[Leica] Re: the mythical M7

[cummer@asiaonline.net (Cummer Family)]

Well, as the fellow who started the recent thread on what we would like to
see in the still mythical M7 I have followed with great interest the
contributions - both positive and otherwise - which everyone has made. I
think it is wonderful that Leica manages to stir such loyalty and passion
and I hope the camera designers in Solms will take to heart the best of the
suggestions made in producing a new model, in the fullness of Leica time
someday, which retains all the good features of the M6, while incorporating
the useful suggestions made in the thread. I have been reading the 3rd
quarter results of Leica at their website and in the 9 months to the end of
December 1997 sales of M cameras fell by 1.6% worldwide from 47.4million Dm
to 46.6million Dm. In the same time period R camera sales increased by 34.4%
to 48.7 million Dm. The reason is given in the Chairman's report - the new
R8 and new lenses. The point is that as a public company committed to making
money for its shareholders Leica must have new product, and I suspect after
the M6 0.85, there will be a new M7 (or M6E if you prefer) and I hope all
our comments will help to shape what that camera will be. I don't think
Leica will obliterate 44 years of M tradition, and I am sure there will be
lens compatibility with present M series lenses, (that means no auto focus
which is okay by me) and no shutter priority (which would also require a
lens redesign) but a shutter update and better flash capability will be
there. Also, in the same way that the R6.2 coexists with the R8, I believe
that the M6 and the M6 0.85 will co-exist with the M7. I am looking forward
to buying one before my Minolta CLE craps out, and can't be repaired
anymore, because the CLE today represents for me the nearest available
approximation to what I would like in an M7. If the new M7 uses batteries
and has some electronic components, I feel I must say that I don't mind
buying a replacement when the electronics can no longer be repaired. What I
want (I guess we all want) is Leica Cameras to be profitable enough in the
future that they will be there to make that replacement (whether an M6 or an
M7 or M8, 9, 10) if and when I need or want one. 

Howard Cummer