g0tr00t
Well-known
Solinar
Analog Preferred
I'll bet that you've missed all the meaningful discussion that has been going on at the Leica forum on Photo.net. There is a full cast of disturbed characters participating. You must check it out sometime.
g0tr00t
Well-known
Solinar said:
LOL! Argh....I keep forgetting abot photo.net. thanks
N
Nikon Bob
Guest
That thread is hilarious and there is more of the same at the Leica sponsored site. If Leica goes bust it is not really the end of civilization as I know it but apparently to some it is.
Bob
Bob
S
Schnitzer
Guest
Leica 's Problems Not Insurmountable
Leica 's Problems Not Insurmountable
There was a message posted today on another (ahem) "highly followed" camera forum by Stephen Gandy.
http://leica-users.org/v29/msg05932.html
He quoted a response he received from Leica production head which in summary said : "There is no immediate danger for the company."
Long live Leica!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Leica 's Problems Not Insurmountable
There was a message posted today on another (ahem) "highly followed" camera forum by Stephen Gandy.
http://leica-users.org/v29/msg05932.html
He quoted a response he received from Leica production head which in summary said : "There is no immediate danger for the company."
Long live Leica!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
g0tr00t
Well-known
Oh my head is spinning after going over there. I knew there was a reason I "forgot" about photo.net...
I do like some of their stuff, but man I need to go blow my nose now. I can feel sinus pressure building....
I do like some of their stuff, but man I need to go blow my nose now. I can feel sinus pressure building....
aizan
Veteran
Leica Sadists need to back off!
erm, not in imminent danger? ah, well...that's good news.
erm, not in imminent danger? ah, well...that's good news.
dll927
Well-known
Pop Photo's forums are full of this, too. Does Steve Gandy have special connection to God???
Sounds like the old story of the beautiful young lady that EVERY guy drooled after, but she couldn't find one that pleased her and eventually wound up being an old maid.
Let's face it - Leica has never been known to go after the "average" photo enthusiast. They have had financial problems before - as when they almost decided to depend on SLRs, then when that didn't pan out, they backtracked and produced the M4-2, which the above -mentioned Gandy doesn't think much of. Maybe too many Leica owners have insisted on going around with their noses up in the air.
One recent story has it that some French outfit owns 30% of Leitz stock and wants the company, that is, Leitz, to UP its prices to be even more exclusive. It might be much more advisable to go the other way and see what the results would be.
Sounds like the old story of the beautiful young lady that EVERY guy drooled after, but she couldn't find one that pleased her and eventually wound up being an old maid.
Let's face it - Leica has never been known to go after the "average" photo enthusiast. They have had financial problems before - as when they almost decided to depend on SLRs, then when that didn't pan out, they backtracked and produced the M4-2, which the above -mentioned Gandy doesn't think much of. Maybe too many Leica owners have insisted on going around with their noses up in the air.
One recent story has it that some French outfit owns 30% of Leitz stock and wants the company, that is, Leitz, to UP its prices to be even more exclusive. It might be much more advisable to go the other way and see what the results would be.
O
Oldprof
Guest
Leica is not in trouble. They have a new commemorative M7 celebrating the coronation of King Izziwanda of Butapistan. This lovely item will be in hot demand.
Solinar
Analog Preferred
Butapistan is lovely this time of year and the Butapitians are charming folk.
S
Sean Reid
Guest
Let me present another perspective to consider. Leica's majority owner is still Hermes, the luxury-fashion company. From the Hermes influence we see the "Leica a la carte" which to me is much more fashion than substance. It might be a very good thing if Leica were bought by a company that is committed to preserving their traditions and quality with a new digital rangefinder and new lenses. Even before film was in declining use, Leica had become largely a niche seller. If a company like Panasonic, or Epson, or whomever bought Leica, it would not necessarily mean that the product quality would go downhill, cameras would only be badge-engineered, etc.. That's not a foregone conclusion at all.
There is likely a shake up of some kind coming soon but that doesn't necessarily mean that Leica is dead or destined to go downhill. It's way too soon to say. That also means that the digital M could indeed become a reality. Leica wasn't planning to make a FF rangefinder but one with about a 1.37 mag and I imagine it's still quite possible for them to do that given sufficient $$ for R&D, etc. I've said this many times, but it would take a major technological breakthrough for a FF rangefinder to work with most existing RF lenses. A FF rangefinder is very likely going to require new lenses. I spoke with a gentleman at Zeiss today (arranging the loan of some test lenses) and he confirmed that Zeiss designed their new lenses to work with a potential (future) digital rangefinder. Leica could certainly do the same with a new set of sealed lenses to match a sealed rangefinder body.
Sean
There is likely a shake up of some kind coming soon but that doesn't necessarily mean that Leica is dead or destined to go downhill. It's way too soon to say. That also means that the digital M could indeed become a reality. Leica wasn't planning to make a FF rangefinder but one with about a 1.37 mag and I imagine it's still quite possible for them to do that given sufficient $$ for R&D, etc. I've said this many times, but it would take a major technological breakthrough for a FF rangefinder to work with most existing RF lenses. A FF rangefinder is very likely going to require new lenses. I spoke with a gentleman at Zeiss today (arranging the loan of some test lenses) and he confirmed that Zeiss designed their new lenses to work with a potential (future) digital rangefinder. Leica could certainly do the same with a new set of sealed lenses to match a sealed rangefinder body.
Sean
dll927
Well-known
As for that Photo-net argument, I think that by about the fourth posting they lost sight of the original subject at hand.
aizan
Veteran
..."sealed"?
Solinar
Analog Preferred
Leica will survive. It never was a large mass market player.
What amazes me is you think that a Leica forum would be more high class. It is anything but. Within the cast of characters, three come to mind whose sole purpose seem to be to stir up the muck and give others a hard time, without ever contributing a single image. Where is the moderator for that forum?
What amazes me is you think that a Leica forum would be more high class. It is anything but. Within the cast of characters, three come to mind whose sole purpose seem to be to stir up the muck and give others a hard time, without ever contributing a single image. Where is the moderator for that forum?
aizan
Veteran
wasn't it big in the screwmount and m3/2 days?
Solinar
Analog Preferred
Aizan, I just did a fruitless google search. I believe that Leica made more than 100,000 IIIf cameras even though I have no factual numbers to back that up. That was in the early 1950's when the overall 35mm market wasn't that large. So, they were probably the biggest player in high end 35mm cameras during the 1950's. After the M5 years , things changed for sure.
Does anyone have access to actual production figures?
Does anyone have access to actual production figures?
RObert Budding
D'oh!
Leica Owners Will Survive
Leica Owners Will Survive
Leica owners will survive, even if their beloved company fails. My Contax IIIa went out of production around 1962, and Zeiss Ikon stayed in operation for another decade. But I'm still using my Contax, 30 years after the company ceased all production. But I try to stay realistic - I don't expect a digital back for my Contax anytime soon.
Robert
Leica Owners Will Survive
Leica owners will survive, even if their beloved company fails. My Contax IIIa went out of production around 1962, and Zeiss Ikon stayed in operation for another decade. But I'm still using my Contax, 30 years after the company ceased all production. But I try to stay realistic - I don't expect a digital back for my Contax anytime soon.
Robert
S
Sean Reid
Guest
aizan said:
Weather/dust seals so that the camera can be used in rain, snow, dust, etc. without possible damage to the electronics. Examples of sealed pro DSLRs include: Canon 1D, 1Ds, Olympus E-1. Olympus 4/3 lenses are sealed as are many Canon L lenses. I've worked with the 1Ds in the pouring rain. It's very important for a pro camera that might be used for PJ, etc.
Sean
peter_n
Veteran
Very interesting. So all that internet speculating was correct. Now that could be a real problem for Leica as I assume none of their modern lenses are so designed...Sean Reid said:
dll927
Well-known
Solinar - I believe it's Gandy's website that has a complete run-down of Leica serial numbers and the production numbers, almost month by month. Apparently, in their German attention to detail, they were careful to keep records of such things. I think it even includes special editions, such as the silver spoon/endangered species version mentioned above.
It probably helps to keep in mind that, at one time, Leica and Contax were almost the only games in town. No one ever accused Argus C-3s or Kodak 35s to be professional-level machines. Of course, you could go through several of those before you would use up a IIIf.
Nor was the company always fighting against "market" pressures. I've read that they had plans for the M-type system BEFORE World War II got in the way.
As for some of these other websites, every crowd has its share of misfits. That Photo-net diatribe is as much political as it is sticking to photography. As they say in Spanish, "Cada uno es dueno" which is roughly, "To each his own".
It probably helps to keep in mind that, at one time, Leica and Contax were almost the only games in town. No one ever accused Argus C-3s or Kodak 35s to be professional-level machines. Of course, you could go through several of those before you would use up a IIIf.
Nor was the company always fighting against "market" pressures. I've read that they had plans for the M-type system BEFORE World War II got in the way.
As for some of these other websites, every crowd has its share of misfits. That Photo-net diatribe is as much political as it is sticking to photography. As they say in Spanish, "Cada uno es dueno" which is roughly, "To each his own".