worst enemy.

Stephen

[gdi]

Originally Posted by nikonhswebmaster

I think that speculation of this kind is rather silly in the face of a European recession.

I know everyone who owns an M8 believes Dr. K has unlimited deep pockets, but there is a bottom to all money bins.

TARP Funds maybe?

[Keith]

Originally Posted by CameraQuest

IF this rumor is true, its actually very bad news for Leica that someone let out this news early -- before an official annoucement at Photokina 2010.

Leica dealers are already very unhappy with poor 8.2 sales demand. This rumor will likely just about kill 8.2 sales. Leica has to stay alive and pay the bills long enough to make the M9. Dead 8.2 sales with the impending M9 release will only make profits far worse than they would have been otherwise. Just like releasing the M8 before it was ready for market, Leica corporate is often its own worst enemy.

Stephen

Look out for some great 8.2 deals ... surely?

They're no good to anyone sitting around not being used!

[BillBlackwell]

Originally Posted by eleskin

In reading the L Camera Forum thread on the future of the digital M, some of the responders had information on the M9...

There are responders right here in this forum with information on the M9, but they live in Fantasy Land too.

[digitalintrigue]

Originally Posted by CameraQuest

IF this rumor is true, its actually very bad news for Leica that someone let out this news early -- before an official annoucement at Photokina 2010.

Leica dealers are already very unhappy with poor 8.2 sales demand. This rumor will likely just about kill 8.2 sales. Leica has to stay alive and pay the bills long enough to make the M9. Dead 8.2 sales with the impending M9 release will only make profits far worse than they would have been otherwise. Just like releasing the M8 before it was ready for market, Leica corporate is often its own worst enemy.

Stephen

Yes, this is why I find it difficult to believe it's a deliberate leak.

[Pickett Wilson]

It's not quite the same relationship as the D3/D300. By the time of this "speculated" release, the M8 sensor will be six years old. I think a FF M9 would pretty much kill the earlier cameras as far as resale value.

[robklurfield]

If an M9 comes out at the same price as the M8.2, Leica can clear their excess of inventory of 8.2's by giving them free with the purchase of a new Noctilux.

[aizan]

fat chance this is a real leak, especially since photokina is more than a year away...and who are these "responders"?

[digitalintrigue]

Originally Posted by Pickett Wilson

It's not quite the same relationship as the D3/D300. By the time of this "speculated" release, the M8 sensor will be six years old. I think a FF M9 would pretty much kill the earlier cameras as far as resale value.

Just like all digitals. This is why I don't buy high end digitals anymore.

[DougFord]

‘Speculating on a hypothesis ‘
If it’s not one thing it’s another.
On one hand you have used M8 prices that continue to fall and now on the other you have a possible FFM9 announcement in 2010.
Perhaps poor M8.2 sales are also a result of market saturation? Come next year, will ‘inexpensive’ used M8’s be passed around like the RD1 is today? (If it’s not already occurring)
If so, M8 service revenue rather than M8.2 sales could help span the time between now and the release of the M9. I would expect Leica to bundle more service/upgrade packages together. Frame line upgrade/lens coding/CLA packages with extended warranty on second and third hand M8’s.

[miklosphoto]

Originally Posted by Double Negative

If you want full frame now, count downwards. M7.

I like this one, well said.

[Damaso]

It will be announced this year. Higher price than the m8.2 and full frame...