Hodinkee LE Leica

A standard M10 body is priced competitively against anything Nikon or Canon has in their professional line ($6-7k). LE’s aren’t better cameras- just LE’s. A Leica M is not a toy- it is a serious professional tool with a great sensor and incredibly easy handling when you get the ergonomics down (rangefinder shooting takes some practice). The glass costs what it does- Leica glass has always been expensive if you go for the fastest of them (Noctilux, Summilux, Summicron), but their slower lenses were always fairly priced and razor sharp, so if you didn’t need the speed (handheld indoors), then there was no need to spring for the faster lenses. The current line of Zeiss lenses for Leica are a steal and despite lacking a bit of the “Leica look”, are razor sharp, beautiful built (all metal barrel and a metal lens shade!!) and are spectacular!
What’s nice about the M system is that they have used the same mount since 1957- all of the older lenses will mount and couple with the rangefinder system in the new digital cameras (except the bug-eye 35mm Summicron for which you just remove the magnifiers). The coding system on the back of the lenses so the camera knows which lens is mounted is the issue but you can either have older lenses coded or manually enter in the camera menu which lens is being used- this allows the camera’s digital system to apply the correct digital corrections to the lens. The backwards compatibility is one of the best features of a digital Leica M- you can use 50 year old lenses on them- same cannot be said for Canon and sadly not for Nikon anymore (The Nikon F mount is the same but some of the newer bodies won’t communicate with the camera for aperture for focus lock even manually.
Anyway- the Dinky LE is a waste of money as we all know, you can piece a kit together for less at any respectable Leica dealer- and support a brick and mortar while you’re at it.

I agree- in comparison to comparable products that create excellent imaging- they are expensive. But as was said earlier- a $10k Omega or Rolex is expensive for a device that can be compared to a quality top Seiko product at 1/10 the price.

Leica are very expensive. The lenses even more so. In the 50‘s when Nikon was making a comparable professional tool, the SP, prices were similar.

Also the funny thing with Leica , M or R, is that they manage to get rid of all distracting bells and whistles and are, if that is your style, superb picture making tools. What you do with that is up to the photographer.
Don’t blame the tool if you cannot handle it.

I also sense some negativity about Leica from people who may never handled and shot with one.
The unfortunate thing with Leica is that they are now Veblen goods, with all the associated silly pricing.

you're looking at the wrong professionals then...many of the most famous photographers in the world have shot with Leica...Photographers who's prints command 10x what this special edition sells for. The M series is a different type of camera though, not ideal for sports or weddings. But Leica makes more than the M...and they are really more known for their optics. They make the finest lenses produced today. Leica invented 35mm photography and up until the early 60s when the Nikon F came out, they were the most popular cameras used by professionals...pretty much every journalist in the world shot with a Leica prior to the SLR's invention.

They are famous for their special editions, and have been making them for over 50 years. This one is limited to 200 pieces. They clearly aren't for everyone...but they all sell out, so clearly Leica is doing something right. You can buy this exact same camera in its standard edition for $8,000, but the lens will set you back another $5200. So the special edition is adding about $2k for the exclusivity of its color basically.

The cameras and lenses are all hand built in Germany, not mass produced and up until just a few years you would have to get on a waiting list of about a year to buy any of their lenses...and prices usually increased on the used market. This was mostly due to supply and demand...they simply couldn't keep up with demand. That changed about 3 years ago when Leica built a large manufacturing facility in Wetzlar, Germany and in the past few years supply has finally met demand causing used prices to drop below new prices.

As with any product that is made by hand...it just cost more. Not unlike the watches we all lust over. Kinda ironic that many here would pay $15k for a watch without hesitation, yet they think a Leica is foolish. They are both tools, yet one actually produces something of value. The highest price ever paid at auction for a camera was a Leica...and vintage Leica's command top dollar at every auction. If you've ever handled a Leica you might appreciate why the sell for more than your typical cameras...its the attention to detail and the high quality of construction that isn't available in mass produced cameras that distinguishes the brand. Clearly not for everyone, but they have no problem selling them...their new SL2 is extremely hard to find as demand is greater than supply. But again, its all about the lenses.

This LE is not exclusive to Hodinkee, Leica has produced literally hundreds of LE cameras and every single one sells out. This Ghost edition was available at Leica dealers prior to Hodinkee announcing it. Honestly, I really don't get all the Hodinkee hate, they are in business to make money. You don't make money with just a vintage watch blog, I applaud them for being successful. And frankly this LE is right up their alley...as is the Leica brand. Becoming a Leica dealer makes complete sense to me.

You can always buy one of these for about $300 😀

LOL...no you cant