Leica has guts

[jaapv]

I agree with you, at least regarding the MM. I've hoped, for years, that Fuji would come out with a b&w camera. I suppose Leica can be a bit 'braver' than others because they start out knowing they're going to sell their gear to people that can afford it. I doubt that they have many units sitting on the shelf , no matter what the model (well maybe some of the smaller lower-spec'd cameras sit for awhile). So I'd guess that if they decided that they needed to sell 100,000 MMs at x $, they know that the arithmetic will work with their client base. In any case, I'm really glad they did it; at least it shows other manufacturers that it can be done and that there are real niches of buyers looking for this technology.

I think you estimate of numbers is one magnitude out - 10.000 is nearer the mark, and it exceeded its expectations.

 

[hlockwood]

Hi,

Well, I worry about Leica and niche products as I've seen several fall by the wayside over the years or, worse, cease to be available everywhere and only sold in a few shops. The distance I drive to stock up on foods that were commonplace a while ago is proof of this. (Thinking of Tiptree's Morello cherry conserve, marmalades and so on... )

And Leica, I seem to remember but no one else does, used to be mainstream in that they sold SLR's; P&S's; compacts; even APS and so on.

Just my 2d worth.

Regards, David

Wish I could find a source of Tiptree Loganberry. But I recently came across Tiptree orange marmalade at a Wegman's.

HFL

 

[giganova]

And let's not forget that they also make three (!) film cameras!

I dropped by the DC Leica store today while on my way home from work. The staff are always really friendly and are happy to let me handle what ever I want.

What I love about this and many other Leica stores is that they are not all about selling their products. They organize workshops, exhibits, excursions, etc, and really seem to care about the photo community. I think this speaks volumes about Leica as a brand. They never try to push you into buying things either. The other day I went there and after they saw my Nikon FE2, they spent 1/2 hour playing with my Nikon and decided to get one, too. Let me repeat that: I went to a Leica store and two employees decided to buy a Nikon! I just love that they are so laid back and are totally into photography.

I just hope that Leica will be around for a long time to come and that their business model works. And hey, I currently don't even own a Leica!

 

[giganova]

I don't worry about the future of Leica because:

1) Their parent company Leitz is primarily a B2B company (industrial and scientific instruments) and they don't rely on their relatively small consumer Leica brand to carry them financially.

2) Untold number of people dream about owning a Leica camera. If Leica would go belly-up, there are countless billionairs who would have a chance to not only own a Leica but to own Leica and be the savior of the brand. It has happened before.