Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2005/02/17
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]In a message dated 2/17/05 9:47:36 AM, lug-request@leica-users.org writes: > He said that a salesman at Keeble-Shuchat told him Leica was on the "block" > soon to be no more...Does this financial announcement from Solms validate > that comment? > --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Obviously profit hasn't materialized in the volume Hermes expected. You don't make money buying your products from Panasonic and others. You can subcontract parts, but not the whole item. Nikon succeeded with the D70 by building a factory dedicated to it in Thailand. Leica needs a new business plan. Maybe restructure as well. Leica Solms must decide whether it is a lens mfg first. Then the lens business can support the camera section. Pricing bodies at almost $3000 a throw isn't competitive even with pro models of film Nikons. Not having a true DSLR is a gaping omission these days. Being tardy with a full 35mm sensor digital M is a major problem. Leica isn't fulfilling its own expectations nor its customers'. Its product line doesn't match current demand. Once you fill orders for M7's, where do you go from there? During the 30's Leitz was a very innovative company. It not only produced a camera, it supplied an entire system, from lens to darkroom. Nikon has exploited the system idea. Leica abandoned it. Leica's reputation for quality is still intact. All it needs is a Steve Jobs kind of leadership. The brand is priceless. Appreciative consumers are out there. Hermes has the money for investment. Bob