Leica Offers to Remove M9 Red Dot for Just $2,000

Leica sure makes some fine cameras, and some even better lenses. But what is it with those prices? When I picked up a used M6 with a 35mm aspherical lens some years ago, they cost me around £800 ($1,300) apiece. Back then it was probably the most money I has ever spent on anything. Now, next to the $7,000 M9 body, it looks like pocket change.

But Leica's latest effort is possibly the most ridiculous yet. For just $2,000, the company will remove the famous red dot from the top of your M9.

The “upgrade” package essentially turns your M9 into the recently-announced M9-P. Along with a replacement top-plate, which on the M9-P comes without the red dot, buyers will also get a sapphire crystal cover on the rear LCD, and a replacement bottom plate. These plates can be specced in black paint or silver chrome finishes, the latter of which is not available on the bare-bones M9.

Finally, you get the choice of vulcanite or leatherette trims.

If you don't care about the red dot (or if you have discovered how to peel and stick electrical tape) then you can opt for the cheap-o “Sapphire Glass Upgrade.” This costs just $1,300, and replaces only the glass and leatherette trim.

A new, tough LCD cover is nice, is it $2,000, or even $1,300 nice? For that kind of cash you could buy a 28mm ƒ2.8 Elmarit-M Aspherical lens.

Leica Offers Upgrade Package to Transform M9 into M9-P Camera [PDN]
source: Gadget Lab

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