Re: [Leica] Non-Leica-Made Electronic M?

[RBedw51767@aol.com]

Dan:

I don't know if I agree with either you or Marc.  If we had said these things
when the
IIIF was the current Leica we would not have the M6.  Leica thought that they
did the right thing when they commissioned Minolta to make the R series.  They
were good cameras but never received recognition as serious Leicas.  It has
been my observation, during the past year or so, that Leica has become more
aggressive with new products and marketing.  This is good, however the quality
of some of their products have become questionable (personal bad experience
with R8 winder).  I also noticed that the Tri-Elmar was very rough and did not
always change the frames in the eyepiece.  I attribute these things to growing
pains of quality concessions.  Many outstanding products suffer these same
problems as inflation affects manufacturing costs.  As an analogy I can
personally attest that Hathaway made a very bad mistake with their shirts.  I
wore them for many years and they were $29.00.  The shirt tails were long,
they had a very comfortable full fit and the material always looked and wore
better than anything on the market.  As inflation set in they decided that
they had to remain at the $29.00 price point and began compromising on the fit
and the quality of the materials.  I began buying Brooks Brothers shirts at
$10.00 to $15.00 more and swithched my loyalty (unfortunately Brooks Brothers
is now guilty of the same thing).   I'm affraid that Leica has decided that
they must keep their price point at $1995 for the M6 body and go to Japan to
make a camera to compete with Contax and the new Hasselblad Xpan.  In my
opinion, this will destroy Leica.    It is OK to  improve Leicas just as they
have done with the M2, M3, M4 and M5.  I personally don't expect the price to
remain the same as it never has in the past(I think that the M42 that I
purchased in the 70's was around $700-$800).

What I would prefer to see from Leica are the following;

a. Keep the current M6 as it is and continue to make it more affordable with
quality improvements.

b. Develop a more advanced M series with auto focus, auto exposure and manual
override, TTL and whatever whizbangs they can add to it.  Make sure current
lenses can be used with the new electronic body. 

c.  Make sure it is made in Germany  

d. It's ok to increase the price of a new  electronic body to $3000.
Leicaphiles will find a way to afford it if the quality is there and it is
made in Germany.

Whew!   I think that I have said enough.  That's my two cents worth.  I've got
to go get a drink!

Bob




In a message dated 98-08-13 10:07:24 EDT, you write:

<< 
 At first thought, I would agree with Marc's assertion.   But as long as
 Leica will continue to provide parts and service for my current M6s, I
 guess I don't really care if they replace it with some new fangled
 elecronic whiz bang camera.  After all, I already own the perfect camera.
 
 Dan C.
 
 At 08:57 AM 13-08-98 -0400, Marc wrote (plus a bit more):
 > No, it
 >> is not just the lenses which make the M package work.  I like the present
 >> package, as it is.  I want no changes.  I want it to stay the
 >> same.  I want
 >> the only improvements to be in the lenses.  The cameras work
 >> perfectly, and
 >> how could we ever improve perfection?
 >>
 >> Marc
 
  >>