When I was in Washington, DC recently I stopped at the Leica Store downtown to take a look around and talk about the Monalog Collective. While I was there I asked if I could see the new Leica M6. As I picked it up it somehow felt heavier and more solid then the original M6 … or least my recollection of the original. To be honest, I didn’t even pay attention to the lens attached to it. I just fondled the thing, looked through the viewfinder and focused it. Yes, it is a thing of sublime beauty and mechanical excellence; a camera that will probably outlast the life of its owner(s). All as it should be for a cost of $5,695.00! But that’s not what’s really important. What is really important is that Leica is now producing several film cameras!
In case you are wondering … does the existence of the M6, MP, or MA tempt me to sell my vintage M2 or M3? The answer is a resounding NO! But not because my cameras are better or not. But because there’s simply no need for me to do so. I feel like I’m finally through with the gear churn. My cameras do everything I could ask of them and nothing more. That having been said, what matters is Leica is doing what they can to keep the analogue flame burning.
Now what would really be swell is if Leica would introduce a film camera that was more affordable and thereby more accessible to a greater number of people. Probably not their niche or their role in life. Hopefully that’s what Ricoh will be doing when they introduce the new Pentax film camera. It sure sounds that way. In March Ricoh said the camera will be launched in the summer with the following features:
- 35mm-format compact film camera
- Designed for vertical-position shooting, using a half-size format in which two images are captured in a single frame of the film
- Hand-wound film-advance mechanism using a winding lever and a rewinding crank
- Manually set zone-focus system
Anyway, back to the Leica Store. I hung out for a while and had a nice time. And why not? Even though everything in the showroom was expensive, each camera and lens was made to the highest standards. Just having these gems available creates further excitement about film photography, which is good for all us! And guess what … earlier this year Kodak announced a price cut of 30% on Tri-X!!! That’s right baby!!! The film is now available at the new and lower prices!!!!
Hey, I’ll take what I can get, but how about you paper guys lowering your prices now?
Stay well,
Michael
Hi Michael,
My thought process is a little different.
I own a business, and therefore the business can buy these necessary expensive items to help it operate. Hence a deductible business expense just like an office copier.
But, One gets to use this item as a bonus along with building up equity in the business assets.
One day, as you say, the items will outlast the owner, is IMO correct. But it leaves assets to those left behind, who can use these items or since they hold value, sell them.
But the long and short of it is that you can use these quality assets now and have fun, do business, and have something useful to leave behind.
My Gold and Silver bars take terrible photos.
Bob,
Thanks for weighing in. Yes, I would like to see Leica make something more affordable, but then again if they did it might not be a “Leica”. I get that and appreciate it. I’ve owned an MP, current top of the line M lenses and still have and use several of the last top of the line R lenses. All of these are truly things to behold!
Leica, thank you for staying in the game, especially when things looked dark indeed. Now I can’t wait to see that Pentax!
Best,
Michael