Re: [Leica] autofocus

[John Gong <jgong@cisco.com>]

Bob,

I wanted to let you know that I really enjoyed your posting.  It agreed in multiple fronts with what I've been thinking of the LUG stupidity these past few days.

I am not quite 66 yet, but I just bought an N90S (closeout prices) and 35-70 f2.8 in order to keep up with my young children.  With the R and M systems, I have been disappointed in shooting photos that would be treasured were not for the out of focus problem.

And in regards to the Leica company, there is a strong naivete in the LUG around corporations and how they tick.  I cannot fathom how extensive your knowledge of dissecting a company is, but as an investment banker, I'm sure it is truly impressive.  Here at Cisco, I work as an engineer, but all of us here work in an environment of constant analysis of our current market - competitors, partnerships, acquisitions.  Getting back to Leica, I was gratified to hear that an "outsider" is the new CEO.  Leica has been following a narrow product release strategy which will lead to eventual insolvency.  Yes, we are benefitting from the world's best 35mm lenses getting better and better, but by no means can Leica survive with their traditional installed base (we're getting older and won't be around too much longer).  In the meantime, I look at players like Canon becoming ever stronger.  Their suite of imaging products and technical innovation is staggering.  Just look at image stabilization, the follow the eye AF, computer printers, etc.  and it's clear that Canon's multidimensional strategies will keep them in the forefront of image technologies for a long time.  I can't say that about Leica with their (former?) ways.


Best Regards,

John

At 12:38 PM 05/05/1999 -0500, c wrote:
>I have used Leicas exclusively for over 25 years. I have a very
>extensive R system and an M6 and M4 with 21mm to 90mm lenses. I have
>been very satisfied with leica products and service. I have had few
>problems and when I have had problems Leica has always been willing to
>remedy them. I sold my Nikon F2 and lenses and purchased Leica reflex
>with an SL and then R3 because I liked the bright viewfinder of the SL.I
>also preferred the Leica lenses although I could only see a significant
>difference in perhaps 20% of the shots.
>
>I recently acquired my first autofocus camera, a Nikon F5 and 35-70f2.8
>and 80-200 f2.8 lenses. I did this because at age 66 I simply cannot
>focus as fast as I used to be able to do. About 40% of my photography
>involves trains. With the R8 and winder I might get a couple sharp shots
>of a train moving 35 to 45 mph. With the F5 I can easily get 5 or more
>sharp shots. I was amazed at how many more sharp shots I get of moving
>objects with autofocus. I really like the F5. It is an amazing camera. I
>love the meter and viewfinder and it handles very well. I love the R8
>also. It is the best reflex Leica I have ever owned. I got tired of
>waiting for a motor drive, and that combined with the feeling that maybe
>I should try autofocus, prompted me to buy the F5.
>
>I have compared photos of the same subject taken with the Nikon zooms
>with my Leica 35-70 f4 and 80-200f4 lenses. I really cannot tell much
>difference frankly. I maybe like the Leica color rendition a little
>better but I have no complaints about the sharpness of the Nikon lenses.
>I can definitely see why few pros use Leica today.
>
>However, that does not mean that I am willing to write off Leica and its
>future. I am an investment banker and know a little about companies and
>how they get in trouble and how they recover. Leica is a classic case.
>There are some similarities with Mercedes Benz a half dozen years ago.
>There too we had a company run by engineers with little regard for the
>realities of the marketplace. The company reorganized with new
>management. They developed new, competitive products at very competitive
>prices with the result that last year their US sales finally topped 1986
>sales. Leica has a new CEO. I liked what I read in the interview in
>Leica Fotographie. He admitted that Leica could not develop an autofocus
>reflex camera on their own. He has only been on the job a couple months.
>The stock has doubled in price with means people who put their money
>where their mouth is are discounting a significant improvement in the
>company's performance. I like that.
>
>I do not know what Leica is going to do from a product point of view.
>But I am confident they will be here tomorrow and that my heavy
>investment in Leica will not have to  be written off. The only thing
>that might change my mind is if I thought Leica management was wasting
>their time monitoring this newsgroup and considering some of the
>suggestions I have read from the resident backseat strategists. If that
>were the case I would short the stock. I went to the same leica days
>event as Eric. The rep, who knows absolutely nothing, predicted Leica
>would have an autofocus SLR in 2  years. Well, maybe, but 2 years is a
>pretty short time to bring out a whole new product line while management
>is also trying to reorganize the company.
>
>In summary, I find autofocus is a big help to me in some situations. I
>do not intend to dispose of my Leicas. For macro work I cannot imagine
>not using my 100 APO for example. And, I would not part with my 180 APO.
>I would hate to part with my 280 APO but the thought of Nikon's 300 AFS
>has me thinking.
>
>Bob
>