Re: [Leica] The lights are on...but nobody's home

[Bernard <4829.g23@g23.relcom.ru>]

Armchair ramblings, Bill. Don't you have any hands-on business
experience? Leica does not compete in the same marketplace as the more
affordable brands. Like it or not, but Leica is in most cases a
lifestyle-confirming camera, and it should advertise there where the good
life is marketed. Leica strongly appeals to those people who will never
feel good about having a Cosina, and those people don't read Shutterbug
with its cheap ads. Spending money to flirt with the folks at Shutterbug,
who get courted all day by the major camera manufacturers, is a waste of
the money you are so worried about.

Bernard



Bill wrote:

> Now, let's see.  There is an eight hour time difference between
> Denver and Solms.  So if I stay up until 1:00am that will be 9:00am
> in Solms.
> I think I am going to call Herr Cohn first thing in the morning and
> ask him if Leica really has a marketing department?
>
> Why do I ask?  Well, wait until you get a look at the May issue of
> Shutterbug magazine.  One quick look through that issue and you will
> agree with me that the Leica marketing department must only exist in
> the minds of the most gullable.
>
> Let's take a quick tour of the May issue:
>
> The cover has a great photo of a Voigtlander Bessa-R (no Leica)
>
> On page 8, half of the "editor's Note" column is devoted to the Nikon
> S3 along with a great photo. (no Leica)
>
> Moving right along, we come to page 50 where Roger W. Hicks has a
> good article on the renaissance of rangefinders.  There is a big
> color picture of the Bessa-R, a big color picture of the Konica
> HAXAR, and a big color picture of the Hasselblad XPAN. (Here again no
> Leica)
>
> The text on page 50 does mention Leica, but not in very flattering
> terms.
>
> The article continues on page 52.  Here there is a black and white
> picutre of a 1950s Voigtlander, a black and white picture of an M2,
> and a black and white picture of a Russian Zorki 4K.
>
> Moving on to page 54.  Wow there is another picture of a Leica... so
> what if it an antique model 250, at least it is a picture.  Below it
> are two pictures of Russian FED cameras.
>
> Now wait, I'm not finished.  Beginning of page 138 there is a multi
> page article on the PMA show in Las Vegas.  On page 154 of that
> article, there is a nice color photo of the Bessa-R and a nice color
> photo of the Konica HEXAR. (no Leica).
>
> Moving ahead to page 158 there is a nice color photo of the Contax
> G2.  There is also a paragraph about the G2 and a paragraph about the
> Konica HEXAR lenses. (no Leica).
>
> Checking page 210 I find a long paragraph about Voigtlander's new
> lenses and a picutre of same. (no Leica)
>
> Now, way the hell in the back of the magazine, page 240, there is a
> black and white picture of what I think is a point and shoot C-1.
> However, there is no text on that page about any leica product, nor
> is that picture identified.
>
> Ok, let's take a minute to put all of this in perspective.  Imagine
> if you will that this is not a leading (if not the leading)
> photography magazine, but rather a computer magazine.  And, the
> product not given the proper notice was Microsoft Windows 2000.
>
> Or, let's say that the products under review are film rather than
> rangefinder cameras.  What do you think would happen if KODAK did not
> get proper exposure?
>
> Ok, how about an article about S.U.V.s (four wheel drive cars) where
> Jeeps were not adequately covered.
>
> You know what would happen as well as I do.  All hell would have
> broken loose in those companies, and heads would roll...as well they
> should.
>
> Like I have said before, I come out of an environment where corporate
> executives are paid to "MAKE thing happen".  Herr Cohn may well be
> able to keep cranking out 'contrived collectables', in the spirit of
> P. T. Barnum,  and turn a profit doing so.  Mean while the potential
> for a once great camera company to be reborn slowly slips away.
>
> Regards,
>
> Bill
>
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