[Leica] M and R

["Elliot M. Puritz, MD" <drpuritz@li.net>]

Interesting talk concerning the cost of M lenses, and the poorly selling R 
line.

Can Leica really keep the M line going with what appears to be a relatively 
small group of devotees, many of whom own multiple lenses?  Can they 
create a new following for these products?  Not sure.  Indeed, seems likely 
that, as has been posited, sales of other Leica items will serve to keep the 
company solvent and allow for the M line to continue to be "improved".  

At Wetzlar recently I asked some of my fellow Akademie "students" about 
the R Leica line, and if their respective newspapers and magazines use 
such.  "Generally not" was the response.  Either the R line is not reliable 
enough( sad to say ), or other manufacturers give away lots of free 
cameras to the organizations in question.  Such instruments in the field 
seem to generate more interest amongst other users, and the cycle of 
buying new Nikon or Canon gear is initiated.  There is a universe of 
competition for the R.  One of my new friends suggested that the R8 be sold 
at half price in order to clear the shelves, and a new R camera should be 
introduced.  I am not smart enough to know what such a new R would have, 
but, as has been suggested, I suspect that the bulk of sales and profit(s) 
will be made in the lenses for such cameras...come to think of it, Frank's 
suggestion that the R8 body should be sold "cheap" with some lenses as part 
of the "kit" makes really good marketing sense.  Get the bodies out there, 
and lens sales must follow.

Another friend of mine suggested that there might be a special Leica edition 
for the Millenium...perhaps a sophisticated screw mount camera to take the 
modern Leica lenses that are going to be SM.  Herr Cohn, care to respond?

Elliot