New Kaufmann interview at LFI

[veraikon]

New Kaufmann interview at LFI

Leicas PR machine is running again 😉 :
http://www.lfi-online.de/ceemes/base.php?webfile/show/1851/

In my view the most important info:

......
LFI: Aren’t we lacking a more affordable entry into the M system?

Kaufmann: Sure it‘s lacking, for the time being. But don‘t think I‘m making any suggestions with regard to Photokina 2008. Our development capacities are limited. In an ideal world I’d obviously want to offer an entry M for 2000 euros or less. Unfortunately, I can’t just call our suppliers, gather suggestions and build a prototype. Our supplier industry barely exists in Europe anymore. It’s an area of competence we have to rebuild.
.......

 

[Avotius]

None of it is interesting. I wont pay attention to speculation and conjecture. These interviews are all the same fluff anyway. The ones I pay attention to are the ones that say "M? a fact, shipping in _____, photos inside"

And besides, finalizing new products for photokina 08? How long does it take to stick a red Leica dot on a panasonic camera anyway?

 

[rxmd]

Same thing as in the last interview basically, except that this time he's a little bit more clear that what he means is that there will not be an affordable entry-level M from Leica, digital or otherwise.

 

[Athos6]

None of it is interesting. I wont pay attention to speculation and conjecture. These interviews are all the same fluff anyway. The ones I pay attention to are the ones that say "M? a fact, shipping in _____, photos inside"

I wait to get excited until I see a picture of a camera which is so cool my mind has problems processing for a few moments, rarely happens... The picture that Stephen has of an M2 with a 35mm 1.2 did that, almost insured that I would someday have both 🙂

 

[Avotius]

I wait to get excited until I see a picture of a camera which is so cool my mind has problems processing for a few moments, rarely happens... The picture that Stephen has of an M2 with a 35mm 1.2 did that, almost insured that I would someday have both 🙂

I know what you mean, this car on the top gear website did that for me: http://www.topgear.com/content/features/stories/2008/03/stories/05/1.html At first I didnt believe it was real, then when I saw that it was and they had working ones it lifted my spirits that there really is hope for us after all.

 

[mac_wt]

Same thing as in the last interview basically, except that this time he's a little bit more clear that what he means is that there will not be an affordable entry-level M from Leica, digital or otherwise.

There will be no sub 2000 Euro M at Photokina 08. But the way it's put in this interview at least suggests that Leica has considered it as an option. And "for the time being" suggests to me that Kaufman has the ambition the develop an entry-level, sub 2000 euro M-camera somewhere down the line.

Wim

 

[veraikon]

There will be no sub 2000 Euro M at Photokina 08. But the way it's put in this interview at least suggests that Leica has considered it as an option. And "for the time being" suggests to me that Kaufman has the ambition the develop an entry-level, sub 2000 euro M-camera somewhere down the line.

Wim

I believe the same a sub 2000€ M ("cl digital") is in line. Not at priority but in line.

LFI: Aber fehlt nicht auch der günstige
Einstieg ins M-System?

Kaufmann: Ich würde hier das Wort „noch“ hinzufügen. Ich habe aber nicht gesagt: „Photokina 2008“, denn wir haben nur eine begrenzte Entwicklungskapazität. Wenn wir in der idealsten aller Welten leben würden, hätte ich natürlich gern eine Einsteiger-M für 2000 Euro
oder ein bisschen drunter. Aber leider kann ich nicht einfach unsere Zulieferer anrufen, Vorschläge einsammeln und einen Prototypen bauen, denn unsere Zulieferindustrie ist hier in Europa kaum noch existent. Das ist eine Kompetenz, die wir erst wieder aufbauen müssen.

http://www.lfi-online.de/ceemes/base.php?webfile/show/1850/

 

[JPSuisse]

Hi all,

I don't know what to make of the interview. Two things stuck in my mind:

1.) I'm disappointed that an M8 full format sensor upgrade is not coming soon. This was why I had finally bought an M8 after buying my MP. Well, I should have known better...

2.) The point about the "Zulieferindustrie" is rather interesting, though. What are the strategic implications for Leica here?

How many of you guys out there are really working in a manufacturing business? It's really getting critical. I'm in a precision manufacturing industry in Europe, and I can tell you that even in Europe (not to even mention North America, which is in a worse position) the whole ability to manufacture things is becoming even more difficult simply because we have no specialists that we can rely on for things outside our special area. Don't get me wrong, where I'm working we have incredible technology for what we do, but we are also dependent on the "ecosphere" of manufacturers around us as well for certain other things that are not our specialty. It raises our costs, because we have to buy these specialties in Asia to then re-export to the rest of the world. Although, from the mechanical point-of-view, we're still okay.

What I was wondering though, is that really, for an entry level M camera, all the competencies and the "Zulieferindustrie" should be in place in Europe. The new director's argument might well stand though for a digital (electronic) camera...

Does this mean that the entry level M will be a digital camera?

Cheers, JP

 

[ferider]

In this context it's pure investor marketing though, since half of the M8 "Zulieferindustrie" is already outside of Europe, anyways. Check where the sensor is made.

With the low US$ this would be a great chance to make new global contracts, too.

And Zeiss working with CV gives another good example that a global "Zulieferindustrie" works.

 

[veraikon]

What are the strategic implications for Leica here?

As far as I know they try to build up a more flexible - small sized regional "Zulieferindustrie" at Leica Park Wetzlar. Kaufmann tries to buy knowledge (see the Sinar - Jenoptik casus)

Does this mean that the entry level M will be a digital camera?

I see it so.

 

[JPSuisse]

This would give Leica the advantage of a digital camera with small size sensor as an entry level camera and a full format up-scale camera to replace the current M8. Or rather, will all future M8's at that moment come with full format sensor's? The first choice would make all those people who upgraded their M8's at that high price more than irritated...