Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2023/04/28
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Since when is politically correct hang out here on the LUG? I was quoting a long used phrase..... even if it is not PC nor correct in application........ It was meant, in olden times, to mean people of power/influence or people of wealth. Nothing more. Frank Filippone BMWRed735i at Gmail.com On 4/28/2023 2:00 PM, Richard Man wrote: > Not sure if "Indian Chiefs" should be used, just saying. > > My M9 got destroyed by fire, and I bought an M10, the original, for a > reasonable for Leica price. Love it. No wish to upgrade even if I could > afford it. The M10 embodies the best of the original Leica philosophy. > > On Fri, Apr 28, 2023 at 12:44?PM jnelon<jnelon at nelonassociates.com> > wrote: > >> Well said. >> >> James R. Nelon >> Partner >> WNDA Studios >> O: +1.207.389.4676 >> C: +1.508.308.6525 >> Email:JNelon at WNDAStudios.com >> Website:https://WNDAStudios.com >> LinkedIn:https://LinkedIn.com/in/JamesNelon >> Highlight Reel:https://Vimeo.com/252904552 >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: LUG<lug-bounces+jnelon=nelonassociates.com at leica-users.org> On >> Behalf Of Frank Filippone via LUG >> Sent: Friday, April 28, 2023 1:57 PM >> To: Leica Users Group<lug at leica-users.org> >> Cc: Frank Filippone<bmwred735i at gmail.com> >> Subject: Re: [Leica] Leica lens quality as a forerunner to another "lens" >> race. >> >> I am really interested in what you have said.....especially in light of >> what Dr. Kauffman has said about computational photography. >> >> There is a major and basic decision you must reach as a company... do you >> want to cheapen your costs to the minimum or do you want to create THE >> BEST. >> >> For Nikon, Canon and other mainstream photo brands, obviously it is more >> profitable to reduce costs. >> >> And by corollary, to allow THE BEST to be made by others. ( ignore this >> segment of the market). It suits their economies of scale. It suits the >> pure number of employees they have. It suits their heritage and it suits >> their Management. Said simply, it suits their profit motives. >> >> The move from a mechanical camera to the almost totally digital >> digi-cameras was a major move for them. ( and genius of the old Minolta >> folk at Sony.... ) >> >> But back to the main story, Kauffman has talked a lot about computational >> photography. The use of computers to fix stuff in an image. But HIS >> engineers are busy making $10,000 lenses that are close to perfection as >> is >> currently possible. The computational photography side of the business is >> relegated to developing "stuff" on contract for other companies.... >> Including Huawei. >> >> Why speak out of both sides of your mouth? It could be misdirection of >> strategy, or simply a way to remain in business. Leica can not compete on >> volume or price. It's main market must be a niche. >> >> That Leica niche is not computational photography, it is optical >> superiority. >> >> The market they play in is one of rich Doctors, Lawyers and Indian >> Chiefs. It is NOT Mr. Joe Average. It is NOT Mr Pro Photographer. >> >> A few photographers make their livelihoods using Leica cameras and >> lenses. But the vast majority do not. Pros just can not afford the >> costs, >> initial or updating. It makes no business sense. >> >> And thus it is....... that we as amateurs (rich Doctors, Lawyers and >> Indian Chiefs) and retirees are Leica's market segment. >> >> Can we actually see the difference compared to CaNikon? Does it matter? >> We want to know we are using THE BEST. >> >> And we can afford ( main word there!) to buy THE BEST. >> >> And as long as we or our kids want the same, Leica will produce THE BEST >> for us. >> >> Because they have no other choice. >> >> Frank Filippone >> BMWRed735i at Gmail.com >> >> On 4/28/2023 3:55 AM, Don Dory via LUG wrote: >>> Greetings to all. As many know I was at the LSI Spring meeting at the >>> Leica headquarters in NJ. As usual Leica provides their latest gear >>> on loan for a day. I had the opportunity to use the M11 Monochrome >>> with my ASPH Summilux(s) and the 28 APO Summicron. I have to say that >>> the sensor is way ahead of the lenses and your budget should include >>> several of the APO lenses if you go to the M11 M. >>> >>> Another point, the existing plug in software doesn't properly >>> recognize the M11M files so you are reliant on the built in Adobe >>> features or possibly the Capture One that is offered with the >>> M11M(James H.) would have more information on that. >>> >>> As an aside, I believe that the Japanese camera makers are proceeding >>> in a different direction with software enabled lens correction. I >>> know that the lenses I mount on high res Sony cameras all seem to >>> deliver more detail than I could get out of the M11M with existing >>> software. The information is there in the files so it is no fault of >>> the camera but more that the files are currently not well supported. >>> >>> I had the chance to talk to a high ranking individual within the Leica >>> organization at breakfast. The gist was that Leica was proceeding on >>> an optical solution rather than a software enabled solution. Probably >>> the better solution as if the information is there software can take >>> it to an even higher level. However, it puts Leica on a cost >>> effective curve that makes their products even more exclusive: also, >>> it hurts production volume as some of their designs have very high >> defect rates by Leica standards. >>> Obviously this drives an even higher price point. >>> >>> Last, one of the participants received a survey from Leica with one >>> question about Japanese production of lenses at a (much) lower price >>> point. So, Leica is aware of the pricing problem and is trying to >>> work on it. >>> >>> Last, this Leica representative clarified the classic stool of any >> product: >>> price, size, performance. You could have any two. I am currently >>> weighing this as I own several of Sigma's most excellent lenses for the >> FE mount. >>> Their performance is magnificent however the average weight is in the >>> neighborhood of 1.5 kilograms compared to my 35 ASPH Summilux in the >>> high >>> 300 grams. The Sigma is a better lens but my shoulder and hand don't >>> appreciate the weight as much as my eyes appreciate the image quality. >>> >>> On the positive side, Leica lenses still retain a significant resale >>> advantage. >>> >> _______________________________________________ >> Leica Users Group. >> Seehttp://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Leica Users Group. >> Seehttp://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >> >