[Leica] Leica Wetzlar

[eddy at altphoto.be (Eddy Willems)]

this week I was in Wetzlar.
I was able to visit Ziess and in the afternoon I went to Leica.
Leica has build two brand new buildings.
One is a smaal building, that is the Leica Cafe.
In the other buildings is restaurant (very cheap) a shop (in the shop is 
also a studio); an exhibition room (exposition of Elliott Erwitt);
there is a corridor with a history of the Leica camera's and all the 
product Leitz has made in the photographic field are on display.
In this corridor are large windows where you can see parts of the 
production of camera's and lenses.
Interesting one of these windows was blocked and there was sign that 
there they where working for the future.
People of Leica told me it was something for the next Photokina.
The factory that start at this windows has the form of the ground plate 
of a Leica M camera.
Strangers are not allowed in this part

Outside Leica has just started two new buildings, one will be the Leica 
Hotel and the other a building for the history of Leica.

Everything is cool high tech design and it is practically impossible to 
speak withe people of the production.

The only persons who are open and will talk to you are the people in the 
shop.
But they want to sell.
Everything that is in production is in the shop.

Outside there is a small prefab  building with bargain products; I have 
seen M9 monochromes for 5000 ? a series of 75 mm 2,5 brand lenses new 
for 750 ?.

I have heard next year the new buildings will be ready.
So if you plan to visit Wetzlar wait until the new building are ready.
Now it is a little bit a disapointment for us Leica people.
I haven't seen anything new that afternoon.
best regards