Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2010/08/26
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Chris, I'm not sure if you read the article that was linked. Perhaps you only read the rumour which started at that Asahi article and most recently has been apparently taken as fact by The On-line Photographer site. "However, asked by BJP to clarify the situation, Leica says that it "*has not stopped producing its analogue camera models*, the Leica M7 and Leica MP, nor does it currently have any intention to do so." Leica adds that although "the demand for analogue Leica camera models is not high, it is stable, and we are still producing cameras on a daily basis as always." It also says that any visitors to Leica Camera's head-office in Germany can "see both analogue and digital models being produced," as confirmed by a film made last year at the Leica factory by L-Camera Forum *(see below)*." I don't know if you have ever visited the factory or spoken to staff there? Many Leica Camera products are produced in batches rather than continuously, especially low volume lenses (for example the Nocti, The Summiluxes etc.) As you might expect the M9 is by far the most in demand camera body and is their production priority. It would be physically impossible and business nonsense for evey item to be in continuous production on every single day. The film M's are still available ala carte as far as I know but that is by definition on demand of course. A (very rare) ala carte camera would be assembled from parts from a normal batch as far as possible with the customised parts being the difference of course. You don't start a line to make one camera. Looking at the possible variations it would make sense that the custom work is all at Solms rather than the Portugal factory which delivers a substantially assembled body to Solms. Cheers Geoff http://www.pbase.com/hoppyman On 27 August 2010 04:05, Chris Saganich <chs2018 at med.cornell.edu> wrote: > > The film M's are all a la cart which means they only make one when someone > orders one. Production refers to making many of the same kind at the same > time. So production of film M's has ceased. A subtlety that wasn't lost > on > me when the a la cart program was created. > > > At 01:00 PM 8/26/2010, you wrote: > >> They didn't mention "on demand". Just that demand was low but stable >> (Nachfrage ist nicht hoch aber konstant). >> >> Viele Gr??e >> Douglas >> >> On 26.08.2010 17:57, Chris Saganich wrote: >> >>> On demand is a bit different from "production" in the German lexicon I >>> suppose. >>> >>> Chris >>> >>> >>> At 11:51 AM 8/26/2010, you wrote: >>> >>>> That's what they say: >>>> >>>> >>>> http://www.bjp-online.com/british-journal-of-photography/news/1729979/leica-we-producing-film-cameras >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> >>>