Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2004/05/07
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I have found that Leica's name recognition varies a lot across countries. In Switzerland I was struck by the number of shops in Zurich that carry Leica--you can walk into any number of places and walk out with an M7 and several lenses, at least the more common ones like the 35mm and 50mm Summicrons. You would also have paid a ridiculously high Swiss price, of course. On the other hand, in Copenhagen, a bigger city than Zurich, there are perhaps 2, maybe 3, places in town where any kind of Leica can be purchased (at equally ridiculous Danish prices). The Netherlands seems somewhere in between these two extremes. I would say in general that Leica has much better brand recognition in North-Western Europe than anywhere else, which is really not surprising. Nathan Ted Grant wrote: > > B. D. said: > > >>>> The bottom line is that most PEOPLE don't know that Leica ever existed, > > or exists. Since at least the 1970s Leica has been a boutique brand in a > > WalMart world.....<<< > > Hi B. D., > > I don't think you could say it any plainer! And it's been going down hill > ever since, quite possibly to oblivion as we know it today. > > Yep at one time in the photo world "it was THE camera!" Period, no question. > Unfortunately the company did not evolve with an evolving world and is now > struggling to save the life boats, let alone the ship that sank some years > ago. > > If you do not evolve with world changes, time and cameras do not stand still > for no man nor woman! No matter how good, excellent or wonderful the product > is, the world demands drive the wheels that allow it survive. > > Leica were ten years behind all other SLR manufactures and to date haven't > caught up, let alone in the digital manufacturing of a digital camera. Yep > the digi back is coming? So are twelve blue moons in the southern sky! If it > works as they claim that's great, yes some folks will buy it, but at what > cost? It isn't like buying an amazing piece of Leica created glass. > > Their constant wail about a digital "M" style camera being impossible was > all of a sudden turned around as soon as another manufacturer came up with a > similar machine. Where they were ten years behind in SLR production it would > appear they're worse off in the digital world. Unfortunately. > > However, I feel there'll always be those of us who'll use film even along > with digital. And our choice for film camera will always be a Leica. > Certainly mine will be...... no matter what kind of digital I have in the > other hand! > > ted > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information -- Nathan Wajsman Almere, The Netherlands e-mail: n.wajsman@chello.nl Mobile: +31 630 868 671 http://www.nathanfoto.com/index.html