RE: [Leica] What I'd like to see.

["Lee, Jonathan" <Jonathan.Lee@hrcc.on.ca>]

The reason I started on this thread was I was tidying up the photo junk that
I've accumulated over the years.  When I picked up the first camera I owned,
Canonet Q17 rangefinder, in comparison to the Leica I noticed a few things:
it's light, with the 40 f1.7 lens it weighs much less and is more compact
than my M6 with 50 f2.  Granted it does not have interchangable lenses and
neither Leica optics or ruggedness,but it also has plusses: besides the
weight, it is absolutely silent in use.  And the 1/500 flash synch!  Jeez,
if Canon could do it 25 years ago, Leica should be able to do it today. I'd
rather see this type of camera that another minilux. 

When I was first thinking about buying a Leica, I kept reading about how
light and quiet the camera was, but it's not really that light.  Maybe in
comparison to a fully loaded Nikon f5 it is, but not in comparison to other
cameras.  

As far as cheapening the marquee with an M6 lite, I don't think that selling
a braod range of cameras with different price points would necessarily
cheapen the brand. I'd be like Nikon selling the F2 and the FM. Or for
another example take  Land Rover: the old Range Rover and Discovery are
essentially the same vehicle: same engine, same transmission, more or less
same chassis but with different suspension and body.  the introduciton of
the Discovery never cheapened the marque but increased the numebr of people
who could afford to buy the truck.  If there were a decent Lecia body that
was selling around the $1K (USD) new I think a lot of people who wouldn't
buy a Leica previously would also do so. And who would buy it? What about
those Leica users who have a minilux but are now looking to upgrade into a
more powerful camera.   

Jonathan Lee 
- -----Original Message-----
From: Paul Chefurka [mailto:Paul_Chefurka@pmc-sierra.com]
Sent: Friday, September 24, 1999 2:16 PM
To: 'leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us'
Subject: RE: [Leica] What I'd like to see.


I'm completely in sympathy whith Anthony's sentiments.  The way I see it, if
Leica starts down the road of "average consumer products" the marque will be
diluted, and they'll end up in direct competition with companies like Cosina
and Konica.  they are ill equipped to do this.

My Leica M wish list includes AE (the only change I'd like to see in the
bodies), recognizing that it would need a new (focal plane) shutter.  A
higher flash sync could fall out of that, but who really cares?  As far as
lenses go, a 28 Summicron and a 75 Summicron are the only new lenses I'd
like to see.  An update of the 50 'lux is also overdue.

That's it - short, sweet and to the point of what Leica is all about.

Paul Chefurka

> > So, let's make and an M6 "lite" to sell side by
> > side with the regualr M6: Take and M6, keep soemthings
> > the same: shutter, rangefinder. Remake everything else
> > in aluminum and plastic with the idea of cutting the
> > weight of the body in half.
> 
> Who would buy it?  One great selling point of the M6 is 
> quality construction and
> durability.  Take that away, and what's left?  Being able to 
> mount M lenses is
> not a selling point, because anyone who can afford M lenses 
> can afford an M6
> body, too.
> 
> I really don't like the idea of making any "bargain" Leicas.  
> There are plenty
> of bargain brands already; we don't need one more.
> 
[snip]