Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/06/26
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]James, Thanks for the message - I hope you are right about Leica's direction. Can't help feeling that they should concentrate on doing what they do best - i.e. lenses - and leave as much of the rest to others as possible. Whilst the M series has a retro magic all of its own I would be happier with a Canon Eos 1n with Leica lenses (were such a combo practical) than any of the R series cameras of the last 20 years. Whilst the lenses's image quality gives them state of the art status the cameras have always seemed to me to be very backward: the R8 I would rate as about 15 years behind the competition now, perhaps more given the lack of a motor drive and whilst I would like one it is simple because it is the best available body for R lenses. Unlike Eric I am persuaded by my own experience and observation to believe that Leica R cameras have no significant part of the pro market: this is a problem Leica needs to address rather more urgently than it has for the last 30 years IMHO and indulging in digital, jewelry, platinum specials and so on does nothing for this. The argument that the latter subsidize the less profitable areas does not persuade me either: if Leica cannot make money making pro-level cameras they are IMHO obviously doomed since there reputation is based entirely upon this premise. It seems to me that Leica can hardly make money on their present product lines (M and R that is) even at the stratospheric prices they reached in recent years. The Asian crisis, falling DM/dollar rates and a few new products have all had a profound effect on their sales positive and negative and it remains to be seen if Leica Camera AG can cope with any further big shocks. For example, if the new and long overdue replacement to the M6 (or addition to the line perhaps) is not a considerable commercial success I believe our beloved manufacturer will be in serious trouble. That Ted and many other photographers are perfectly satisfied with the capabilities of the M6 only makes the challenge greater! Bests Adrian Adrian Bradshaw Photojournalist Shanghai, China