Re: [Leica] Leica C1

["Lee Yan Zhan" <yzlee@cyberway.com.sg>]

Actually it was my local photo dealer who said that Leica may have a winner.
Traditionally, Leica plastic body P&S has never compete well with the
Japanese brands due to higher costs and lower brand awareness.  Locally
here, at the high end level, most go for the Contax T2/TVS rather than the
Minilux due to the size.  In the middle, its either the GR1 or Hexar.  If
priced correctly, C1 will hopefully compete there with the metal body, zoom
and brand name which represent the bests in optics.  After all,
justification for Leica's premium price has always been the optics.

In his opinion, P&S buyers probably uses their cameras very infrequently.
Its one of those "must-have" for any family, in case of any special
occasions.  Most buyers are looking at the brands, price range, physical
appeal, zoom and flash.  They are not concern of shuttle speed, aperture and
metering systems etc.  If Leica responds accurately to these target market
of "less serious photographers", my dealer will sell more cameras and Leica
will be more profitable.  These way, hopefully, Leica can continue to do
more on the "pro" line of M and R equipment for all of us.

Personally, I am getting it as a Christmas gift for my wife if the price is
right.  Over the years, she has tried my Ms, CL, Rollei 35.  I got her TVS,
T2, Nikon 28Ti and Minilux.  Now these are all return to my dry cabinet.
The last one was a Olympus Epic which she enjoys but declares that its too
"plasticky" compared to the rest.  She wants ZOOM and, ironically, something
that is comparable to my antique metal cameras.  Lets hope its the C1.

Cheers,
Lee


- ----- Original Message -----
From: B. D. Colen <bdcolen@earthlink.net>
To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
Sent: Thursday, November 18, 1999 6:45 PM
Subject: RE: [Leica] Leica C1


> What follows is NOT meant in any way as a swipe at Lee, but a general
> comment on the state of Leicaholism -
>
> How can anyone possibly suggest that a P&S with a maximum aperture of f
10.5
> at 105 mm, and f 4 at 38 mm is a "winner"? "Winner" in what way? Would you
> call it a "winner" if it was a Nikon, Canon, Olympus, Minolta, etc.
etc...of
> course not. It would just be another crappy me-too zoom P&S for the
> photo-challenged to use to take flash pictures at birthday parties. F
10.5?
> Come on...Would anyone even vaguely consider buying a 105 prime with a
> maximum aperture of 10.5? Or 5.6 for that matter? Of course not.
>
> Presumably, for someone vaguely serious about photography, a P&S is the
> camera to keep in the briefcase, the car, where ever, for those times when
> you see the perfect shot and don't have your "real" camera. You still want
> to be able to shoot the way you normally would - i.e., available light
when
> ever possible. So spend $89 and get an Olympus Stylus Epic, whose 2.8 35
mm
> lens is certainly as good as a lot of the earlier generation Leica lenses
a
> lot of list members shoot with. Get a T-4 (?)if you want to spend more
money
> for a slower lens. But don't just pay for the Leica badge.
>
> And - I for one think Solmes is way off base if they think that a
> significant number of new users are going to be attracted to a product of
> this sort by the Leica name. If they know enough about Leica to understand
> what it is and represents, they'll pass this up in a heartbeat. And if
they
> don't, they won't spend the money for it anyway.
>
> Just my opinion - with which I know a good many will disagree -
vehemently.
> ;-)
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
> > [mailto:owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us]On Behalf Of Lee Yan
> > Zhan
> > Sent: Thursday, November 18, 1999 2:40 PM
> > To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
> > Subject: [Leica] Leica C1
> >
> >
> > Hi,
>
> > Just got some information on the latest C1 compact camera for anyone
> > interested.  They may actually have a winner here :
> >
> > -    Outer housing is made of extremely durable metal;
> > -    Vario Elmar f4-10.5/38-105mm;
> > -    Auto & manual focus from infinity to 0.8m;
> > -    Center weighted metering;
> > -    1/30 - 1/500 shuttle speed, up to 99s;
> > -    Flash range 0.8-3.35m with 38mm, or 0.8-1.24m with
> > 105mm(ISO 100);
> > -    Viewfinder field equivalent to 85% of film(what does that mean?)
> > -    Self-timer 10 sec;
> > -    Width 129.5mm/Height 67mm/Depth 46mm;
> > -    Weight 260g without battery.
> >
> > Its also interesting to note that Fotohobby Germany is
> > already selling them
> > online at around DM850.
> >
> > I think I'll probably get one!!!
> >
> > Cheers,
> > Lee
> > Singapore
> >
> >
>