Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2005/04/20
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Yup, price matters. They've got to reenergize and grow their customer base to support the R&D costs. The only way to do that is to price the camera "reasonably." (for Leica gear, that is). Scott Nathan Wajsman wrote: > I totally disagree, Mark. Price matters a great deal, even for > fondlers. If Leica comes out with a price point like the one mentioned > by Robert, then they might as well not bother. > > I traded Leica for digital when I saw with my own eyes that I could > get equivalent image quality with the Canon DSLRs. I certainly > considered the option of the R-D1 but after carefully looking at the > features and the price I decided that while this was an interesting > first stab at a digital rangefinder, it was nowhere near a digital M. > > If Leica comes out with a digital M in 2006, the price has to be under > 2500 Euro. > > Incidentally, even though I am a low-volume amateur compared to some > of the pros here, since switching to digital in August of last year, I > have saved more in film processing costs alone (not including the film > itself) than I paid for my Canon 20D. > > Nathan > > Mark Rabiner wrote: > >> On 4/20/05 6:33 PM, "Robert Clark" <rclark01@comcast.net> typed: >> >> >>> does actually come out with a digital M. What's the groups speculation >>> on MSRP? With the DMR increasing in price and the dollar debacle, I'm >>> thinking that a digital M in 2006 (2007?) >>> could easily come with a price tag of over $6,000.....maybe even 7. >>> If Leica survives past this May or whenever they're going to publically >>> state what they plan to do to turn the ship around....Just >>> thinking......anyone else gotta guess? >>> >>> Robert Clark >>> Lancaster, PA >>> >> >> Leica could get into a digital body at any price point and and it >> wouldn't >> matter all that much I think now. >> >> The issues as I see it is most Leica "customers" you'd really not >> want to >> bring home to meet mom. Leicawise. >> >> Most Leica owners are/were Leica owners only. >> I don't think they are/were Leica users so much. >> >> Most Leicas all these years have been "show toys." >> Which don't develop much loyalty. >> After awhile all they need is an excuse to trade it in for something >> else. >> When digital hit. That was all the excuse many and most needed. >> >> The Epson R1D1 even hit way late. >> Non auto exposure is fun. Non AF is fun. Non motor drives are fun. >> But when digital hit the mentality shifted to "auto everything why not" >> mode. >> If they're not going to bother putting film in the camera why bother >> with >> anything else. >> >> Would a crafted digital camera worth of the Leica Solms authentic red >> dot be >> a critical thing? >> I don't think so by then you'd have an Epson Cosina digital or Cosina >> Zeiss >> Ikon choice to put your Leica m glass on if you really had any >> allegiance to >> them at all. How many really do. How many Leica owners really ever have >> anything blown up bigger than 5x7? >> >> Leica may as well have Panasonic or somebody like that make the red dot >> digital lens enabler for them to cash in on SOME of the market share. >> >> Mark Rabiner >> Photography >> Portland Oregon >> http://rabinergroup.com/ >> >> >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Leica Users Group. >> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >> >> >