Watch this page to get the latest news and updates. You can also follow the Leica dream on Twitter.
Leicadream.com is still alive, but I don't have the time to promote or maintain this site as much as I'd like to. Despite all the generous contributions so far, I'm still a long way from fully financing the M9. Heck, the M9 really is an expensive camera! Know an eccentric, photography-obsessed millionaire with a great sense of humour? Please ask him to stop by this site..
Right now, it seems like I'll get to keep my beautiful Nikon SP (see below). Want it? You know what to do!
Just a quick update to let you know I'm still here. Progress has been slow lately, and I've been busy doing other things. Special thanks to all those who have submitted photos, donated Leica dream money and bought t-shirts so far!
Leicadream.com has been twittered by acclaimed photographer Vincent Laforet. Thanks Vincent!
Help collect $7000 or sell 1000 t-shirts before May 1, 2010, and I'll give away this beautiful Nikon SP rangefinder camera:
This 1957 classic is Nikon's last rangefinder camera, often considered superior even to the contemporary and highly regarded Leica M3. More info on cameraquest.com.
If you don't want this old film classic, you can instead have a nice, low shutter count Nikon D2H, incl. battery and charger. And you'll still have a chance to get a Leica M9 if I'm able to fund a second camera.
Once you've contributed, fill out this form so that I can keep track of everyone. By doing so, you'll also have a chance to get that second Leica M9 (or another camera - like a top of the line Canon or Nikon - if you prefer).
I've changed the rules so you no longer need to convince me why you want a Leica M9. We all do.
Happy new year! Leicashots.com is running another M9 lottery. Almost 20.000 tickets sold in just a few days! You can donate a few bucks or purchase a leicadream t-shirt for another chance to get a Leica M9.
Another classic camera shirt: Nikon FM. Anyone want to trade a Leica M9 for a beautiful Nikon SP rangefinder camera, including a classic Nikkor 50mm f/1.4? Just asking :-)
Merry Christmas everyone!
I'm working on a classic camera T-shirt collection. Here's a beautiful Rolleiflex. Any other cameras you'd like to see? Drop me an e-mail.
I've also added two new designs based on the original red dot camera: I want it! and I got it!
I'm playing with another idea. Need some feedback on this one. I'm contemplating giving away a very nice, low shutter count Nikon D2H (including battery and charger) once I've sold a thousand T-shirts. This is in addition to giving away a Leica M9 later (if I can). In other words, you'd have two chances to get a free camera. It's a few years old, but the D2H is still a very capable tool. After all, it is a Nikon pro body. Haven't decided anything yet, so let me know what you think. Just send me an e-mail.
I also have a few Google Wave invitations to give away. Send me an e-mail if you want one. First come..
Wow! Leicashot's M9 lottery is now ended. That was fast! Winner to be drawn this Monday. Fingers crossed.
Our friends over at Leicashots.com are running a M9 lottery: "We’re not going to get a Leica M9 for free to award you (and we’re not filthy rich, sadly), so just like in a regular lottery, you buy a ticket (or multiple), $1 each, and when all tickets are sold, we draw the winner."
You can increase your chances to get a M9 by purchasing a cool rangefinder photography T-shirt from leicadream.com as well, and let me know why you deserve/want a Leica M9.
Check out the new Nikon F shirts: www.cafepress.com/nikonf.
Traffic and sales has been slow these past few days. Not that I'm complaining. It's been a good start. Why not give away some cool photography t-shirts for Christmas? This has got to be a cooler gift than a pair of socks or another tie!?
Someone asked for a Nikon rangefinder design, so here it is. The classic 1957 Nikon SP: www.cafepress.com/nikonsp.
Opened yet another Leicadream store. You can now purchase your stylish rangefinder camera merchandise (T-shirts, sweaters, coffee mugs and more) from printfection.com, in addition to cafepress.com and redbubble.com.
In other news, I've handled the Leica S2 (pre-production model) and Leica X1 today. At $26,000, the S2 is a serious tool for serious professionals. The X1 is a very interesting camera with a capable APS-C sensor (apparently, it's the same sensor found in the Nikon D300), but costing $1995 it didn't feel as robust as expected (otherwise it looked great!)
You can now buy the new red dot T-shirt design from redbubble.com.
Another cool Leicadream design (as seen in the new website logo). Same great camera, but with cleaner artwork and a stylish red dot (you can still get the original version too).
You can now support the Leica dream by purchasing your photographic equipment from B&H Photo in New York. It doesn't cost you anything, but will help me give away a Leica M9!
Check out the new, extremely cool "word cloud" design, based on the 9/9 Leica M9 press release: www.cafepress.com/leicacloud. (Purchase a shirt and let me know why you deserve a Leica M9).
See a low resolution (800 pixel) word cloud preview here (the blue URL is NOT part of the original design).
Thanks for all your photo submissions, support and contributions so far. As the news effect wears off, traffic is down a little - as expected. As always, I'd like to see some more photos. It's free - and you could get yourself a Leica. Don't be shy. Submit your photo today.
Leicadream was featured on photographyblog.com: Want to Help A Fellow Photographer to A Leica M9? (never mind the sour comments - grumpy people can't help themselves.)
Everyone can now submit a photo and get a chance to win a Leica M9. It doesn't cost anything to play, but you'll increase your winning chances if you also contribute to the "leicadream fund" by donating a small amount of money or by purchasing a cool rangefinder photography T-shirt or some other merchandise. More info
People keep asking how much money I've made, when do you expect to get your camera, etc. Here's a quick status report:
So far, I've raised several hundred dollars, but there's still a long way to go. Will my dream come true by Christmas? Not very likely. Will I be able to buy a M9 next year? Maybe, but there are no guarantees. It's all about numbers. If every visitor had purchased a T-shirt or donated a few dollars to see their photo on the front page, I could give away a Leica M9 every week. No kidding. That won't happen of course, but it illustrates the power in numbers.
Apparently, some people seem to be a little sceptical about the "I'll give away a M9" part. That's understandable, but let me assure you that I'm dead serious. I can't promise anything, but if I can raise the money for another Leica M9, I will give it away. Click for more details.
I don't know if or when I'll reach my goal, but in any case I expect it to take a while. Needless to say, I'll need all the help I can get. Every single contribution, small or big, is just as important as all the others.
Finally, I'd like to plug another new website. Leicashots.com aims to show some of the best pictures from the thousands of unknown Leica shooters worldwide. There's already a nice collection of featured photographers on their site, and new stuff is being added every day. Check it out, add a bookmark, read their leicadream article and submit your own favourite Leica photo.
Wow! The leicadream story on WIRED ("..stories, people, and ideas that are changing the world"):
Another cool write-up, on the Danish Press Photographer Association website: Salg af undertøj skal finansiere Leica-køb. Google translate: Sales of underwear to finance Leica purchase
Leicadream has also been twittered by Leica Store Mayfair, Leica's own UK store. Thanks!
Finally, I've added some more background info to the About page.
Leicadream is currently the top story on Amateur Photographer magazine ("The world's number one weekly photography magazine"): Leica M9 photographer sells 'thongs' to raise funds.
I've finally figured out how to configure a fan page on Facebook. Please visit and say hello and become a fan :-) Here's an easy to remember address: www.leicadream.com/facebook.
Big news! If I can raise the money for yet another Leica M9 (and possibly a lens) - I will give it away to one of my leicadream contributors. I'll have to get my own camera first, but the second M9 could be yours! See here for more details.
Someone asked for a leicadream T-shirt with a different slogan, so here it is: It's only a camera.
I've only just begun, and I'm thinking about expanding. Someone want to create (and donate) a new leicadream logo/T-shirt design to supplement the original one? You don't have to be a professional designer, but I'm looking for something nice. This is your chance to put your design on the chest of great photographers all over the world. Interested? Feel free to contact me.
In just five days - people from 96 countries/territories have visited leicadream.com. Amazing! Top ten countries: USA, Norway, United Kingdom, China, Canada, Germany, France, Australia, Netherlands, Hong Kong.
Now - I'd really like to see some more photos from all of you: Featured Photo.
Follow the Leica dream on Twitter: twitter.com/leicadream.
Speaking of Twitter: Leica Camera AG (yes, the camera company!) has discovered leicadream.com: "Leica fans are creative: a M9 funding project http://tinyurl.com/yhsfrgx". Source: twitter.com/leica_camera. Very cool!
Another nice write up:
Leicadream.com is currently the top story on akam.no, one of Norway's largest photography web sites: Drømmen om Leica M9. Google translate: Dream of the Leica M9 (automated translation - never mind the grammar and silly phrases).
Also, leicadream.com has been twittered by world-renowned photographer and director Chase Jarvis. Wow! Thanks Chase!
T-shirts (and thongs!) are flying off the shelves! Ok, maybe I'm exaggerating a little, but merchandise is moving. Haven't got one yet? Just click on the T-shirt link in the main menu :-)
Leicadream has been featured on a couple of cnet sites: Photographer hawks T-shirts to fund Leica M9 purchase - in addition to twitter and blog posts. Thanks!
The dream is alive! On the very first day, this site was featured on Photo District News in their One Man, A Leica M9, and a Dream (& a bunch of t-shirts) article. Leicadream.com was also mentioned on such sites as leicalinks.com and leicarumors.com.
I've received a lot of encouraging feedback from people all over the world, and the first donations are in! Carl Pendle (www.carlpendle.com) became the first photographer to have his photo and web site featured on the front page. Thank you all!