Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2008/12/20
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Aren't a lot of the sub-assemblies in Leicas still made in Portugal? Mind you, Portugal is probably not very much cheaper for labour than Germany any more. Frank On 20 Dec, 2008, at 00:52, Lawrence Zeitlin wrote: > > On Dec 19, 2008, at 3:04 PM, A. Lal wrote: > >> Alternatively, the current Leica company could set up its own >> manufacturing >> facilities in a low-cost country, while maintaining current QC >> standards. >> >> As I see it, Leica may be trying to follow the example the Swiss >> watch >> industry which has not been price sensitive in the recent past. I >> do not >> believe this strategy will work. Leica need to find a way to reduce >> prices >> significantly while retaining quality. >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Lawrence Zeitlin" <lrzeitlin@optonline.net> >> To: <lug@leica-users.org> >> Cc: "Lawrence Zeitlin" <lrzeitlin@optonline.net> >> Sent: Friday, 19 December, 2008 2:29 PM >> Subject: [Leica] Re: Unbelievable >> >> >>> If Leica couldn't find an overwhelming sympathetic audience in >>> the LUG, >>> it is unlikely to do so in the general camera using population. >>> Leica's >>> plight is similar. on a much smaller scale, to that of the U.S. >>> auto >>> industry. Their best bet might be to ask for a bailout or bridge >>> loan >>> from the German government and, if they can't return to >>> profitability >>> within six months, file for bankruptcy. Their best strategy might >>> be to >>> sell the Leica name, patents, and manufacturing rights to one of >>> the >>> Japanese camera giants. The precedent has been set by Contax, >>> Voightlander, and scores of others. Then perhaps we might have >>> affordable >>> Leica cameras, although a bit plasticky. >>> >>> Larry Z > > > An interesting point. My Olympus E-Volt 500 DSLR was made in China > and is up to the high standards of film Olympii made in Japan. The > cost in constant dollars is about half that of the film model. There > are some production shortcuts to be sure. The body is largely > polycarbonate plastic although there is a metal frame inside. Leica > could do the same, and in fact, has supported non-German production > in the past. The CL was made in Japan, some Leica SLRs were made in > Portugal, and lenses and Leica LTMs were made in Canada. How much of > a stretch would it be to have a Leica made in Singapore, Mexico or > Taiwan? OK, so it wouldn't be a German Leica. Big deal. As long as > it takes good pictures and accepts Leica lenses, I'll be satisfied. > To my mind Leica started its deviation from the true faith when they > started making SLRs. Leica's only redeeming virtue was the Leica > glass. And the lenses can be used on other cameras including the > Minolta CLs, the RD-1 and the Bessas. Better act fast Leica. The > much less expensive Panasonic 4/3 G-1 is on your tail. Better a > Leica in production than a Leica in memory, even if die hards insist > that it not a true "Leica." > > What is the German equivalent of Chapter 11? > > Larry Z > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information