Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2008/08/16

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Subject: [Leica] Good and bad Leica news from Amateur Photographer Magazine
From: jayanand at gmail.com (Jayanand Govindaraj)
Date: Sat Aug 16 19:48:54 2008
References: <C4CCA16B.2585B%mark@rabinergroup.com> <51E9817C-E021-4BE3-B864-EB84495FBC0E@frozenlight.eu>

They have to build lenses in Canon/Nikon mount at the very least to survive,
the route Zeiss seems to be taking. They also have to become more of a
photographic design company rather than a manufacturing one, and go in for
contract manufacturing for their needs. Otherwise maintaining expensive
plants in Germany with dwindling sales is not great. A rise in Leica's R&D
expenses will still be minuscule in comparision even to Nikon, leave alone
Canon. Actually, they should study Nikon who are also in a similar position
in the market, battling behemoths like Canon, Matsushita, Sony, Samsung etc.
How do they manage to be the manufacturer of choice? Surely Leica has enough
goodwill left to try seriously? Instead of making equipment that is targeted
at the rich amateur, however good it may be?
Cheers
Jayanand


On Sun, Aug 17, 2008 at 2:52 AM, Nathan Wajsman <photo@frozenlight.eu>wrote:

> The eternal optimist Mark...
>
> These numbers are truly dismal, especially since sales of M cameras are now
> blamed for the decline. The R line is not even on the radar screen.
>
> The best way for Leica to survive is to become part of a larger
> photo/consumer electronics group with financial resources to fund the
> necessary product development and marketing.
>
> Nathan
>
> Nathan Wajsman
> Alicante, Spain
> http://www.frozenlight.eu
> http://www.greatpix.eu
> http://www.nathanfoto.com
>
> Books: http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/search?search=wajsman&x=0&y=0
> PICTURE OF THE WEEK: http://www.fotocycle.dk/paws
> Blog: http://www.fotocycle.dk/blog
>
>
>
>
> On Aug 16, 2008, at 9:23 PM, Mark Rabiner wrote:
>
>
>>
>> http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk/news/Leica_Camera_hit_by_fall_in_sales_
>> news_265584.html
>> Or
>> http://tinyurl.com/5jkyds
>>
>>
>> " Leica recorded a net loss of ?3,850,000, partly caused by a 35% rise in
>> research and development spending, adds the German-based firm. "
>>
>> I call that good news.
>> They are trying 35% harder.
>>
>>
>> mark@rabinergroup.com
>> Mark William Rabiner
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Leica Users Group.
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>>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Leica Users Group.
> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
>

Replies: Reply from mark at rabinergroup.com (Mark Rabiner) ([Leica] Good and bad Leica news from Amateur Photographer Magazine)
In reply to: Message from mark at rabinergroup.com (Mark Rabiner) ([Leica] Good and bad Leica news from Amateur Photographer Magazine)
Message from photo at frozenlight.eu (Nathan Wajsman) ([Leica] Good and bad Leica news from Amateur Photographer Magazine)