Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2004/09/30
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Hmm like a Ferrari? :] > Interesting, Bob - But I hardly think Hermes and its boutiques are going > to have any impact what so ever on who does or does not produce film, > and on what the "outcome" of film v. digital will be. For Gds sake, Bob, > that battle is over, finished. Digital IS the dominant medium already, > and will only grow stronger. > > And, yes, Hermes could conceivably keep Leica 'alive.' But..how sad. Is > that really 'alive.' It's one thing to be thought of as the camera of > Henri Cartier-Bresson. It's another to be thought of as some rich guy's > toy available in red octopus. ;-) > > -----Original Message----- > From: lug-bounces+bdcolen=earthlink.net@leica-users.org > [mailto:lug-bounces+bdcolen=earthlink.net@leica-users.org] On Behalf Of > Thinkofcole@aol.com > Sent: Thursday, September 30, 2004 11:29 AM > To: lug@leica-users.org > Subject: [Leica] Photokina - Film Dinosaur Button > > > Everybody here seems to have covered most of the problems facing Leica > today. > As we now can see clearly, I believe, Leica has decided to > concentrate > largely on producing the finest lenses money can buy and to turn over > the > production of Leica cameras to proven Japanese camera manufacturers -- > of course, > with Leica engineering. > That brings up Hermes, the fashion company -- and one-third owner of > what > Hermes must believe is the best camera in the world. Why else would > Hermes > see promise in Leica, a camera used by dinosaurs like us? Why else > would it > buy a third-interest -- not enough for control but enough to exercise a > major > voice in the future of Leica. > Up to now, the full Leica line has been available only from > Leica-franchised dealers [if you don't count grey marketeers and used > camera dealers]. > That will still be the case, I believe, but if Hermes has its way, > wherever > Hermes scarves and ties and perfume and whatever else Hermes sells to > people with > Real Money, Leica cameras will also be displayed-- and widely sold for > lots > of money. > When a woman goes into a Hermes store, which seem to be almost > everywhere > on the planet, she may buy her husband or boyfriend a few ties at > possibly > $50 or more each and then order a $5,000 Leica in red octopus skin, for > > delivery at Christmas, an idea that must have come from some genius in > the Hermes > design department. After all, people who shop in places like Vuitton, > Patek, > Givenchy, Cartier, Loewe and Hermes, to name a few, don't really care > what > things cost; they just pull out their credit card and sign on the > dotted line. > At least, that's how how I see it. > Who else but a designer at a place like Hermes would conceive of an > idea > to promote a custom-made Leica -- just like custom-made shoes, hat, > handbag, > gloves or attache case. What difference if it costs a lot of money and, > > getting back to the red-leather Leica, who cares if it just lies in the > customer's > drawer most of the time; nobody else has one like it and it's "just > beautiful.'' [Moreover, custom-made Leicas are not a new idea for Leica; > we all know > that several famous Leica photographers in the Thirties, Forties and > Fifties > had Leicas and Leica lenses made to their individual specifications, > although > probably none with any unusual covering other than black. Like Henry > Ford's > Model T.] > Thus: > (1) Leica will be with us for a long time. > (2) Leica lens mounts will become standard throughout the > industry. > (3) Regardless of what the major film makers decide in > Britain, > Germany and the United States, 35mm film will be available everywhere, > most > likely largely from Fuji and other Japanese producers. > (4) Leica cameras will become available more widely and, > gradually, more dealers will spring up throughout the world. > (5) Zeiss-Ikon will be there, too, along with Voightlander, > Cosina > Rolleiflex and, it seems, others. > (6) Digital cameras will grow rapidly and become en even > larger > competitor. > (7) Competition will decide what system dominates. > (8) Newspapers, magazines and television will get > advertising > allotments -- and, therefore, promote Leica and the others more often. > (9) Most important: We'll all be here until we join Sal > DiMarco > Jr. -- bob cole > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information