Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/08/26

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

Subject: Re: [Leica] Photokina release
From: Alan Ball <AlanBall@csi.com>
Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1998 17:29:51 +0200

Eric Welch wrote:
> Leica only makes so many M6s a year. They sell all of them. To increase
> production numbers, they'd probably have to lower quality control. There's
> no guarantee more people would buy them anyway.
> What's wrong with this picture?

Eric,
You have read the last fiscal year results for Leica. You are aware of
the benefits of a sound growth rate in turnover and profits, for a
company, its shareholders and its perspectives for the future. You
certainly have an idea of the current developments on what were the
faster growing markets not so long ago. If only with these elements in
mind, I can see there is clearly something "wrong with this picture" as
the M6 yields yet today the highest share of the company's turnover. I
shall not make analogies with the fate of many other reputed products
and companies through the years, because the thread would roll on
forever.... 

I sincerely hope the Leica management does not recognise itself in that
picture, and I am quite convinced it does not. Unfortunately, the part
of the Photokina release related to the M line does not prove this
point...


> The M6 doesn't need a G antidote. They are as different as a dump truck and
> a Porsche. Two different machines for different users.

First time I ever saw the M6 compared to a dump truck :-(   
Looks more and more like a Morgan to me. And I'd like to own a Morgan !

Friendly regards
Alan
Brussels-Belgium