[Leica] LEICA could be clever

[nathan.wajsman at planet.nl (Nathan Wajsman)]

Mark,

I believe that BD has stated on several occasions that he uses and likes 
Leica M cameras. Most of his (and others') criticism is not that the 
existing products are bad but that Leica management have for many years 
made bad strategic decisions that have now brought the company to this 
sorry state.

I fully agree with you that the lenses you mention are fantastic, and I 
have bought several of them as well (although I have since sold some). 
However, most of these lenses were introduced in the 1990s. In the past 
few years, aside from the M7, Leica has introduced very few really new 
products. OK, there is the rebadged Panasonic, but otherwise we are 
talking mostly about new coverings of existing models, a retro MP and 
not much else. The DMR is a good idea but it is at least a year too 
late. And worst of all is the company's longtime insistence that a 
digital M was impossible for all kinds of technical reasons followed by 
the sudden reversal of that opinion after Epson/Cosina introduced the 
RD1. I was very close to getting the latter instead of the Canon DSLR I 
ended up with, but there were some features on the RD1 that I did not 
like, and if I am to spend $3K on a camera body, it has to be perfect 
for me.

So yes, Leica lenses are the greatest, but Leica's ability and 
willingness to innovate the bodies is limited to nonexistent. Which 
further strengthens my argument that the only long-term survival route 
for Leica is to be part of a larger manufacturer like Canon/Sony/Nikon 
where their lens-making excellence would be valued.


Nathan

Mark Rabiner wrote:


> Actually B.D. you might keep in mind that as this is the Leica Users Group
> this is a group of people who use Leicas.
> The PRODUCT that this famously bad management group you keep harping about
> endlessly MAKES NOW. It is their current or recent PRODUCT.
> Which they deserve credit for.
> Most of us are into the new stuff. The new "product".
> The same basic management and certainly the company that since I started
> getting into Leica 12 years ago come out with the revolutionary
> 24 ASPH
> 21 ASPH
> 35 Summicron and Summilux both ASPH.
> 50 Summilux ASPH and collapsible Elmar, my next lens probably,.
> 90 Elmarit and APO ASPH Summicron and collapsible macro.
> 135 3.4 Telyt APO
> The m7 and Mp and the m6 TTL.
> Much of this I've bought into and used since it's come out in the last
> twelve years I've been getting more and more into Leica.
> As you'd think others on this list might also be doing.
> 
> And all kinds of R stuff which I know less about.
> 
> No company in the world have come up with products year after year which
> have so consistently consumed my funds and time than Leica.
> Yes my Leicas are worth a bit more than what I paid for my used 94 Volvo
> station wagon.
> Not my house though. I guess my first and top devotion goes to the house
> making industry. I should just the House Users Group. That's where my money
> is.
> 
> So there is nothing amazing about my appreciation for Leica the company or
> management.
> I use the products the company has come out with over the past dozen years.
> 
> And it's not so amazing that as a NON Leica user, BD you'd NOT think so
> highly of them. Even be HIGHLY CRITICAL of them.
> But it's not exactly "MAN BITES DOG".
> The only thing amazing to me is why you are here feeling the need to
> continually hit us with this nasty negative line. You just never run out of
> hot air!
> 
> Leica is down and gasping now.
> Me I hate to see it being kicked while it's down here by people who never
> liked it to begin with.
> Its just too obvious.
> But criticized by those who have a real interest in it.
> A real positive interest in it.
> To me that's real conversation.
> Lets hear some real critical cutting insight by someone who's made a
> commitment to Leica use.
> That's more "MAN BITES DOG". Or at least good conversation.
> 
> I think instead of people cavalierly making jokes about whose going to buy
> Leica, Michel Jackson or Walt Disney some of us do something positive like 
> a
> friend of mine just did yesterday.
> Buy a Leica.
> Actually he bought a collapsible 90. I may do the same.
> 
> The news is that Leica is in very deep trouble and might go under.
> Not that they PROBABLY will go under.
> And not that they're GOING to go under for sure.
> 
> You would think the Leica Users Group would be behind Leica.
> 
> 
> Mark Rabiner
> Photography
> Portland Oregon
> http://rabinergroup.com/
> 
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Leica Users Group.
> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
> 
> 

-- 
Nathan Wajsman
Almere, The Netherlands

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