Comments on: Official Leica M9 and Leica X1 US prices and final details

By: Stephen

Stephen — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 09:54:27 +0000

Just to add, I think a Leica is the best there is, as was said, this may be only marginal but if its the best you want, you want a Leica. Its a bit like a watch. You can get a Casio or you can get a Rolex. Both tell the time perfectly well but some people want the Rolex. Life is short so get what you want if you can afford it.

By: Yang

Yang — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 09:52:00 +0000

I quite like the X1 design and see it as much more of a companion to a MP film camera than the D-lux, will probably get one if the reviews are good and wait a few months for the price to deteriorate

By: Jo

Jo — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 09:12:38 +0000

Well, 7000 US dollars is 4800 Euros! the same price that the M8.2! Remember that the US dollars is quiet low!

I just bought a M8.2 6 months ago, If they don’t propose an upgrade, I’ll be very very angry with them!

By: Gabriel

Gabriel — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 08:59:49 +0000

Well, Leica is like Rolls Royce, such a price is not a surprise.

By: Matt

Matt — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 08:50:14 +0000

A Leica rep ensured me yesterday that the X1 is a complete inhouse development and has nothing to do with the GF1 or any mFT or FT. It has a CMOS APS-C sensor (which is nearly twice as big as a FT sensor) delivered by an “unknown supplierâ€ in it.

By: Neil

Neil — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 08:29:09 +0000

I’m a little confused here, you say this is ‘official pricing’ but it’s from a shop. Is that correct?

If so, there are many occasions when shops display prices before products release, but they don’t always prove to be correct. This happens in the UK with every single Canon camera release on one major retailer’s site. The price can be 10, 20 or even 30% higher than the actual RRP. It seems some shops price at the most they think it will cost and hope people will pre-order at the high price. I can’t see this being any different with Leica than it is with Canon products. Perhaps it’s actually more likely to happen as people expect to pay high prices.

Of course, that’s not to say that the price is wrong. It’s just I’d prefer to hear it from Leica direct.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 07:51:05 +0000

This may sound really stupid, but consider it’s coming form a newbie to Leica. Why is this camera so expensive? Where is the advantage over cameras like the ones Nikon or Canon produces? Okay, as far as I know they don’t have a mirror, but the microfourthird don’t have one either?

I just don’t get, and would be grateful for some enlightenment!

By: NikoDoby

NikoDoby — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 06:03:52 +0000

$1995USD for a point & shoot camera?! I realize it has a “big” sensor but come on. The X1 is way over priced even for a Leica. And it won’t be out until 2010?! So Canon,Nikon, and hell even Samsung might have something similar out by then and at more than half that price?!
For 2 grand do you really think image quality will be any better than a sigma DP1 or DP2? Or as a Leica point & shoot do you really think it will have equal image quality to a Nikon D300S? I seriously doubt it.

By: COVEt

COVEt — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 05:49:44 +0000

has VR?
Nikon VR?

By: Libby

Libby — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 05:35:40 +0000

Sorry that was Grip $110, not $100. Sorry about the typo.

By: Libby

Libby — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 05:34:50 +0000

Grip $100 USA. Looks like there are a few case options.
Viewfinder $299 US

Prices on Grip and accessories here

http://www.popflash.com/index.php?p=catalog&parent=29&pg=1

All of the pics are not up yet.

Ok I’m really off to bed now. Have fun!

By: Jim

Jim — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 05:31:06 +0000

PopFlash Photo states the X1 comes with Adobe Lightroom after registration! They are taking preorders.

By: Libby

Libby — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 05:28:22 +0000

Sorry for any confusion. The way it is worded in the news post above, it sounds included –Comes With—, but apparently not. Here is a sales link I found on the X1

http://www.popflash.com/index.php?p=product&id=4316&parent=0

I looks like Lightroom is included though via download after camera registration.

Admin perhaps you can reword somehow to Are Available instead of Comes With

By: Justin

Justin — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 05:26:01 +0000

Saying that a 21mp 1D mark III / 24mp D3X MSRP for more… I would have to say that with the build quality and just pure user experience of this camera, its cheaper then I expected… Not that I’m buying one… But if I had the money I sure as hell would…

As for the X1, price it at 900USD and I MIGHT be interested… It’s still just a digi-cam with an off the shelf sensor… No way to get around that the new Panasonic is the same camera with interchangeable lenses and possibly a larger sensor (Leica said 4/3 isnt for them)… Sorry Leica, my M6 was the best camera I ever owned, but I just can’t spring the cash for this…

By: Al

Al — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 05:20:54 +0000

it says viewfinder, case etc. are optional?

By: Libby

Libby — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 05:13:58 +0000

Because it does cost more to manufacture the larger sensor for the M9 I’m not that surprised. Some I know had speculated as high as $8000, but I think that would be way out of line. It would not have surprised me, but it would be out of line.

For 2 grand on the X1, I would have to see it in hand. But considering that the viewfinder, case etc would be included, it makes the price as a package easier to swallow.

Wonder what the big surprise will be with the announcement? I don’t know if I will catch the webcast but will pick up news here.

Well off to bed – I’m up with the chickens tomorrow

By: one

one — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 04:36:00 +0000

7000$ … quite a price.. Well, it was quite obvious that it won’t be priced like the M8