[Leica] leica digital back; now marketing will save Leica?

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

I agree, Don, that Leica's hope of having a future lays in producing a
digital M - but it has to be an affordable digital M, or at least one
that produces results on a par with DSLRs in its price range. In other
words, the RD1 is grossly overpriced for its build quality and the image
quality it offers. But if a digital M costing $4K was built like an M
and produced images on a par with a Canon EOS1dMKII - particularly in
terms of noise level at 800-1600-and 3200 iso - there are probably large
numbers of formerly Leica-using pros who's spring for it, to say nothing
of dedicated Leica-loving hobbyists....But they really have to do it,
and do it damn soon, before Zeiss comes out with a digital M mount body.

But as to the marketing - had Leica marketed the film M better over the
past 10 years, the company might not be in the rocky shape its in today,
and might have the cash it needs to weather this transitional period.

B. D.

-----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, April 10, 2005 1:28 PM
To: 'Leica Users Group'
Subject: RE: [Leica] leica digital back; now marketing will save Leica?


I disagree that it is lack of marketing that is killing Leica.  The old
product line is killing Leica.  The new lenses are without reproach, but
the bodies just are not sufficiently modern to attract enough users to
sell enough lenses.

For professionals, there is a severe lack of product that fits today's
workflow.  The innovation of new technology is placing excitement in
digital sensors, ipods, music, video, and online gaming: photography
exists in a continuum of users; photography is a pastime that shares
users with resources.  Their product line is geared to the connoisseur,
the user who can appreciate the tool at the end of the curve.

It is a true fact that the products from brand N, C, O, M, and P will
produce results indistinguishable from Leica for at least 80% of users.
Combined with the NEW of digital capture Leica's market share will
continue to drop.

There is a caveat, if Leica could start a low key, cheap campaign to
promote itself to the discriminating photographer: that might work if
they can bring out a digital M.  Another approach is to put a $100
reward check to the sales person who sells a Leica body.  But, unless
Leica wants to go the way of buggy whip manufacturers, then the digital
M had better be a killer device, the ipod of cameras, the Mac of
computers.

0.02

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, April 10, 2005 7:28 AM
To: 'Leica Users Group'
Subject: RE: [Leica] leica digital back-initial test results

IF it does behave like a somewhat lower res MF back; and IF it produces
the image quality the post says it does, then for professionals who NEED
the image quality, don't need or want autofocus, and who have a major
investment in R equipment, it may indeed be worth the cost. For anyone
else who needs to even think before writing a check, it's over priced.
Because given the uses to which most camera owners put their images, the
image quality difference will not be apparent. 

As to Leica not needing PR because the first year's miniscule production
run is sold out - it is a lack of good PR/Advertising/Marketing savvy -
and they are all inextricably intertwined - that is killing Leica.  


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_______________________________________________
Leica Users Group.
See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information