[Leica] LUG Demographics (was Leica donation to students)

[wlarsen at ocsnet.net (Will)]

Kit McChesney writes:

>Well, what would be really interesting is to examine Leica's consumer survey
>results that we hope people send back when they purchase cameras and lenses.
>Who IS buying? Are there youngish folks buying? My experience with my sales
>is that the majority of buyers of M and R gear, and the Digilux 2, are
>between about 35 and 65, are male, and have relatively substantial incomes
>(doctors, lawyers, engineers, etc., a demographic not unlike that of the
>LUG-list). 
>
A few years ago, the lug had a "roll call" where many LUG subscribers 
disclosed a lot of things about themselves.  One of the interesting 
things that I found in the disclosures was that LUGGERS were not 
predominately doctors, lawyers, engineers, etc. nor were generalizations 
about income levels being predominately at the higher end correct.

The commonality seemed to be that a majority of the members had 
developed an avid interest in photography by their late teens.  Many had 
their first Leica equipment in their teens or early 20s.  I think the 
LUG membership age was pretty close to your experience of 35- 65 
years-of-age.  I would suggest that buyers of new Leica cameras and 
lenses does not reflect the same demographics as the users on the LUG list.

With regards,
Bill Larsen, Terra Bella, CA