[Leica] Interview re. Leica-Olympus-Panasonic manage

[bdcolen at earthlink.net (B. D. Colen)]

Just one point, Don - Where we really disagree is on where Leica will be
if and when they finally come out with a $4-6K back that requires that
one own, or purchase, a $2K body - that offers only manual focus.
Because my view of where that will still put Leica is years behind all
the serious digital players. Not coming out with a 10 mgp body by year's
end will hardly put Olympus, which has already has a pro-quality DSLR
out for under $1300, "behind Leica." ;-) 

-----Original Message-----
From: lug-bounces+bdcolen=earthlink.net@leica-users.org
[mailto:lug-bounces+bdcolen=earthlink.net@leica-users.org] On Behalf Of
Don Dory
Sent: Sunday, February 13, 2005 10:25 AM
To: 'Leica Users Group'
Subject: RE: [Leica] Interview re. Leica-Olympus-Panasonic manage


B.D.

First, the following rant is frustration that we will probably lose
another camera maker that can not keep up.

So far Leica has not abandoned their lens line.  Olympus did.  That was
my take on Mark's comments.  With Pentax, Nikon, Canon, and now Minolta
I can use all the old AF lenses with very few restrictions.  Olympus
forces you to buy new lenses if you want full compatibility.

Most of us have far more money tied up in glass than in bodies, so
adding a body to get new capabilities makes sense.  Changing systems and
losing abilities does not make sense.  Therefore the other major camera
companies provide a route to buy into their system that works for most
people.  Even on the low end of the market, with the other brands you
can add a lens from and independent manufacturer if you want.  The Sigma
lenses for the Olympus are rather scarce currently.

If Olympus can not keep the new generations coming quicker, then they
will lose the digital wars.  Even Nikon is in danger of losing if the
D2h doesn't ship promptly and in quantity.  Should Nikon do the usual
and start shipping at the end of February in drips and drabs then even
more people will switch to the C brand.

If Olympus can not get a 10MP camera out that functions at high ISO's
this year, then they will be behind even Leica.  Rumor is that Canon
will introduce a 8MP digital Rebel at under $1000 with lens.  Good
looking images at 3200 ISO.  Do you have any idea how much money Canon
makes on each and every Rebel they make?  It is truly amazing to me that
the price point(down as low as $799 at Christmas) has held up.

In the Atlanta market there is only one store that sells the E-1.  They
were quite proud of the fact that they sold 10 or 12 during the holiday
season.  The local Ritz/Wolf chain has 90 stores in the area and sold
thousands of D-70's and digital Rebels.  Checking the market position of
the P&S digital, Olympus is not in the top 4 (Canon, Sony, Kodak,
Nikon).  If the Olympus organization does not get on the ball we may see
the loss of another camera company in five years: my bet is that Olympus
and Minolta are out of the serious camera business in five years.

I will say this to rub salt in the wound, if the Leica P&S with a 28-90
lens can produce as good an image as the E-1, what future does Olympus
have?

Don
dorysrus@mindspring.com

-----Original Message-----
From: lug-bounces+dorysrus=mindspring.com@leica-users.org
[mailto:lug-bounces+dorysrus=mindspring.com@leica-users.org] On Behalf
Of B. D. Colen
Sent: Sunday, February 13, 2005 9:43 AM
To: 'Leica Users Group'
Subject: RE: [Leica] Interview re. Leica-Olympus-Panasonic manage

Ah, Mark, Mark, Mark 


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