Sad that so many photographers are walking around with such big chips on their shoulders. A bit of spit in the eye....

 I woke up yesterday morning to the confirmed announcement that Leica was introducing a new camera into their product mix. It's exactly the "Q" camera I always wanted. Even before I knew I wanted one. I bought a Q2 back when it first came out and I've always enjoyed using it. The files from that camera are amazingly sharp, detailed and color rich. But for me the 28mm lens always made that camera an adjunct to my regular cameras instead of a replacement. Yesterday morning Leica changed all of that...

They announced a Q3 camera with a different lens. The camera body is the same as the (IP52 weather sealed) 28mm Q3, the difference is in the lens on the front. They finally nailed it with just the right focal length. And as a bonus (I guess for those of us who have waited for so long) they made the lens an APO version. The camera is now available as the "Q3-43" with the 43 indicating the focal length of the lens. The long version of the lens name is: the APO 43mm Summicron Aspherical f2.0. 

In my mind it's destined to be the ultimate street shooting camera and the penultimate "go anywhere" camera for discerning photographers. It's got everything. Including PD-AF, Image Stab., 60 megapixel sensor that can also give you full frame glory at lower resolutions (less post processing clogging). 

Thom Hogan should be freaking thrilled since the Leicas (all current models) now have the best integration to/with the iPhone you can get. Much better than the Japanese camera models.... And that seems to be the thing he predicts will make or break stand alone cameras... We don't share that opinion...

There were some good reviews on the launch day. DP Review has a glowing review and gives the camera its Gold Award, at 89 points, and further says that it's a camera with no real competition in its particular niche. 

So why am I sad? Because the mindless hordes have decided that a hand made, perfect, limited production, best in class, best materials, best menus and empowered, potent usability camera model should compete price-wise with much less satisfying cameras. Because? Spec sheets. Because...misplaced frugality...

MJ has made his usual slash at Leica because of the price. Instructive to read in Forbes that 24.4 MILLION people in the United States alone have a net worth of over $ 1,000,000. If a small fraction of these people want to buy a Q3; and they can easily afford one, they'll have to wait for it since the camera sold out the current inventory on day one. Somebody out there knows there is a difference between price and value. And value isn't measured just by specs but also by subjective measures like an appreciation for beautiful design and execution, great handling, intuitive operation, and the fact that, just like subsidized gasoline versus non-subsidized gasoline disruptions in economies, Leicas are made by well paid and well taken care of crafts people, not people living desperately on the margins in various second and third world countries. 

The Q3 - 43 is a camera nobody else is making. Not even close. And since it's largely made by hand of high end materials it's limited in its availability. It's hard, if not impossible, to scale up real craftsmanship on demand. 

I'm so tired of hearing about Red Dot Jealousy that I'm thinking of canceling my contract with my ISP and just giving up on the web. 

I get that not everyone has the budget to buy the cameras they really, really want. That's where the endless negative rationalizations and subsequent trashing of luxe brands comes into play. But really, not everyone can afford a new Porsche, or good dental care, or a vacation in Monaco. That doesn't make a product worthless, bad, "Veblen" or some other nonsense. All expenses are relative. I expect that people who make minimum wage or live solely on Social Security are also not in the market for houses that cost more than a million dollars, or rides on a Space X rocket. But they rarely sit around disparaging other consumer products because of price.

I've heard the tired and boring screed that the only people who own Leicas are dentists, lawyers, doctors and CEOs. Nothing could be further from the truth. Legions of young photographers have snapped up M series film Leicas to do their work. Why? Sure, some are influenced by influencers but the rest (the majority?) are drawn to the tradition and the ease of shooting with these cameras and manual lenses. Many working photographers have Leica cameras in addition to their "work" cameras. And why not? They are fun to shoot with. 

In a country where people think nothing about going into debt for years and years to afford a $100K pick-up truck, the capabilities of which they certainly don't need and will never use, is it so outrageous to spend just shy of $7K for a camera that will bring them joy every day of their lives for years to come? I think not. 

But this outpouring of spite from people who should know better is depressing. Red Dot Fever is virulent and found mostly in people who just can't understand why something demonstrably more fun is popular amongst the millions and millions and millions of people across the world who CAN afford to buy one without giving it a second thought.

Bravo to Leica. Shame on the mindless naysayers.