Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/05/30
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Maybe it has something to do with the new Leica CEO, but after going for 24 months without hearing a peep from Leica in response to my warranty cards (except to get the Passport stuff), I got an issue of Leica View Magazine today. Nothing dramatic inside, just astute marketing, including rebates on the R and M bodies and a calendar of upcoming Leica-related events. What most caught my eye were the 3 new Minox binoculars, which look like little more (or less) than badge-engineered Leica binocs. The 8x32 looks familiar to me, except for it's lack of the very handy single-knob focusing of the Leica 8x32BA. But with a list price of $439, the Minox should prove very tempting indeed, if it's optical performance is similar. It also suggests to me that Leica's profit margin on the binoculars is probably very substantial, and these "Minox" offerings seem like a cautious concession in the name of greater sales volumes. They'd best be careful not to canabalize their Trinovid sales though. What next: "Color Minotar" lenses in M and R mounts, for half the usual price? One can always hope! I also see that there's a workshop in Bodie, CA, under the auspices of Keeble & Shuchat on August 1: Are any fellow LUGers attending or conducting this thing? Jeff