Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2002/02/27
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Apples and oranges. The kind of photographer who chooses Nikon or Canon or Pentax or Minolta do so because they want the latest and greatest technology. They need to get the cookie-cutter shot, matrix-metered, perfectly exposed and off to the editor or the Motophoto in nothing flat. And if it meant putting food on the table and paying the rent, I might gladly go that route. But that for me is not the case. I prefer Leica's because they allow me to *escape* from the latest and greatest technology. I work with computers all day long. The last thing I really want in a camera are a bunch of algorithms written by engineers doggedly adhering to the accepted industry guidelines for what makes a good picture. It's just me and the camera. Whether the photo is a success or a failure, it's all me. BTW, Leica has not really been a camera for the masses in decades..no more than BMW has been a car for the masses since the 2002 model was discontinued. Perhaps Leica can learn from BMW, or Apple for that matter. They do not sell a product as much as they sell a lifestyle. When you choose Leica, you want to stand out from the crowd. You want to be different. The one thing I see working against Leica is longevity. Cars and computers have an inherent obsolescence of a few years. Leica's last for decades. Which is very refreshing in this throwaway society of ours, but not very good for business I suppose. - -Rick On 2/27/02 10:54 PM, "Mark Rabiner" <mark@markrabiner.com> wrote: > Right!? the body does not measure up from the best from Nikon, Canon, > Pentax, and Minolta. > Which Nikon, Canon, Pentax, and Minolta body am i going to buy before i > buy an R8? > None. > > I think its design is sublime. And certainly Leica can out make a body > from Nikon, Canon, Pentax, and Minolta. > And does so with the R8. And innovative and amazing camera. > Leica took a chance and stuck their necks out and the market chopped it > right off. > > When you get bigger in size the public is not going to go for it in droves. > That was their big problem. > Early problems in QC did the trick just as much. > They need to retain this body for connoisseurs and professionals and > make a second back up smaller body to replace the recently discontinued > R6.2 for the masses. With a built in micromotor advance. A Leica Aria. > (Not swan song) > > > > Mark Rabiner > Portland, Oregon USA > http://www.markrabiner.com > -- > To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html