Re: [Leica] End of R line [was: Tri-Asph]

["B. D. Colen" <bdcolen@earthlink.net>]

Yes, it has been predicted for quite a while - and with each quarter's
financial results, the losses incurred on the R line have increased
while, lately, the M line sales have improved. Alas, wishing that the
Leica reflexes will survive will not make it so. And "cutting ballast"
by eliminating one of the few quality all mechanical reflex bodies
around is hardly the way to keep a small line alive. Realistically, the
better way to go would be to eliminate the R8, which, while I know it
has it fans and staunch defenders, is a neither/nor kind of camera -
neither a small, simple mechanical reflex, nor a fully-loaded
state-of-the-art competitor for the Nikon and Canon flag ships.

B.D.

Guy Bennett wrote:
> 
> >Felix - I'm sure the zooms don't touch the primes...Some things never
> >change..:-)...But as to wanting that autofocus SLR and some 2.8 zooms -
> >do NOT hold your breath. Rather than that ever happening, I'd be willing
> >to bet that in the next 12 to 18 months we will read of the end of the R
> >line entirely. Why do I say that? I say it because once again Leica's
> >latest financial report shows the R line continuing to decline in
> >sales...The question has really become 'how low can you go' before
> >pulling the plug. Sad, but reality based.
> >B. D.
> 
> People have been predicting the end of the R line since I subscribed a
> couple of years ago. It hasn't happened yet, but repeated long enough, the
> claim is bound to come true one day.
> 
> On a related note, has the R6.2 really been discontinued, as some Lugger
> mentioned not too long ago? Does anyone have any factual info on this? If
> so, do the economic gurus among us see this as a way to cut some ballast
> from the R line, or as the beginning of the end for Leica SLRs?
> 
> Guy
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