Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/03/22

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Subject: [Leica] R8 Investments (was Re: M6 Fugue)
From: Mitch Halpern <mhalpern@mgw-mp.sric.sri.com>
Date: 22 Mar 00 13:36:10 -0800

I would agree that the M6 is in its own unique niche. Despite the growing
number of rangefinders in the market (G2, Hexar, Voigtlander etc.), the
M6 is still the "gold standard". In fact, according to the resident Leica
afficionado at ye olde local pro camera shop, the demand for the M6 has
been growing by leaps and bounds (potential interesting case of
cross-marketing effects: increased attention being paid to the new rangefinders causes
people to look at the M6 more seriously).

Unfortunately, the R8 does not really have such a niche. It is
undoubtedly an excellent camera (the viewfinder is quite nice...), but has to
compete more strongly with the F5, EOS-1*, Contax etc.  Though the cost of the
R8 body is not outrageous compared to the F5, etc. it is not autofocus and
lacks some "features" that make marketing difficult. In addition, the
lenses are extraordinarily expensive compared to the competition. While one
can argue about the relative quality of the Leica optics vs. other optics,
the market still holds N and C in high esteem.

What Leitz needs to do is find some way of more clearly differentiating
the R series from other SLRs while (perhaps) lowering prices somewhat
without affecting quality.

How would you folks differentiate the R8, if at all?

Mitch