[Leica] Are we no longer wanted?

[hopsternew at gmail.com (Geoff Hopkinson)]

Hmm at least one batch of white M8s still at the factory. I watched them
having their focus very precisely checked over 8 distances on a
sophisticated rig at the factory last Monday.

2009/6/21 Douglas Sharp <douglas.sharp at gmx.de>

> I was looking up things Leica on the Web recently and noticed the number of
> hits that turn up for Leica on "lifestyle" pages.
>
> It didn't seem to work after their flutter with Hermes, but now they seem
> to have got their products prominently "placed", or even "positioned" (in
> the words of the world of marketing)
>
> No more mention of precision optics and superb engineering - it's all
> turned into up-market hype about the special finish, how they look and if
> they have a perfectly matching bag... everything in black, white, olive
> green, titanium and silver seems to be the name of the game.
>
>
> The opening of the new Leica Shop in Moscow's uppest-market residential and
> shopping quarter at the end of May seems to be following the same trend. I
> wouldn't be surprised to find cameras in gold and royal blue with a double
> eagle or in Faberge enamel soon, packed in a matching Faberge easter egg.
>
> Then Ferrari red, Bugatti blue, Mercedes silver and, and, and.........
>
> The higher prices are obviously already a unique and exclusive selling
> point for people who want to be seen with a Leica as a lifestyle accessory.
>
> The M8 Safari is almost sold out, the White Edition has gone completely, a
> D-Lux 4 Titan and a D-Lux 4 Safari are selling well.
>
> This is all very good for Leica, but I think it bodes ill for the former
> target group to which we all most probably belong.
>
>
> Cheers
> Douglas
>
>
>
>
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-- 
Cheers
Geoff
'Life's not B&W, except at both ends'
http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/gh/
http://www.pbase.com/hoppyman