LEICA visit to Wetzlar Germany: Last Call

Information for the Leica visit:

the address is: Am Leitz-Park 5, 35578 Wetzlar.

There are parking lots for visitors directly in front of the building.
 
The visit today to Leica went very well. We received VIP treatment for sure. Three high ranking Leica officials met with us. The visit started with lunch around 12:30. and it ended around 4:30 after a great presentation by the optics designer of Leica. Then we sat in Leica Coffee Shop and chatted. It was a very friendly reception by Leica to our small RFF group.

Oliver Kaltner talked about his vision for Leica, and he went over his employment past and his contributions to other companies before he came to Leica. I will post photos after we get back to the USA some time in June. Kaltner addressed Lina and Dana as the next generation of Leica users.
 
Just returned home from this great visit. This was way better than I expected before. Thanks Raid for your part of organizing this. Nice group, a pitty that we didn't have more time together.

I gave my M9 in for an inspection / cleaning and was able to take it home again the same day. And they even exchanged the time selector wheel because some of the times on the old one were already black. Thank you Leica for that super service.
 
Excellent day!

Thanks to Raid for organising it. Great meetings with Stefan Daniel and Oliver Kaltner and as an extra bonus, we had an hour with lens meister Peter Karbe.

Highly enjoyable...
 
raid said:
The visit today to Leica went very well. We received VIP treatment for sure. Three high ranking Leica officials met with us. The visit started with lunch around 12:30. and it ended around 4:30 after a great presentation by the optics designer of Leica. Then we sat in Leica Coffee Shop and chatted. It was a very friendly reception by Leica to our small RFF group.

Oliver Kaltner talked about his vision for Leica, and he went over his employment past and his contributions to other companies before he came to Leica. I will post photos after we get back to the USA some time in June. Kaltner addressed Lina and Dana as the next generation of Leica users.
Click to expand...

Did they show you the working room and the lady cleaning up the sensors with the Pentax rubber tip?
 
We saw through windows at several work rooms. While one or two RFF members had their cameras adjusted (give up camera before tour, pick it up afterwards), I did not do it.
 
ernstk said:
Excellent day!

Thanks to Raid for organising it. Great meetings with Stefan Daniel and Oliver Kaltner and as an extra bonus, we had an hour with lens meister Peter Karbe.

Highly enjoyable...
Click to expand...

Stefan Daniel spent one hour touring the history of Leica in the splendid new hall in the new Leica building. He addressed all questions put to him by us. This was a special treat.

Oliver Kaltner gave us about 45 minutes of his busy time, and he was very nice to all of us. Herr Kaltner shared with us his vision for Leica, explaining to us how optical engineering was the foundation and also the future . A treat indeed.

Silke Benrhardt did first class organizing and hosting of the events. Her role was crucial. Thank you!


Peter Karbe gave us a detailed slide presentation of Tradition and Innovation at Leica. It was a 75 minute presentation. Again, a real treat.
 
@Raid and all participants,
many personal thanks for making possible this short term participation to your VIP visit at Leica.
The unexpected excellent lecture by Peter Karbe full of details of the Leica optics nowadays, in past and future was an unforgettable highlight in addition to the excellent factory tour by Stefan Daniel and the most interesting insights into the mind and philosophy of CEO Oliver Kaltner.
Also many thanks to the excellent organization by Silke Bernhardt and all other members of the staff who allowed us this great experience.
Never to forget those personally unknown COK (chief of kitchen🙂) and the teams of canteen and café.
It was wonderful to meet new Leica friends.
Thanks again!
Bernd
 
Indeed! It was a very special experience. In what company would a CEO take so much time to talk to a rather small group of visitors? Oliver Kaltner also seems to be a very nice person, someone I really would like to drink a glass of good wine with. 🙂

It was also great to meet you guys. I really enjoyed that.

Thank you very much for the organization again, Raid!

Carsten
 
Hi Carsten,
I agree with you on what you have posted here above.
It was great to meet up with you again.
 
tom.w.bn said:
Just returned home from this great visit. This was way better than I expected before. Thanks Raid for your part of organizing this. Nice group, a pitty that we didn't have more time together.

I gave my M9 in for an inspection / cleaning and was able to take it home again the same day. And they even exchanged the time selector wheel because some of the times on the old one were already black. Thank you Leica for that super service.
Click to expand...

It was nice to meet you Tom. Things worked out very well at the Leica visit.
 
I told them at Leica that this visit may trigger visits by other RFF groups in the future. They said that this would be fine. I believe that RFF has an amazing group of members, with a lot of knowledge about RF cameras and lenses and about RF photography overall.
 
You know, it was like "the head, the heart and the brain" of Leica who guided us through this day, wasn't it?
 
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