Re: [Leica] M and R

[Ted Grant <tedgrant@islandnet.com>]

Eric Welch wrote:
>Why not a titanium edition of the screw to M mount? :-)>>>>>>>

Hi Eric,

I see you're alive and back pounding the keys. :) Wondered if you were
still kicking. If you make it to the "high end North West of the continent"
come over to the "Big Island" and visit. :)

Now about the <<<<<<titanium edition of the screw to M mount? >>>>>>>

Eric I gotta say, I don't care what they make it out of as long as they
make it affordable for the folks on the LUG and the rest of the
photographers in the world, who have yet to learn the wonder of Leica
glass. Yep with an M mount would be fine as that's where the new "wunder
glass" is at the moment.

It's all well and good to produce an absolute high end product, but what's
the point of doing that if you're pricing yourself out of business? And in
the case of the R8, probably the worst entry into a market since Leitz
began making cameras! Released before it was truly ready, great promises of
winders and motors (still waiting 4 years later) and obviously for some
owners just a bloody nightmare of break downs, replacements and returns for
servicing!

This did not in any way enhance the Leica image of durability top line quality!

There was a suggestion those attending the Akedamie receive an R8 body as
an incentive to get started using Leica. A champion marketing idea, (given
they have a glut of bodies sitting on the shelf, why not give a few away?)
Great publicity. Or sell them for $500.00 a body.  But I'm afraid German
marketing strategists aren't bright enough to see the "lost leader effect"
that would create.

Get an R8 body in the hands of a student and the majority wouldn't want to
put  it down, therefore creating a customer for new R lenses. And possibly
another body if the price was right.

If, as we've heard the new CEO being a very sharp marketing person,
turning a major furniture company into a huge profit operation, we may just
see R8's  sold off just to get them into the market. But I wont hold my
breathe, as they, Leica, have such a lousy marketing agency they'd increase
the price instead, for whatever logic that might be.

I'm no marketing guru, but Leica needs some very real imaginative marketing
in their corner right now or as some have suggested, they are going down
the tube if other manufacturers get on the range finder band wagon big time.

IMHO.
ted

Ted Grant
This is Our Work. The Legacy of Sir William Osler.
http://www.islandnet.com/~tedgrant