Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/05/10
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I cannot imagine that Leica ever will enter the medium format market. Leica always was related with 35 mm photography. Today, they still manufacture the finest equipment, if you consider optical and mechanical quality, but the market is dominated by Nikon, Canon and others. The reason? In the past, these companies met their customers needs better than Leica, and today, they offer advanced electronics, which most photographers seem to like, even a lot of you - why do i read so much about Nikon F's on this list? If Leica wants to survive, they must concentrate on 35 mm and digital imaging. Especially, it would be very silly of them to start a competition against Hasselblad, which they never are able to win. An autofocus Leica R9 would be a much better idea. Also a product line of cheaper equipment for beginners, not necessarily with the Leica badge on it, but with compatible bayonet and flash mount. But i think that they again will be too proud or too dull or too afraid to do this, as they always were in the past. They really can be glad about Cosina and their Voigtländer Bessa-R, because this is THE camera to get experience with rangefinder photography without spending thousands of $$$, and its M39 mount allows upgrade to a Leica M. Best regards Uwe (glad owner of different Nikon F's and a Bessa-R)