Re: [Leica] Re: Fuji building an M

[Leon Davenport <leonjdav@pacbell.net>]

The M6 is not an anachronism.  It is the best camera made for close wide
angle work.  It is quiet and more importantly unremarkable in appearance.
In a world of bright, big and loud cameras the Leica M6 is usually
overlooked. That is one of its strengths.  To be able to move with out
drawing too much attention.  It is also supremely well made.

I agree that Leica must do something to remain viable.  The question is, do
we as Leica enthusiasts want them to offer an entry level camera or lens
system.  I remember Nikon doing that about 25 years ago.  Was it successful?
It enabled me to get in to the system.  It made the name Nikon - in popular
culture - synonymous with quality cameras.

I am ambivalent.  I want Leica to survive and like it is now.  A company
that caters to people that want something more.  Lenses that are superior to
any others whatever your criteria.

I don't know if I'd care if Leica allowed another lens maker to make lenses
with a Leica mount.  It would give us choices as to what lens we want to
use.  Why pay $1900 for a lens that you will use only a few times when you
can get one for half the price - if it can do what you want it to.

I have read on this list that some of us wish that Leica would make an auto
focus camera.  I don't think that will happen unless another camera
manufacturer has the technology and is willing to share it - for a price.
That price could be using Leica designers to design lenses for them or for
Leica to allow them to make lenses or cameras with a Leica mount!

In any case I believe that Leica has to make some tough choices.  To join
forces with another camera manufacturer.  Create a lesser lens line. Or hope
that consumer cameras can buoy the bottom line so they can continue to
provide us with the cameras and lenses that we crave.


Leon.
    
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ljdavenportphotography.com is a webfolio of my best work.  It has color and
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enjoy.
  

> From: Joe Codispoti <joecodi@thegrid.net>
> Reply-To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
> Date: Sun, 23 Jan 2000 10:49:08 -0800
> To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
> Subject: Re: [Leica] Re: Fuji building an M
> 
> Quietness is not everything. How many people buy a camera based on decibel
> levels of  sound? Very few, I am sure, compared to the millions who buy a
> camera based on modern features that make  it easier to take photos.
> 
> Leica should retain the M6 for those who love it for what it is. Leica
> should also follow the example of Nikon and the production of the F3. Since
> 1980, the year of introduction of the venerable F3, there have been many
> innovations in camera technology (autofocus, electronic shutter, 1/250sec
> synch., built-in winder, etc) but the F3 has endured and is still available
> 20 years later.
> 
> Were it not for the difference in viewfinders, I would have abandoned the M6
> in favor of the Contax G2 long ago.
> 
> As long as corporate health is at stake, Leica should introduce a more
> modern rangefinder camera to capture a larger sector of  the market and
> retain the anachronistic M6 for the diehards. It would not be merely a
> merchandising ploy but a survival gambit.
> 
> Joseph Codispoti
> 
> 
> 
> 
> From: "Kotsinadelis, Peter (Peter)" <peterk@lucent.com>
> 
>> Leica needs to do something.  Perhaps Herr Cohen was just feeding you
>> propaganda.
>> I think the cloth shutter was nice 50 years ago. But every manufacturer
> has
>> a more modern one, so why not Leica?  Surely they can make it quiet.  The
>> "me too" scenario is nonsense.
>> 
>> Peter K
> 
>