Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2005/02/18
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]>> >> Subject: Re: [Leica] How much does it cost to make an M4-P2 $499? >> body thebuyout Forget it guys. The only thing that's going to save Leica's arse in the long run is a digital M. Forget about a digital R. Most people (not you Doug) who shoot SLR's these days want a AF zoom bolted onto what amounts to a laptop computer with a viewfinder. Leica can't compete with Canon. Heck, Nikon has a hard time doing that. What Leica does make is the best and only professional rangefinder out there and although it is a technological dinosaur, it is perfect at what it does. People love them and desire them. Every time I go on a set with my M and run into the production photographer, they get all glassy eyed at the sight of my M4 or whatever I have and the conversation usually goes something like this: "Nice camera! Always wanted one of those. Great lenses! Can I take a look?" or "Hey! Nice camera! is that an M3? I shot with one of those back in Nam/AP/whatever. God did I love that camera, can I cope a feel?" At this point some story is told about how they barely escaped a group of guerilla fighters from their hotel room, because they were able to use the neck strap of their M3 to slide down the drain pipe or something, but the conversation usually ends like this. "Yeah, I loved my M, but nowadays I have to shoot digital, so it's a no go. But boy if Leica made a digital I would get one for those intimate shots on set. It's so nice small and the lenses are amazing." So, I think there is a very healthy market for a digital M. I think Leica should make three models: $1500-1800 Metal/plastic body, M-mount, 8MP, x1.5 multiplier, RF, Leica's D20/D100 $3500 Metal body, M-mount, 12MP x1.3 multiplier, RF, Leica's 1D MkII $4500-5500 Metal body, 16MP full frame, RF, Leica's 1Ds II Throw in a few lenses aimed at the various magnification factors like Nikon DX lenses. I don't care if the camera is made in China or on Mars, as long as the quality is as high as we have today. Keep traditional film based M in production. Maybe they end up making 5000 a year, in one or two batches. Figure out a way to make Leica-R glass in Nikon/Canon/Minolta/Pentax/Olympus etc. mount. If they can pull that off they would thrive. If Leica can't save themselves, someone will end up doing it for them. They will be purchased, because they are far too valuable to just disappear. Don't get me wrong, I love my M's and love to shoot film, but I am trying to be realistic about this. The world is changing and I would rather see Leica adapt and survive, than become a legend that you only read about in history books. My two cents. feli ________________________________________________________ feli2@earthlink.net 2 + 2 = 4 www.elanphotos.com