Re: [Leica] Questions for Steve AND Erwin re new rangefinders

[Gaifana@aol.com]

And I don't think the current Leica dealers would really mind if Leica went 
direct. All three of the local ones have complained (within earshot) that 
they get screwed on margins. It has a lot to do with used sales moving to the 
internet, which eliminated profitable tradeins. Except for KEH, which seems 
to make a living selling used current Leica items for 80-105% of their price 
new.

My strong suspicion is that the mythical M7 or M6e will be outsourced, and 
that it may  shed some light on why the Hexar RF was so reticent about 
advertising Leica kompatibility and why its rangefinder is so M-like. Also 
the absence of TTL flash. It may simply be a stripped-down Leica. Remember, 
Leicas patents may be up but they were still free a few years ago to contract 
for the use of their designs - Konica may have traded some features on its 
own model for a contract to make them for Leica, regardless of patent issues.

In a message dated 1/20/00 12:38:31 AM, leicanikon@earthlink.net writes:

<< 

John Collier wrote:

> on 19/1/00 9:06 pm, Stephen Gandy at leicanikon@earthlink.net wrote:
>
> > Perhaps it would be a good time to bring out a
> > CL2.   A new small compact M would be lower priced, and offer definite 
choices
> > to the buyer between a CL2 and a M6.
> >
> > The entry level M  could be sold to the newbie with "Would you rather buy 
a
> > COSINA or a real Leica for only $250 more?"   The experienced M user would
> > have
> > it all figured out, and just go for it.
>
> I always thought, and I thought you did too Stephen, that the CL
> single-handedly killed off the M5, all but destroyed the regular M sales and
> did not make the company much money. Though I suppose M***** did okay. I am
> not arguing against it (or the CL for that matter) but perhaps Leica is
> feeling once bitten twice shy.
>
> John Collier

I agree with the M5 and CL.    the problem is that Leica needs an entry level 
M
which 1) can successfully compete against the Bessa M 2) does not alienate M6 
TTL
buyers

for all practical purposes,   the Bessa M is an  updated CL in a different 
shape --
still low cost, more framelines, better RF/VF, but still not able to focus 
fast or
long lenses

If Leica sells a stripped down M6 TTL without flash metering  for the price
necessary to compete with the Bessa, it will have to lower the M6 TTL price 
or piss
a lot of people off.

of course, Leica could do probably do that if they eliminated the overhead of 
their
dealer network and sold directly to the buyer over the internet -- like 
Gateway or
Dell.  a hidden benefit would be much better cash flow, since retail payment 
would
occur before shipment. unfortunately for everyone, I doubt very much if Leica
management is that far sighted.

Stephen Gandy



</XMP>

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Date: Wed, 19 Jan 2000 21:33:29 -0800
From: Stephen Gandy <leicanikon@earthlink.net>
Organization: CameraQuest.com
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Subject: Re: [Leica] Questions for Steve AND Erwin re new rangefinders
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