Avotius
Some guy
Despite all this money talk, I find myself on the edge of buying an M8 because of scholarships and special jobs I have done lately....sick huh?
jlw
Rangefinder camera pedant
Where can I apply for one of those camera-buying scholarships?
infocusf8@earthlink.
Established
Fact vs Fiction
Fact vs Fiction
The problem with developing your customer base "from the past" is that customers from the past grow old and die -- and if you aren't developing any replacements from the present and the future, then you're out of business!
I don't know of any camera store that would go out of business because they couldn't develop a new customer base in Leicas. Camera stores are going out of business because "loyal" customers are using them to touch and feel equipment get knowledge then go home and buy on line because they can save a few bucks.
I agree that Leica have priced themselves out of a younger market of emerging photographers because they are hand made and not mass produced. Leica can only produce 16 glass elements for the Noctilux in 18 days because that is how long it takes for the elements to cure in the plenums. I still remember trying to get money together to buy Nikon ED glass which costs a fraction today and is even included in kit outfits. Nikons glass is mass produced today because they outsource much of their glass to other companies like Tamron, something Leica isn't likely to do.
I've used Leicas for almost 40 years but my first Leica was a used M3 because I wasn't making the income to afford new. That is an unfortunate fact for younger generations and that is the unfortunate impediment to developing a new and younger customer base for Leica. This forum is also Leica oriented and is not an indicator of the rest of the world who's younger generation :bang: wants DSLR's.
Fact vs Fiction
The problem with developing your customer base "from the past" is that customers from the past grow old and die -- and if you aren't developing any replacements from the present and the future, then you're out of business!
I don't know of any camera store that would go out of business because they couldn't develop a new customer base in Leicas. Camera stores are going out of business because "loyal" customers are using them to touch and feel equipment get knowledge then go home and buy on line because they can save a few bucks.
I agree that Leica have priced themselves out of a younger market of emerging photographers because they are hand made and not mass produced. Leica can only produce 16 glass elements for the Noctilux in 18 days because that is how long it takes for the elements to cure in the plenums. I still remember trying to get money together to buy Nikon ED glass which costs a fraction today and is even included in kit outfits. Nikons glass is mass produced today because they outsource much of their glass to other companies like Tamron, something Leica isn't likely to do.
I've used Leicas for almost 40 years but my first Leica was a used M3 because I wasn't making the income to afford new. That is an unfortunate fact for younger generations and that is the unfortunate impediment to developing a new and younger customer base for Leica. This forum is also Leica oriented and is not an indicator of the rest of the world who's younger generation :bang: wants DSLR's.
rivercrew
Member
Avotius said:
I've been a professional photographer for 30 years, shoot Canon 1D series and 5ds now for the US Dept of Energy and have been shooting digital since 1997 (first body was a Kodak 460 6Mp - Body was $25K, only people buying them were the US gov't).
I need to shoot the high end Canon gear because of the wide gamut of professional work I do, but I bought an M8 recently for my own personal travel and street shooting. Have to say it's my favorite camera and wish I could use it to cover all my work but the rangefinder has its limits. Recently went to Costa Rica and was blown away by the quality of the files, certainly outperforms the Canon wides, plus for me the weight factor is huge when traveling. As I get older, I did not want to lug Canon gear on travel. So looking to go smaller was my main reason for buying am M8
I use all Zeiss ZM lenses now (did have a few Voigtlanders at first) for I like their feel and results, plus could not justify the investment for Leica glass, especially when the Zeiss glass to me is as good.
Sean Reid's reviews of lenses are excellent and shows that you can get just as great results with Voigtlanders and Zeiss lenses as you do with Leica glass.
Roger Hicks
Veteran
Dear Chris,Chriscrawfordphoto said:
The interesting thing, though, is that a lot of professionals (at least, among those I know) buy Leicas and use them for personal work. An M-series Leica is not much use for e.g. food photography or sports with ultra-long teles; but as a camera to shoot what interests you, not necessarily as part of the day job...
And, of course, any professional who is doing reasonably well and is used to buying pro cameras is not going to find a Leica expensive if he can 'lose' it on the business. Indeed I'd go further: if he can't afford a Leica after a few years in the business, he should change jobs.
Cheers,
R.