OK everyone, at what price would you consider a M11-P not obscene?
I am not arguing with you, or trying to justify Leica's channel placement decisions. I sincerely have a hard time arriving at an answer for myself. The problem I have is there is no real equivalent product from another manufacturer that is truly equivalent. It is the only camera of its type in the market today. To establish equivalency one must not only consider images created, but the entire ecosystem of the camera. I think that is what drives sales of the M system. Then we must consider market acceptance, which in this case is very high judging by Leica's financial results and sales numbers. When I consider it all in context I just can't come up with a number. Can you?
That said, I do find the current prices to be extremely high. But in today's World I feel that way about many, many things...
I have taken the liberty of highlighting a few words in your post. This -- the lack of an equivalent -- is central to this discussion.
Leica rangefinder cameras have some unique mechanical components that one could argue carries a cost that all other digital cameras do not (although the R&D costs of the rangefinder mechanism are clearly lost in the depths of time). On the other hand, cameras like the top-end Sony mirrorless models and the Hasselblad X2D II have significant capabilities (such as incredible autofocus and IBIS) that the M11s do not. Interestingly, the MP and M6 are significantly cheaper than the M11s; could Leica really[/I] assert that the digital componentry in the M11 costs that much more?
So, although this is an entirely subjective view, based on a decidedly flimsy rationale, it seems to me that a reasonable (first world statement!) price for an M11 would be 30-40% lower than the current actual price. But, of course, Leica seem to be enjoying considerable success with prices at their current levels, so why should they care -- in the short term, at least -- if some people regard the prices as distasteful?
I should know better than to engage in a discussion about prices ....
May 07, 2026 at 11:38 AM
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