Leica AG CEO has replied

Why not? We can always ask questions. I would love to get a folding digital MF camera with a tack sharp lens with max aperture 2.0 or 2.8. Then, a market price of $2000 max, with an amazing sensor in this camera. Make this camera such that it can be upgraded by replacing some modules in it each year. We can ask ...
 
Correct me if I have interpreted incorrectly.

What I believe he is saying is that Leica designs and manufacturers products where at some companies they design products but has others make them. In the case of Leica that is called, "verical integration."
 
A dialogue with the CEO does not hurt anybody. Not having such a dialogue with the CEO is most likely less effective in communicating our feedback to Leica than having a dialogue. Users of Leica can be disappointed with Leica products, or they may be OK with them. This has little to do with the notion of starting a dialogue and not having one. Nobody here needs to feel that she/he must be satisfied with the CEO's replies. I view the conversation with him as a sign that RFF matters to Leica AG. This is in my opinion better than concluding that RFF does not matter to Leica AG.

If we pinpoint some weaknesses in current Leica cameras that Leica can and should take care of, then we could send these points to Leica in a follow-up email. If most people feel that such a follow-up will be a waste of time, then there is no need for it.
 
raid said:
Many years ago, I was complaining to a senior colleague at my university about my low salary. I told him that I would request from the VP to meet with me to discuss this "unacceptable situation". His response to me was "Go and meet with the VP. He will say nice things to you. You will feel better after you leave his office. Just don't expect any changes to your salary".

This reminds me of what we are seeing here, in response to having contacted the Leica CEO. Some people will feel better, while others will see only "no changes". This is life.
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I can only say your parallel is correct. He answered and you're happy he did. The question remains "do you know more now that you didn't already knew?".
 
Thanks for the effort Raid and Steven.

Could you ask if there is going to be an updated VF2 that will still work with the current M?
 
uhoh7 said:
PS: Raid, it may be obvious, but what I mean about the iPhone, is that there really is no excuse for such large M bodies today. Much tech can be packed into a very very small form. Now some people like the M240 footprint, which is fine, make cameras for them. But good lord, some of us really try to take them where Barnack envisioned, for good reason. The lens set is simply untouchable. But for me and many others, the body is like an anchor, even the M9. No excuse today for the lack of alternative, if the users really are important.

This is tough love, not whining, because it's advice that could make Leica some extra money and "grow the pie".
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I believe the M bodies are perfect for me. I do not want smaller bodies since they are not comfortable in my hands. Lots of good options on the marketplace today for folks who want small cameras if the M body is to heavy or large. I don't think that Leica is going to make a 'M' series like the Toyota Prius and would not want to see them try.

Different strokes for different folks.......
 
Raid, thanks for contacting the CEO and it was great to see him respond to a customers request for information.

Appreciate your efforts.
 
Spanik said:
I can only say your parallel is correct. He answered and you're happy he did. The question remains "do you know more now that you didn't already knew?".
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There are several issues that the CEO addressed and that I was unaware of. Maybe I do not much about Leica.
 
Huss said:
Thanks for the effort Raid and Steven.

Could you ask if there is going to be an updated VF2 that will still work with the current M?
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Stephen already mentioned to us to think of follow-up questions. Stay tuned.
 
I am not knowledgeable on designs of digital cameras and how Leica engineers design the Leicas. It would be great to see one day soon even more capable Leica cameras withing smaller and lighter bodies, such as Barnacks.

Raid

seakayaker1 said:
PS: Raid, it may be obvious, but what I mean about the iPhone, is that there really is no excuse for such large M bodies today. Much tech can be packed into a very very small form. Now some people like the M240 footprint, which is fine, make cameras for them. But good lord, some of us really try to take them where Barnack envisioned, for good reason. The lens set is simply untouchable. But for me and many others, the body is like an anchor, even the M9. No excuse today for the lack of alternative, if the users really are important.

This is tough love, not whining, because it's advice that could make Leica some extra money and "grow the pie".
Click to expand...

I believe the M bodies are perfect for me. I do not want smaller bodies since they are not comfortable in my hands. Lots of good options on the marketplace today for folks who want small cameras if the M body is to heavy or large. I don't think that Leica is going to make a 'M' series like the Toyota Prius and would not want to see them try.

Different strokes for different folks.......[/QUOTE]
 
I view this process also as having informed the CEO of several issues that Leica users want to be addressed by Leica. Such a learning process from gathering consumer information hopefully will result in some design and service improvements over time. If nothing happens to your satisfaction, be happy that there are several excellent alternatives on the market. In the end, we are talking about a camera and not about your photography.
 
raid said:
Stephen already mentioned to us to think of follow-up questions. Stay tuned.
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re: Could you ask if there is going to be an updated VF2 that will still work with the current M?

Isn't the answer to this the same as #5 in the already submitted questions?
This:
5) Will Leica improve the existing M240 and M-P by allowing them to mount a new state of the art digital Visoflex?

Please understand that we can’t talk about future product roadmap plans in public.


Not to be critical of Raid's efforts, but the submitted questions look like a reporter looking for a "scoop", so the CEO's responses had to read like a press release. I suspect the whole letter was written by the PR department, subsequently vetted by "Legal" and then released under CEO's signature.

It is nice to have some insight into the future, but there really isn't much real info in the responses.

This dialog is potentially useful to Leica, as Raid said, as a submission of peoples interests and concerns, and could help Leica in making decisions. However, I don't have any expectations of any meaningful public reply to those concerns and interests.
 
The questions were sent to the CEO, and then Leica sent us back responses to each of our questions. The "whole letter" was questions by RFF and responses by the CEO, as one document.
 
From the CEO's answers Raid, it may be possible to hope that Leica are going to do what no other digital manufacturer has done that I'm aware of: make an improved version of an older model camera. It seems to me the repaired M-E's, M9's and Monochroms will be a better camera than they were new with a more current sensor. That could be a very good outcome and a good trend for Leica to set.
 
Leica cameras are usually too good to be thrown away, so to speak. A small tweak here and there can do wonders.
 
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