Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2012/12/01

[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]

Subject: [Leica] Cameras Real Pros Use
From: john at mcmaster.co.nz (John McMaster)
Date: Sat, 1 Dec 2012 20:41:22 +0000
References: <20121201204041.WRPN8874.eastrmfepo103.cox.net@eastrmimpo110>

I think you will find that few (anybody?) who will be backing Mark's view 
for the Leica resurgence in the pro/photojournalist market.....

john

> -----Original Message-----
> 
> Time will tell.  Shall we set a date and start a LUG pool?
> 
> Sent from my Verizon Wireless Phone
> 
> ----- Reply message -----
> 
> I agree Frank the M8 and 9 were a great thing for Leica and a success from
> many angles. Has kept them in the game and selling lenses and making a
> profit. They only area it has been less successful  is its market has not
> included top visible pros so they were forced to do some deal with Magnum
> to pay them to use the gear and it was an awkward PR move.
> As I said I am hoping and I do believe it will be true that the Digital M 
> with its
> CMOS sensor and ability to match current DSLR'S in iso range and everything
> else will change that. We'll see like in the 1990s a fair amount of top 
> shooters
> using them. One in every pack.  As it stands now we are not seeing a fair
> amount of top shooters using them not present company excluded. So that
> will be nice when that is no longer the case.
> 
> Leica has always depended on the fact that though it may be called
> antiquated by the madding masses it has been the whole time used by a
> select group of very top pros and very top amateurs. But the m8 m9 era did
> not include this.
> 
> I am excited about the New Leica Digital numberless M and where Leica is
> headed.
> 
> By the way I've not heard anything about the S system not working out in 
> any
> way. I think its way too early to tell and all signs point to its taking 
> over the
> modern photo universe and leaving no prisoners. I think it will 
> significantly
> edge into the Fuji Hasselblad medium format world. As seen when we
> watched Steve McCurry shoot in Rio the babes and interesting women.
> 
> Mark William Rabiner
> Photography
> http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/lugalrabs/
> 
> 
> > From: Frank Dernie <Frank.Dernie at btinternet.com>
> > Reply-To: Leica Users Group <lug at leica-users.org>
> > Date: Sat, 1 Dec 2012 09:25:16 +0000
> > To: Leica Users Group <lug at leica-users.org>
> > Subject: Re: [Leica] Cameras Real Pros Use
> >
> > The digital Leica Ms have been a fantastic success for Leica. They
> > have been in great demand, with months of waiting lists and the
> > increase in demand has doubled the used value of some of the lenses.
> > The thing that has been a massive failure for Leica has been their
> > reflex cameras. However good they are they have never sold in
> > sufficient quantity to recoup design, development and tooling costs.
> > Being loyal to their R customers nearly bankrupted the company, so
> > they were absolutely right (disappointingly) to eventually drop the R.
> > In the quantities a Leica reflex is likely to sell the S2 is perhaps a
> > good choice. Dearer to develop and make than a 36x24 DSLR, but
> > probably not by much, yet possible by virtue of the cache of its
> > bigger sensor to sell at a price which gives half a chance of washing
> > its face financially. I hope they sell sufficient of them.
> > The Nikon F was a watershed camera. It has a massively crude mirror
> > and shutter assembly but, guess what, nobody cared and it was solid
> > and relatively inexpensive with excellent lenses. It changed everything.
> > FD
> >
> > On 30 Nov, 2012, at 22:51, Mark Rabiner <mark at rabinergroup.com> wrote:
> >
> >> Leica distanced itself from its large loyal fan base in 1963 after
> >> the Nikon F took over in very few years after that it was a niche
> >> market which appealed to connoisseurs.
> >> Its had 50 years expense in not being on the top of the market but
> >> the bottom. Of the mass market that is. Its fairly happy being where it
> was.
> >> Problem was with the non total success of the digital M's it went lower.
> >> Now I think with the digital numberless M its back to where it was in
> >> the 90's. Very small but very much there.
> >>
> >> Mark William Rabiner
> >> Photography
> >> http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/lugalrabs/
> >


Replies: Reply from mark at rabinergroup.com (Mark Rabiner) ([Leica] Cameras Real Pros Use)
In reply to: Message from jon.streeter at cox.net (jon.streeter) ([Leica] Cameras Real Pros Use)