Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/08/17
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]A perfect analysis.Bravo! Giancarlo - -----Messaggio originale----- Da: Bernard <5521.g23@g23.relcom.ru> A: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us> Data: marted́ 17 agosto 1999 16.09 Oggetto: Re: [Leica] Lieca & Minolta - A perfect marriage >Kotsinadelis, Peter (Peter) wrote: > >> LUGites, >> >> I think Minolta would help Leica especially from a financial >> perspective. >> Since Leica really has a very small piece of the SLR market, imagine a >> >> Minolta/Leica R9 with AF lenses made by Leica. WOW! >> >> (BTW, AF technology was originated by Honeywell, Minolta was just the >> first >> to put it in an SLR and Konica the first in a point & shoot) >> >> You'd finally have some real competition for Nikon and Canon! Minolta >> is >> probably the best ergonomically engineered camera on the market. >> Always >> very easy to use. The Leica name has great value in the photography >> market, >> so combining this advantage and a state-of-the-art (albeit not a >> collectible >> piece just yet) Minolta made R9, would really help both companies form >> a >> financial perspective. Minolta may help getting things out to market >> in a >> timely fashion, perhaps even build in a motor drive so one doesn't >> have to >> wait a great length of time in the hope they finally become available. >> >> The only caveat is that they both are poor in the marketing >> department, but >> this is easy to remedy. > >The result may be great, technically, but many technically great product >have failed on the market. Marketing is the problem I see with this >Leica-Minolta team. Leica SLRs are still being accused of being >overpriced Minoltas. And let's be fair; Minolta is the last of the >Japanese Big Three. Minolta is not a "pro's choice" in the people's >mind, and when you look at the statistics, it's not only in the people's >minds. Compared to brands like Leica, Hasselblad, Linhof, Sinar et al, >Minolta is a "cheapo-brand". > >This is not to say anything against Minolta, but they are positioned in >a totally different market segment than Leica. > >B > > >