Andreas Kaufmann at Handelsblatt:

[veraikon]

In an exclusive interview with Handelsblatt, Andreas Kaufmann, owner and CEO of Leica Camera AG, talks about the sacking of former CEO Steven K. Lee and Leicas plans regarding the M- and R-system. Kaufmann points out that he has a lot of patience regarding Leica. "Our commitment in Solms has a long term perspective", Kaufmann says. "We do not want to make a fast buck here."

En anglais:
http://www.handelsblatt.com/News/Un.../leica-ceo-restructuring-80-percent-done.html

in german (zum zwischen den Zeilen zu lesen 😉 )
http://www.handelsblatt.com/leica

 

[veraikon]

The photos to the interview.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/redfalo/sets/72157603995815113/
Photos and interview were made by redfalo from LUF.

And as far as I see it at Photokina we will hear something about a digital CL

 

[retow]

The photos to the interview.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/redfalo/sets/72157603995815113/
Photos and interview were made by redfalo from LUF.

And as far as I see it at Photokina we will hear something about a digital CL

Are you reading tea leaves? When asked about a digital CL Kaufmann refused to comment!

🙄

 

[veraikon]

Are you reading tea leaves? When asked about a digital CL Kaufmann refused to comment!

🙄

no I read this:

Heißt das, dass es eine digitale Einsteiger-M geben wird, ähnlich der analogen Leica CL aus den Siebziger Jahren?
Die CL war in den Siebzigern sicher eine kluge Entscheidung, insofern ist Ihre Frage logisch.

 

[Didier]

"We do not want to make a fast buck here."

LOL! They're actually NOT ABLE to make fast bucks even if they would. Just the usual manager blabla...

Didier

 

[veraikon]

Just the usual manager blabla...

Mk 4,9: Und er sprach: Wer Ohren hat zu hören, der höre! 😉

 

[skahde]

LOL! They're actually NOT ABLE to make fast bucks even if they would.

Just read on. He openly states that for making a fast buck they would have had to shut down production and sell the brand. Not much news here.

With respect to new products he clearly refuses to say anything. Reading between the lines won't help if there is nothing to be read.

Stefan

 

[rxmd]

no I read this:

Heißt das, dass es eine digitale Einsteiger-M geben wird, ähnlich der analogen Leica CL aus den Siebziger Jahren?
Die CL war in den Siebzigern sicher eine kluge Entscheidung, insofern ist Ihre Frage logisch.

To be honest the quote is a little longer than that and continues like this, in English, translation mine:

"Does that mean that there will be an entry-level digital M, similar to the analog Leica CL from the 1970s?"

- "The CL was certainly a wise decision in the 1970s, so your question makes sense."

"We'd like to hear the answer."

- "No comment. We are investigating all these topics with considerable care. However, whatever we bring to market will have to be a mature product. We are a medium-sized company with limited development resources."

So to be honest I read this rather as a "we don't have the resources to bring such a camera to market". This doesn't mean anything tangible. If you read carefully, he isn't even saying that a digital CL would be a good idea now, he's just saying that the analog CL was a good idea in the 1970s. IMHO you shouldn't expect too much from Photokina.

Philipp

 

[veraikon]

may be I read to much between the lines and Photokina isn´t the place. But the total part of the interviews doesn´t sound negative for a digital CL.

The new Summarit lenses are a first step towards this. Allegedly they were one of the Mr. Lees pet projects. According to retailers they do not sell too well.
From my point of view the idea to offer inexpensive lenses for new M-users is a good one. But the price of the body has to go in line with this concept. If you look at the current price of the M8 there is a certain discrepancy


Does this mean that there will be a digital M for starters, similar to the Leica CL?
The CL was a very smart decision in the seventies, for sure. From this regard this is a logical question.

I would be interested in the answer.
No comment. We´re closely looking at all those subjects. We will roll out only products which are mature. Please don´t forget that we´re a medium sized company. Our R&D capabilities are limited.

translation by Handelsblatt

 

[BillBingham2]

Interesting read. I hope once Mr Lee is done he owns Mr. Kaufmann's homes.

B2 (;->

 

[Avotius]

Of course the New Summarit lenses did not sell well, they are priced above the used lenses in the market that are very good and faster. Thats not a hard one to see coming.

Sigh....Leica Leica Leica.....