Re: [Leica] "A little less Leica" [long]

["Jeff S" <segawa@netone.com>]

Greg, I tend to think prices are high partly because the audience is small,
and I think the audience is small largely because the Leica M is just too
spartan and idiosyncratic to find wide acceptance. A few of us like it very
much, but we're a fringe element.

Leica rebates and price reductions in the past 24 months *have* made new
gear somewhat more affordable (still awfully high), and the rebranded Fuji
digital camera represents a new class of product-let's hope it's actually
worthy of the Leica name, and not just a half-baked attempt at reaching a
new audience.

More rapid new product intros (asph lenses, M6HM, M6TTL) have encouraged
folks to turn in old gear for new. The current focus seems to be on
functional improvements (perhaps a bit too modest at times) rather than
contrived collectability, and that's a good thing, I think. I'm not rushing
to replace my M6 with the TTL model, though--I seldom use flash, and am
disappointed that the meter display's evidently no better at helping a
person determine contrast range. But maybe the next model...

Jeff

- -----Original Message-----
From: Greg Bicket <GBicket@email.msn.com>
[snip]
>My thought is not that Leica should compromise its products, but rather
face
>up to the realization that its changed financial structure demands growth,
>and the way to get to that growth is through thinner per unit margins and
>larger net cash flow produced by far greater volumes of products sold at
>relatively lower prices, to a far larger market segment.
>
>It can be argued that the art that Leica produces cannot be produced in
>larger volumes while sustaining quality.  It can be argued that art cannot
>be produced in volume, period.  In that case, Leica has made a potential
>blunder by entering the arena of public ownership, should quickly
>restructure itself financially, or face the prospects of takeover.  Even
>this doesn't have to be fatal.  Ferrari has thrived under Fiat ownership.
>It would not exist without Fiat's support.
>
>But as currently configured, I believe Leica should quickly rethink its
>pricing policies.  [snip]