Leica, why 4000 euros?

kevinschoenmakers · 05-22-2009, 12:58 PM

This isn't pentax related, but I didn't know where else to put it.

I was surfing today, and I found out those trendy leica dSLRs go for no less than 4000 euros! What's the reason they're THAT expensive?

tonyjayice · 05-22-2009, 08:47 PM

probably because somebody somewhere thought that Leicas were better than most of the other cameras around...
I don't think I agree with those people, probably fine optical tools but I don't think you're getting anything so special for this kind of money.. maybe just a big red dot..
..I'd take Pentax over Leica anytime anyday..

wildman · 05-23-2009, 02:24 AM

"Leica, why 4000 euros?"

Mystique+Very high European production costs compared to Asia.

Parallax · 05-23-2009, 07:48 AM

"Leica, why 4000 euros?"

Snob appeal is expensive.

Wheatfield · 05-23-2009, 09:11 AM

Leica is the ultimate photographic end to the law of diminishing returns.

emr · 05-23-2009, 10:09 AM

Because they can.

ryan s · 05-23-2009, 10:29 AM

My Leica was $5

tonyjayice · 05-23-2009, 04:55 PM

Originally posted by emr

Because they can.

hahahahah!!!

Peter Zack · 05-23-2009, 05:12 PM

They figure each letter is worth about as much as most other cameras are individually
L = €800 + E = €800 + I = €800 + C = €800 + A = €800 = €4000.

Thank Goodness it's not Panasonic.

k100d · 05-24-2009, 03:45 PM

Originally posted by kevinschoenmakers

This isn't pentax related, but I didn't know where else to put it.

I was surfing today, and I found out those trendy leica dSLRs go for no less than 4000 euros! What's the reason they're THAT expensive?

are you looking at the digilux 3? really no reason to buy that when there's a similar panasonic model

lithos · 05-24-2009, 10:10 PM

Leica is not a camera brand.

Leica is a luxury brand.

Leica is to, say, Pentax or Oly or Nikon or Canon as a mechanical Rolex is to a Seiko quartz watch. The Seiko is cheaper, and in fact does a much, much better job at keeping time than a Rolex, but a Rolex has got the cachet, the myth, the aura, the romance - ie, the BS - that surrounds it and inflates the price.

It's kinda funny how the world of watches sorta parelleled the camera - just as cheaper, more versatile Japanese RFs (and later, SLRs) diminished the demand for a rangefinder that was handcrafted by mystical elves deep in the black forest (or whatever Leica says it does to make cameras), so did the quartz watch nearly wipe out the Swiss watch industry.

Another nail in the coffin was, of course, the AF revolution of the late eighties and nineties. Nearly wiped 'em off the face of the Earth. Only as a luxury camera (check out Leica's a la carte page - most of the people buying 'em are lawyers or concert violinists or what have you) did it keep going.

"Dentist cameras", as they're ironically known. Ironic, because you can't actually use 'em for dental photography (you need macro for that!)

k100d · 05-25-2009, 08:48 AM

Originally posted by lithos

Leica is not a camera brand.

Leica is a luxury brand.

Leica is to, say, Pentax or Oly or Nikon or Canon as a mechanical Rolex is to a Seiko quartz watch. The Seiko is cheaper, and in fact does a much, much better job at keeping time than a Rolex, but a Rolex has got the cachet, the myth, the aura, the romance - ie, the BS - that surrounds it and inflates the price.

It's kinda funny how the world of watches sorta parelleled the camera - just as cheaper, more versatile Japanese RFs (and later, SLRs) diminished the demand for a rangefinder that was handcrafted by mystical elves deep in the black forest (or whatever Leica says it does to make cameras), so did the quartz watch nearly wipe out the Swiss watch industry.

as easy and fun as it is to bash leica, they truly have some very top notch stuff that is better than the competition. it's the same as an fa35 vs fa31 kind of argument.

and it is the japanese now who give leica the most support

Originally posted by lithos

Another nail in the coffin was, of course, the AF revolution of the late eighties and nineties. Nearly wiped 'em off the face of the Earth. Only as a luxury camera (check out Leica's a la carte page - most of the people buying 'em are lawyers or concert violinists or what have you) did it keep going.

did you know Leica had patents for AF ans sold to Minolta?
Minolta - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

ftpaddict · 05-25-2009, 10:55 AM

Because it's made in Tschermany, and a Leica body will outlast its owner. No such thing from any DSLR manufacturer nowadays.

lithos · 05-25-2009, 10:58 PM

Originally posted by k100d

as easy and fun as it is to bash leica, they truly have some very top notch stuff that is better than the competition. it's the same as an fa35 vs fa31 kind of argument.

Would you pay for Leica gear at RRP? Three grand for a fast fifty - man, I can only hope it does my laundry as well.

As for AF, well, you said it. Leica made a conscious decision not to bother with it.

k100d · 05-26-2009, 05:58 AM

Originally posted by lithos

Would you pay for Leica gear at RRP? Three grand for a fast fifty - man, I can only hope it does my laundry as well.

i wouldn't, but a lot of people don't buy leica gear at MSRP.
and many would claim that it is the best 50/1.4 ever made

05-22-2009, 12:58 PM	#1
kevinschoenmakers Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Shanghai Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,509	Leica, why 4000 euros? This isn't pentax related, but I didn't know where else to put it. I was surfing today, and I found out those trendy leica dSLRs go for no less than 4000 euros! What's the reason they're THAT expensive?

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05-22-2009, 08:47 PM	#2
tonyjayice Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Chicago, IL Photos: Albums Posts: 151	probably because somebody somewhere thought that Leicas were better than most of the other cameras around... I don't think I agree with those people, probably fine optical tools but I don't think you're getting anything so special for this kind of money.. maybe just a big red dot.. ..I'd take Pentax over Leica anytime anyday..

05-23-2009, 02:24 AM	#3
wildman Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Flyover America Posts: 4,469	"Leica, why 4000 euros?" Mystique+Very high European production costs compared to Asia.

05-23-2009, 07:48 AM	#4
Parallax Senior Moderator Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: South Dakota Photos: Gallery Posts: 19,332	"Leica, why 4000 euros?" Snob appeal is expensive.

05-23-2009, 09:11 AM	#5
Wheatfield Moderator Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The wheatfields of Canada Posts: 15,981	Leica is the ultimate photographic end to the law of diminishing returns.

05-23-2009, 10:29 AM	#7
ryan s Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Madison, WI Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,383	My Leica was $5

05-23-2009, 04:55 PM	#8
tonyjayice Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Chicago, IL Photos: Albums Posts: 151	Originally posted by emr Because they can. hahahahah!!!

05-23-2009, 05:12 PM	#9
Peter Zack Pentaxian Moderator Emeritus Join Date: May 2007 Location: Edmonton Alberta, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 10,643	They figure each letter is worth about as much as most other cameras are individually L = €800 + E = €800 + I = €800 + C = €800 + A = €800 = €4000. Thank Goodness it's not Panasonic.

05-24-2009, 03:45 PM	#10
k100d Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Toronto Posts: 3,911	Originally posted by kevinschoenmakers This isn't pentax related, but I didn't know where else to put it. I was surfing today, and I found out those trendy leica dSLRs go for no less than 4000 euros! What's the reason they're THAT expensive? are you looking at the digilux 3? really no reason to buy that when there's a similar panasonic model

05-24-2009, 10:10 PM	#11
lithos Inactive Account Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Brisbane, QLD, AUS Posts: 3,261	Leica is not a camera brand. Leica is a luxury brand. Leica is to, say, Pentax or Oly or Nikon or Canon as a mechanical Rolex is to a Seiko quartz watch. The Seiko is cheaper, and in fact does a much, much better job at keeping time than a Rolex, but a Rolex has got the cachet, the myth, the aura, the romance - ie, the BS - that surrounds it and inflates the price. It's kinda funny how the world of watches sorta parelleled the camera - just as cheaper, more versatile Japanese RFs (and later, SLRs) diminished the demand for a rangefinder that was handcrafted by mystical elves deep in the black forest (or whatever Leica says it does to make cameras), so did the quartz watch nearly wipe out the Swiss watch industry. Another nail in the coffin was, of course, the AF revolution of the late eighties and nineties. Nearly wiped 'em off the face of the Earth. Only as a luxury camera (check out Leica's a la carte page - most of the people buying 'em are lawyers or concert violinists or what have you) did it keep going. "Dentist cameras", as they're ironically known. Ironic, because you can't actually use 'em for dental photography (you need macro for that!)

05-25-2009, 08:48 AM	#12
k100d Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Toronto Posts: 3,911	Originally posted by lithos Leica is not a camera brand. Leica is a luxury brand. Leica is to, say, Pentax or Oly or Nikon or Canon as a mechanical Rolex is to a Seiko quartz watch. The Seiko is cheaper, and in fact does a much, much better job at keeping time than a Rolex, but a Rolex has got the cachet, the myth, the aura, the romance - ie, the BS - that surrounds it and inflates the price. It's kinda funny how the world of watches sorta parelleled the camera - just as cheaper, more versatile Japanese RFs (and later, SLRs) diminished the demand for a rangefinder that was handcrafted by mystical elves deep in the black forest (or whatever Leica says it does to make cameras), so did the quartz watch nearly wipe out the Swiss watch industry. as easy and fun as it is to bash leica, they truly have some very top notch stuff that is better than the competition. it's the same as an fa35 vs fa31 kind of argument. and it is the japanese now who give leica the most support Originally posted by lithos Another nail in the coffin was, of course, the AF revolution of the late eighties and nineties. Nearly wiped 'em off the face of the Earth. Only as a luxury camera (check out Leica's a la carte page - most of the people buying 'em are lawyers or concert violinists or what have you) did it keep going. did you know Leica had patents for AF ans sold to Minolta? Minolta - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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05-25-2009, 10:55 AM	#13
ftpaddict Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Yurp Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,666	Because it's made in Tschermany, and a Leica body will outlast its owner. No such thing from any DSLR manufacturer nowadays.

05-25-2009, 10:58 PM	#14
lithos Inactive Account Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Brisbane, QLD, AUS Posts: 3,261	Originally posted by k100d as easy and fun as it is to bash leica, they truly have some very top notch stuff that is better than the competition. it's the same as an fa35 vs fa31 kind of argument. Would you pay for Leica gear at RRP? Three grand for a fast fifty - man, I can only hope it does my laundry as well. As for AF, well, you said it. Leica made a conscious decision not to bother with it.

05-26-2009, 05:58 AM	#15
k100d Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Toronto Posts: 3,911	Originally posted by lithos Would you pay for Leica gear at RRP? Three grand for a fast fifty - man, I can only hope it does my laundry as well. i wouldn't, but a lot of people don't buy leica gear at MSRP. and many would claim that it is the best 50/1.4 ever made