I have but one comment: Many, if not most, maybe even all (doubtful about all) Leica Special Editions are commissioned by private parties to celebrate an event, or just for some marketing. Some companies will ask Leica to make X number of cameras to a certain specification for distribution to executives, or as gifts to special customers. Some people, like Dr. Joseph Yao - I think I've got the name right - in Hong Kong may have Leica make up a bunch of special editions (like I believe he did with the Olive Drab models) for resale as collectibles. So, let's not be too hasty to fault, or point the finger, at Leica. They are a small company, and if they can make a few $$ by producing some special editions for their customers, all the better.
The problem is that most people believe that it's Leica that is making these cameras and then trying to foist them off as something special, when in reality it's mostly Leica customers who are commissioning and distributing them. It's not Leica that is exploiting the market so much as Leica customers. It's interesting to note that there's rarely a peep from gun enthusiasts when Colt or S&W make special or commemorative editions, and they, as well as other gun manufacturers, have done that quite a bit. In fact, more often than not it's the manufacturer who comes up with the idea and then promotes it, unlike Leica which generally just takes special orders from customers. Those orders may help keep Leica afloat. Maybe Pentax should do more of that ... Look at it this way: you, as a struggling photographer in need of some cash have an opportunity to make and print some photos for someone, per their request, that'll give you a nice infusion of folding green, which allows you to contine making the photos you want to make or that you're best at. I'd certainly not consider you to be selling out, rather, you'd receive a big pat on the back. Shel > [Original Message] > From: frank theriault <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > On Mon, 13 Sep 2004 09:35:37 -0700, Shel Belinkoff > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > <snip>There are "fondlers" of all camera brands ...<snip> > > I generally agree with your post, Shel. I think the phrase quoted > above is the only thing I'd take a teeny bit of issue with. Let me > play devil's advocate for a moment: > > Yes, there are Nikon, Canon, Rollei, you name it, fondlers out there. > > BUT, it seems to me that Leica, more than any other manufacturer, > tends to exploit the fondlers out there by constantly releasing > limited edition collectors pieces. [snippage] > The fact that so many Leica limited editions are on eBay says to me > that 1) Leica makes a lot of them, and 2) Many of those that are > bought are expressly for resale and the purchaser never intended to > even take them out of the plastic bag inside the box.
