Re: Who owns Leica?

[Jack Hamilton <0002022804@mcimail.com>]

-- [ From: Jack Hamilton * EMC.Ver #2.3 ] --

ERIC:
I agree with your detailing of how the current Leica Camera GMBH is set up.
I've been kidding some of the designers of the Leica www. site about this. Our
viewpoint, as Americans, is about Leica camera. ...and Leica camera only counts
for about 12% of the current Leitz business., so they have explained to me.

So we look at "oranges" and they are talking about apples.

I think that you are going to start to see the emergence of the new Leica
camera...Positioned initially to give the Contax g series a run for its money.

Probably, the Leica CL-2 (patterned on the same technology as the Mini-Lux, but
with interchangeable lenses) will be the next camera to be unveiled.

Leica, by its own admission is technologically about five-years behind where it
wants to be...and now they are trying to make up the time...and this is
according to the Leica U. S. President.

By the way Eric, have you seen the article of the Leica Mystique. Leica New
York was sending them out to those who asked for them.

Cordially,
Jack Hamilton
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

-------- REPLY, Original message follows --------

> Date: Friday, 03-Nov-95 08:54 PM
> 
> From: ch                       \ Internet:    (ewelch@gp.magick.net)
> From: ch                       \ Internet:    (ewelch@gp.magick.net)
> To:   Jack Hamilton            \ MCI Mail:    (JHAMILTON / MCI ID: 202-2804)
> 
> Subject: Re: Who owns Leica?
> 
> ** Reply to note from Charles Albertson <chucko@eskimo.com> 11/02/95  6:47pm
> -0800  > Actually, I believe Leica Camera (in Solms) was bought out by its
> current    > management several years ago. 
> 
> That is correct. In fact, if I remember correctly, it was in part a way of
> keeping a    group of American investors from getting their hands on it. Boy,
> imagine if that    would have happened. Leica would have probably become the
> Wal Mart of cameras. :-) 
> 
> No, that's Sigma's job. I know, Leica would have maintained their "air" of
> precision    through fancy marketing while reducing labor costs by putting
> lots of plastic in    everything and reducing quality control. Shoot, how can
> any company stay in business    with a worker to inspector ratio of 2:1. And
> all that expensive equipment built in    house, and all that R&D into new
> glasses and such. Sheesh, why don't we farm out lens    assemby to Vietnam or
> Cambodia? Or Mexico? And pay the workers minimum wage. Shoot,    we'll just
> hold pep rallys to keep their spirits up. Lot's better than all that   
> expesnsive training of skilled labor. 
> 
> Sarcasm mode off..... ;-) 
> 
> As a matter of fact, I heard the American investors planned to kill off the R
> system    and sell only the M system. Which is stupid, since the R system
> sells better than the    M system about everywehere than the U.S. And with
> Leica profits up 30% last year, I    guess they much be doing something
right.
> The only camera company to post an increase    in sales besides Leica was
> Contax. Is there a thread here? How about precision and    uncompromising
> quality?
> 
> 
> Regards, 
> 
> Eric Welch 
> Grants Pass, OR
> 
> 
> 

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