Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/07/19

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Subject: RE: [Leica] Leica + Rollei?
From: Jem Kime <jem.kime@cwcom.net>
Date: Wed, 19 Jul 2000 10:12:37 +0100

> Leica puts their name on Minolta Cameras, with some design from Leica, 
some
> Minolta...  R series, Leica CL/CLE
Er, wasn't this that the designs were Leicas, Minolta made the CL for them 
and Leitz had nothing to do with the CLE? The R series were again designed 
by Leitz but using the Minolta body casting initially, and I'm sure, 
several other common parts. Rather like Seat/Skoda using the Volkswagen 
floorpans for their car designs.
>I think one feasible possibility is Leica + Rollei. Rollei is small and 
barely surviving today. They have the technology and >experience in making 
medium format equipment of the highest quality, yet they lack participation 
in serious 35mm >photography. And, above all, the rely on external lens 
suppliers. And Leica is just the opposite of that. Leica and Rollei 
>complement each other far better than Leica + Contax, which involves much 
overlap in product range and expertise.
>Also there is the added convenience of distribution, R&D, and production 
(both in Germany).
>With Rollei's current size (about 100 employees or so, the last I heard), 
Leica can easily buy Rollei out.
Chris-----Original Message-----

The Rollei company is presently owned by Samsung, a massive company, who 
may regard it very much as a cachet name in their oriental empire. I doubt 
they'd want to sell, but I'm sure they could be interested in a tie up, 
more cachet for their brand.
Jem

Replies: Reply from Mark Rabiner <mark@rabiner.cncoffice.com> (Re: [Leica] Leica + Rollei?)