Leica and Zenit: A marriage made in Heaven or Hell?

[CameraQuest]

Truth stranger than fiction? Indeed.

Sometimes real news knocks the fake news right off the front page.

What are the chances that Leica, a firm famous for quality and precision, would team up in any way with the Russian Zenit, famous for not so great quality?

Apparently, 100%
See https://leicarumors.com/2017/09/16/...igital-camera-did-leica-purchased-zenit.aspx/

Will Zenit give Leica a path to much lower priced quality products?

Or a path to do serious damage to Leica's reputation?

Time will tell.

 

[johnf04]

Back when I worked for a computer company, one of the directors used to talk about software products that would be available "real soon now"........this would appear to be the camera equivalent.

 

[David Hughes]

Well, it's a rumour and this is the internet... Best to wait and see.

Regards, David

 

[jaapv]

Truth stranger than fiction? Indeed.

Sometimes real news knocks the fake news right off the front page.

What are the chances that Leica, a firm famous for quality and precision, would team up in any way with the Russian Zenit, famous for not so great quality?

Apparently, 100%
See https://leicarumors.com/2017/09/16/...igital-camera-did-leica-purchased-zenit.aspx/

Will Zenit give Leica a path to much lower priced quality products?

Or a path to do serious damage to Leica's reputation?

Time will tell.

Leicarumors? 100%?

 

[jaapv]

Maybe some form of cooperation, why not? But if Zenith were to issue a rebranded Leica camera, it is hard to see how it could be cheaper. After all, Zenith would have to pay Leica prices for the parts and name...

 

[nukecoke]

Maybe some form of cooperation, why not? But if Zenith were to issue a rebranded Leica camera, it is hard to see how it could be cheaper. After all, Zenith would have to pay Leica prices for the parts and name...

It wouldn't be the case if Zenit(not very likely)or some underground Chinese factories(very likely) are the real makers of the cameras.

Leica-branded Panasonic cameras are much more expensive than the Panasonic counterparts.

 

[Keith]

Is it April already?

 

[PKR]

It's all about the brand and branding. Leica is more a brand than a camera NOW. Slap a Red Dot on a Zeint and it's a Leica, for the market Leica has created over recent years. Has Leica produced any watches yet? Golf clubs may be coming soon..


"In a sense, they are a luxury company with a history of producing functional tool-like devices, versus lifestyle or status items. This is extremely similar to the nature of many contemporary watch brands with similar histories. Together, Leica and Valbray have produced the limited edition EL1 Chronograph watch.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/ariela...bray-timepieces-for-100th-annniversary-watch/

Leica small leather goods
"On the following pages, brand followers will find everything their hearts could possibly desire."
https://us.leica-camera.com/World-of-Leica/Brand-Accessories

 

[jaapv]

Yes, Leica has produced (labelled) quite a few watches in the past, from the M6 Swatch to Walkman watches with a Leica design.

 

[Rayt]

Well back some 15 years ago who had heard of Voigtlander? How many defunct brands no one have ever heard of can be resurrected? Seems if the quality is good and with good marketing then people will buy.

 

[CameraQuest]

Maybe some form of cooperation, why not? But if Zenith were to issue a rebranded Leica camera, it is hard to see how it could be cheaper. After all, Zenith would have to pay Leica prices for the parts and name...

Leica Rebranded to Zenit? That would make no sense to me. I am guessing there will be new cameras and lens designs made by Zenit in cooperation with Leica.

The real questions is what quality level Zenit capable of, and under name plate will the new products be marketed?

Imagine going to a Leica store and seeing a "Made in Russia" inscription. That should go over well.

I wish Leica well in going outside the box to produce lower retail prices. Time will tell.

 

[valdas]

Imagine going to a Leica store and seeing a "Made in Russia" inscription. That should go over well.

excuse me? will there be a nice logo with an inscription "i see what you see"?

translation of the inscription below: "i read your mind"...

 

[jaapv]

Leica Rebranded to Zenit? That would make no sense to me. I am guessing there will be new cameras and lens designs made by Zenit in cooperation with Leica.

The real questions is what quality level Zenit capable of, and under name plate will the new products be marketed?

Imagine going to a Leica store and seeing a "Made in Russia" inscription. That should go over well.

I wish Leica well in going outside the box to produce lower retail prices. Time will tell.

Well, there is nothing sensational in Leica cooperating with other camera makers, just think of Minolta, Kyocera or Panasonic. Nor has Leica ever been shy of using lenses from other makers, be it Sigma, Schneider, Agenieux or others. So nothing new under the sun; however, there was nothing cheaper under the sun either...

It is not as if Leica has an excessively high profit margin, some things cannot even be undercut by other manufacturers, like their digital rangefinders.
The stuff is simply expensive, but unfortunately for the customers, not overpriced.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Where is Shvabe which owns Zenit a.k.a. KMZ.
http://www.shvabe.com/en/about/company/krasnogorskiy-zavod-im-s-a-zvereva/o-kompanii-kmz/
And where is no news from them about Leica. So, 100% is not true. It is 100% only if it is confirmed by both sides. Not by one rumor spreader. Who has nothing to do with both companies.

If they did it with KMZ once (Leica, Zorki) why not do it again. They are doing it in aero industry. Plane bodies are made in Russia, electronics are imported. Even for military ones.
Now it is more politically motivated. Russia has self-applied sanctions on import and state policy for import replacement. They already did it with one Russian mobile phone, where all components were from China. They did Russian made robot once, from LEGO parts.

Zenit, Zorki are still popular brands, lots of Back to the USSR nostalgia recently.
Leica cooperated with Panasonic for cheap, yet, best I ever used P&S. Why not with Shvabe? Leica project management and practical knowledge, made it China components, and Zenit label on it. Promised already by Russian side to sell it at the price of the iPhone. Which is 1K$. Sony FF is already available under 900USD, new, with warranty. So, it is possible.

Too bad it is Zenit, not Zorki...

 

[stompyq]

Well personally I hope they do it. Bc I would buy one!

 

[ptpdprinter]

If you make a cheap body, you need cheap lenses to go with it. Who will be manufacturing the lenses for Zenit (Leicit? Zenica?).

 

[BillBingham2]

........Sony FF is already available under 900USD, new, with warranty. So, it is possible.

.....

Only after the engineering and manufacturing has been fully paid off. They did not start out that cheap remember.

B2 (;->

 

[Out to Lunch]

The Leica Rumors page on a Leica/Zenit deal is as clear as mud.

 

[Huss]

If you make a cheap body, you need cheap lenses to go with it. Who will be manufacturing the lenses for the Zenit.

Keep it as an M mount. Or M42 mount.

 

[ptpdprinter]

Keep it as an M mount. Or M42 mount.

The Leica SL body uses the L mount, though there is an M to L mount adapter, as well as lots of other L mount adapters.