Re: [Leica] Features or basics

["Simon Lamb" <simon@sclamb.com>]

If the design, manufacturing and materials are the same as the original then
I doubt that much was spent in design and manufacturing, since the design
exists and one would assume so do the tools, presses etc. to make the
components.  As for marketing, there was an enormous response of 'What is
the Leica 0?' when I posted my original message.  Other than seeing an
announcement in Leica Fotographie, my dealer telling me and the details on
the website I see no evidence of an expensive marketing campaign.
Definitely the opposite, it has been a very low key announcement.

I don't think Leica has stopped R&D to improve the current product line with
the Leica 0.  If they were prone to such actions then they would certainly
be out of business by now as they need to protect their market.  Your idea
of a separate company for commerative editions is a good one, although that
would not necessarily reduce any burden on Leica as the spin-off would
probably draw resources from that source.

Simon

Lee, Jonathan wrote:

>
> But you miss the point that marketing missteps, which I believe the Leica
O
> is, will have an impact on the company as a whole and will affect the
> ability of Leica to invest more in the continuous improvement of the
> rangefinder camera and the design of newer, better (lighter?!)lenses.
Every
> $ that went into the Leica O, form its marketing, design to manufacturing
> process, is a $ that has been taken away from other aspects of Leica
camera.
>
> >From a business standpoint, Leica would be far better off spinning Leica
> commeratives off into a separate company with its own marekting and
> manufacturing costs.  I'd bet if they did that, the Leica O would sell for
a
> whole lot more than $2500 because the of the real costs of making and
> selling the thing.
>
> Jonathan Lee
>