Re: [Leica] NY Photo Expo: A talk with Leica

[Akhil Lal <alal@bcc.cuny.edu>]

Sorry about that. I just thought "everyone knew". pukka = real, firm
ripe, depending on the context.
leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us wrote:
> 
> All in all, very interesting stuff.  I am glad I decided to settle on M
> rather than R system now....at least it had development in the works.
> I guess we'll NEVER see that R8 motor winder.
> 
> BTW, forgive my ignorance, but what is a pukka Leica?
> 
> Francesco Sanfilippo,
> Internet Developer,
> NT/SQL Administrator,
> Leica M6 Photographer,
> http://www.photorealm.com/
> http://www.glossymedia.com/
> San Diego, CA., USA
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Akhil Lal <alal@bcc.cuny.edu>
> To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>; l <leica@topica.com>
> Sent: Sunday, November 14, 1999 10:29 PM
> Subject: [Leica] NY Photo Expo: A talk with Leica
> 
> >
> > Hello Everyone,
> >                 As I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, a group of
> > executives from Leica
> > U.S.A. and Leica Solms kindly consented to meet with list members at the
> > recent Photo Expo held here in New York City. This group included R.
> > Horn (President, Leica U.S.A.), N. Strauch (V.P. Marketing & Sales,
> > Solms) and R. Hagenauer (Communications & P.R., Solms).  In one-to-one
> > conversations I discussed a wide range of Leica related matters; for the
> > benefit of list members, these conversations are summarized below.
> >                 First of all, let me say that I did not at all find them
> > to be aloof,
> > or out of touch with current market trends and fiscal realities. Nor
> > were they unaware of our wishes in regard to new products or added
> > features to existing products. It is clear that they are comfortable
> > with Leica's current market position as a high end niche manufacturer.
> > Within that market segment, their overriding concern is to return the
> > company to profitability. Their product range is broad, but the current
> > CEO is aware of the marque's history and has no desire to turn the Leica
> > company into a marketing organization for non - photographic goods.
> > Secondly, they do realize that Leica is constrained by its relatively
> > small size and correspondingly small R & D budget. Resources must be
> > expended wisely on product lines which will have a good chance of
> > contributing to the bottom line. It is unwise to go head to head against
> > the large mass market Japanese companies in areas where they have a
> > significant market presence. Product lines must pay their own way -
> > those that are not doing well in the marketplace may well be
> > de-emphasized until Leica's fiscal position improves. Hence, they do
> > not, at this time, wish to commit funds to  develop an AF SLR system
> > that would have to compete against the Nikon and Canon AF SLR's. With
> > regard to AF SLR's there are also patent issues that add to the
> > development costs and lead time.
> > They DO now receive all mail from the LUG in digest form (no, a "who
> > leica-users" to majordomo will not reveal this) but, given the pathetic
> > S/N ratio, whether anyone at Solms really reads it all is open to
> > question. In the past significant posts were forwarded to Solms by list
> > members.  They may now also be receiving mail from the LEL - Roger would
> > know.
> > By product line, here's what I learned:
> >
> > Enlargers
> > There is no chance of seeing a revised Focomat or any Focotars, V-Elmars
> > et al. In the last year of production, just before it was discontinued,
> > worldwide sales of the Focomat 35 were around 130 units. Interest in
> > darkroom work is dwindling and there are many companies making excellent
> > enlargers and optics for far less than Leica would need to charge.
> > Focomats were made in the Minox factory and restarting production would
> > be prohibitively expensive. I asked about the possibility of running off
> > small batches of enlargers and enlarging lenses in order to satisfy
> > residual demand, but was told this was not feasible.
> >
> > Projectors
> > The 2002 is, in fact, no longer being made. Leica had a 4 year (!)
> > inventory of this model when it was discontinued (in favour of the RT
> > series). Once current stocks are cleared out at the special price there
> > will be no more. If you want one this may well be your last chance. The
> > 600 and 150 are still in the catalogue.
> >
> > Projector sales are up slightly as rival European manufacturers are
> > leaving the market. On the other hand, fewer photographers are using
> > slide film. Leica expect sales to rise slowly due to the new models,
> > eventually to fall as digital imaging gains wider acceptance.
> >
> > The R - System
> > This is, for me at least, the saddest part of this report. Although I
> > grew up in a rangefinder household - Father was a Contax man, while
> > Grandfather owned a III f - and I own many rangefinders myself, the R's
> > have always been my primary system. Thus it pains me to report that the
> > R-system is not doing well in the marketplace. The biggest shock was the
> > news that the R-6.2 is outselling the R-8 ! Note that Leica do not
> > promote the R 6.2 very hard in their advertising. It is clear that the
> > buying public has voted with its money and does not see any merit in the
> > bulky R-8. I asked if the R-7 would be revived and was told that this
> > was not planned. I was told that the R-8 chassis was to have been the
> > basis of the next generation AF SLR system. As I've mentioned before,
> > the AF system will not now be developed. A Contax RX style electronic
> > focus confirmation feature was not under consideration either. No new
> > major lenses are planned. Without explicitly being told so, I got the
> > impression the R system is in for a period of benign neglect. I was
> > assured that there are no plans whatsoever to discontinue the R-system.
> >
> > Some Lugers had wondered about Leica R lenses being made in Canon, Nikon
> > or other mounts. I was told that this was not possible as Leica lenses
> > were in some ways production limited. If lenses were made in a non Leica
> > mounts the position would be even worse. There were also issues related
> > to lens mount patents that would need to be resolved.
> >
> > Certain lenses were selling slowly. As an example, fewer than 500 of the
> > 180 mm Summicrom R have been sold since its introduction.
> >
> >
> > The M-System
> > Leica were actively involved in the Hexar project but, for undisclosed
> > reasons, decided not to pursue the matter further. They have evaluated
> > the Hexar and do not regard it as a serious competitor. They believe it
> > will only help sales of the M system.  A family of M's is promised for
> > the future - no further details were given. Leica are aware that M users
> > tend to be a conservative lot, so a completely restyled all electronic
> > AE body  with zoom finder may not be in the works (this would be my
> > dream M body). Leica believes that any new addition to the M line must
> > be a pukka Leica, so a plastic CLE type body, made in the Far East, is
> > also unlikely. I enquired about forthcoming new products for the M line,
> > but ran into a polite but solid stonewall. Fair enough, as far as I am
> > concerned. They are aware of the need for faster wideangles such as a 28
> > mm summicron M.
> >
> > In the US market sales of the M system are up three-fold over the past
> > couple of years. It appears that Leica are quite pleased with the sales
> > of the M system and hope to build on its success.
> >
> >
> > Well, that's all for now. Hope you find this information useful. Many
> > other list members were present too. Perhaps they, too, would like to
> > summarize their discussions ?
> >
> >
> > Regards,
> > Akhil Lal
> > alal@bcc.cuny.edu
> >
> >