Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/07/23
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]READ THROGUH.... _____________________________________ Thanks, Mehrdad [-----Original Message----- [From: owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us [[mailto:owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us]On Behalf Of Mxsmanic [Sent: Monday, July 23, 2001 12:40 AM [To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us [Subject: Re: [Leica] digital M (what's the benefit?) [ [ [B. D. Colen writes: [ [> The day Leica has a CEO who says it is only [> necessary to break even or show "a profit, %35 [> growth each year really isn't necessary" is [> the day Leica's stockholders string that [> CEO up by his ears before firing him on [> the spot. [ [The day a CEO starts trying to generate 35% annual growth will be [the beginning [of the end for the M series, because growth like that can never be [achieved and [maintained without sacrificing quality. [ AND IF HE DOES THINK LIKE THAT, IT WILL BE THE END OF LEICA!! HOW CAN THEY GROW @ 30% IF QUALITY IS NOT MAINTAINED, YOU WOULD NOT BUY LEICA WOULD YOU!! THIS IS OXYMORON [> That's why it is safe to predict the R line [> has come to the end of the line, or will quite [> soon if it continues to wrack up losses. [ [The R line is not losing money. It simply isn't making as much [money as it used [to; sales have retreated somewhat since last year (whereas the M has [progressed). I don't think it is a coincidence that the R has a [great deal of [competition, whereas the M has virtually none. SAD BUT TRUE, U DON'T MAKE MOENY, U ARE OUT!! TIME TO STOCK UP ON R [ [> And, also in keeping with the idea of reality [> checks - Leica could shift ALL its R&D effort [> over to a digital camera and not hurt the M line one [> little bit. [ [But they would hurt the lenses a great deal. I'd prefer that [Leica spend its [R&D on lenses, not bodies. [ [> As was pointed out here, the current Leica M [> lenses are all among the best on the planet. [ [But they are still far from perfect. Additional R&D will make [them better and [better. Until they are all diffraction-limited, there is room for [improvement. [(A small handful _are_ diffraction-limited, but they are still [very much the [exception to the rule.) [ [> So the M line would not be endangered if R&D [> switched to digital. [ [But the glass would. I want glass more than I want digital. [ [> Further, it's a safe bet that Leica will be getting [> the great bulk of its digital technology from a [> yet to be announced partner already well into the [> digital business. [ [That's a worry, too: I can't think of any partner offhand that [would have the [same passion for quality that Leica demonstrates. What could would an [indestructible body be with electronics that fail after a year, or [even fail [right out of the box?