[Leica] Re: Canon, Leica and German goods

[summarex at hotmail.com (Javier Perez)]

True confessions!
Most of us here are fans of German industry and this is kind of bothersome 
though few will admit it!
If Canon buys Leica, there will bee no Leica after a while! It's going to be 
a trademark and nothing more. They are even saying they are going to 
introduce a common name! They might let the Germans manufacture a few canon 
approved M designs to satisfy appearances but that's it and it won't last 
long. What you will start to see is the Leica name or some bastardisation of 
it poping up on Japanese lenses, supposedly made according to the "Leica 
tradition" but in Japan. All I can say is if this goes through I will not 
buy anything Leica made after the acquisition date. I'm going to Zeiss! At 
least they call the shots in their neighbourhood. What I might like to buy 
are products from upstart companies owned by ex Leica employees who left 
when the buyout happened.

Lastly, I doubt Canon needs any optical patents from Leica. Leica is able to 
produce the lenses they do by taking carefully thought out, often even 
conservativve designs and being extremely nitpickey about the glass they use 
and the tolerances they hold. Nothing patentable there!
Javier


>
>I don't know what it means if Canon takes over Leica. Leica certainly will 
>gain in digital technology. Canon will pick up some great optics. 
>Bechstein, the German piano maker,  has an agreement with a Korean company 
>which has infused some capital I understand, given Bechstein entry to  that 
>company's  distribution network and infused the Korean company with German 
>knowhow.
>
>Many things are a matter of taste. I like things German by and large. I 
>like German pianos to Japanese, which I find characterless. They sell a 
>lot, but I don't like the sound of their pianos.  I prefer German hammers 
>to Japanese, the latter being too hard and loud.
>
>And I prefer German optics to Japanese. I can always pick out my Leica 
>negatives from my Canon. The Canon are good, excellent, but they seem to 
>have another aesthetic look. Could just be a projection on my part. I drive 
>a German car and wouldn't think of buying a Japanese even though the 
>Japanese car would be more reliable in most instances.
>
>So if it's true, if Canon takes over Leica, I hope it means that Leica 
>gains more financial security and also has an infusion of technology. And I 
>hope it means that Canon gains another line of lenses to go with its 
>cameras or something like that.
>
>The new year promising to be interesting.
>
>Ein gutes Neues wünsche ich allen--Doug
>
>
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