Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2005/04/20
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Yes, Leica must produce a digital camera that sells. Film shooters will still be around, especially the B&W film crowd (that's me) and the chrome fanatics. Some folks, like my fine art shooter buddy, have serious enlargement quality issues and shoot very carefully with carefully chosen films on MF and LF film gear. (This guy tests and tests and belly aches over film selection and enlargement quality constantly. Whew!) But Leica needs the doctor/dentist/lawyer market who desire and pay for "the best" small format gear to shoot pics of their kids and gardens and what not. My neurologist is into orchid growing and takes lots of flower pics. He went all digital recently, and his office is now proudly adorned with orchid snaps he took on his Canon DSLR and printed himself on his Epson 2200. (Nice pics buy the way). So Leica has to get a digital system out the door. It has to be good and it has to be priced to sell (to their traditional buyers). They just have to - or alternatively, become a very different (smaller) company than they are today. firkin wrote: > John Collier writes: > >> No Digital M = No Leica >> I feel that there would be a substantial market for a digital camera >> with an M finder and operating controls designed for actual >> photography rather than a bazillion different "features". >> John Collier > > > 6 months ago, I would have argued with you along the lines of "film > will be with us for a long time yet" and "there will be many hobbists > who will enjoy the feel and real of Leica photography", BUT I am > beginning to wonder how long film will last. Yes I know there will be > outlets for film much as there are outlets for any "craft - hobby", > but even in places like Vietnam, film is sitting on the shelf and > digital cameras are walking out the door. I cannot buy Tetenal C41 > tablet process anymore, and therefore need to save up 12 to 20 films > to justify processing colour film. If the processing labs close down, > I suspect people will meekly accept the "need" to move to digital > anyway. Digital is just so sexy at the moment, that any other > considerations are put aside. Hmmm, so if Leica cannot find a niche in > the digital world, as it has held a niche in the film world, then > perhaps it will only be a high end repair shop for enthusiasts : of > whom there will be a lot throughout the world. Yet despite this, a > Leica Gallery will be opening in Melbourne on May 6: here's luck > Cheers > Alastair Firkin > www.afirkin.com > www.familyofman2.com > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information