Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/10/09
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]TEAShea@aol.com wrote: Snip > To me the quality issue is critical. In order to be attractive, the new body > must be very high quality. I have not interest in anything less. > > Tom Shea Tom, if you really serious about a quality body, then, I am sure you will stay with Leica. The high quality, I think, part of the problem with Leica. Leica makes cameras, which don't need to be replaced. 2 reasons: 1st, because thousands of camera users have M2's, M3's, M4's and M5's which are still working as good as the day they where bought. 2nd, because there is really no technical reason to go to an M6, except the build in meter. This may be enaugh incentive for some, to invest in an M6, but it is not strong enough for the majority of users to do so. This leaves the ones who need maybe a second or third. body, or the newcomers. Leica doesn't have anything so much more modern and outstanding, that every existing Leica user wants to buy the latest model. Poor Leica. They are caught between the devil and the deep blue sea. People buy Leica because of the high quality and people don't need to buy Leica because of the high quality. With the existing M system, there is really no obsolescence. In the earlier Screw mount days, Leitz even catered for the not so wealthy photographer, by having 3 ore more different models with 3 or more price levels. They had cameras without the slow speeds. (many people never use them). Then they had models without coupled range finders. The cheapest. However they also had one relatively inexpensive lens, which was never the less of an extremely high standard. The 50mm Elmar f3.5. This lens was used by professionals, amateurs and snap shooters alike. It was actually a better performer then its bigger and more expensive brothers, until the advent of the Summitar Everyone could make pictures of the highest quality with bodies of different price categories, but all of the same reliability. This is not available today. there is only one model. The M6 and the cheapest lens is the Summicron 50mm f2. This however is not a cheap lens. For the price of a Summicron only, you can go and buy the latest Pentax SLR with loom lens and enough electronics to make a pilot of a747 jealous. What Leitz really needs, one one hand a beginners model, with a good lens for a reasonable price, and a lower cost body, but reliable. On they other hand, a body with all bells and whistles is also needed. But with the Leica reliability and most important the Leica feel. I don't believe, that the japanese are really interested of bringing out a camera with the reliability of the Leica. It costs to much. Don't forget: You get only what you pay for. If the Japanese are really serious to go in to the range finder market, then they want to keep on selling cameras and not have people using 40 year old cameras just because they are as good as when they where bought. The Japs will have plenty of plastic parts and plenty of wear inbuilt. I would say, they have a life span of 5 years if used constantly. After this time it wont be economical to service this cameras anymore.The Pentax Spotmatic days are gone. In addition to the above said, I can not see the Japanese screw mount cameras already released to make such a big impact. Its either Leica bayonet or nothing. My thoughts only. Regards, Horst Schmidt