So- You are Leica's New CEO - What to do ?

[Roger Hicks]

I'd have to disagree with you about the sapphire glass. That is one of the things I loved about my M8.2, the fact that the rear glass screen was nearly bulletproof. The camera got beat around when I took it on jobs, and I never had to worry about that LCD screen getting scratched. I'd pay extra for a camera with sapphire glass over the LCD.

Best,
-Tim

Dear Tim,

Although I agree completely that sapphire glass is a worth while improvement, I also have to add that I really don't care all that much about the scratches on my M8 and M9. The people who REALLY worry are the people who are forever swapping cameras and care more about resale value than about taking pictures.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Michael Markey]

Not so much think, as know. Yes, they do. It is however regarded as something of a penance or possibly punishment.

They tend to listen only to those with good ideas that can be realized. Imagine how much drivel they have to wade though in order to find these tiny nuggets, and you can see why I refer to it as a penance or possibly punishment.

Cheers,

R.

It`s good that they do ;sensible , in fact ,but goodness what a job .

 

[airfrogusmc]

I have very few scratches on my MM glass. Over two years old and 30+K. I have had both of my Canons cover replaced and they are now both more scratched up than my MM and less than 10K each since the replacement.

If the Leica folks were listening I would say give me a fully manual, killer low light, full frame sensor, digital M. No video, no FPS, just a great RELIABLE body with a great FF sensor at a price point about where the M-E is. Let the folks that want all the stuff have it at a price. Having said that I would still pay a premium to have such a camera. I would buy two.

 

[xyz3450]

Perhaps join RF forum? There are many splendid and varied posts and ideas from folks here with a wealth of photographic experience.....

 

[rfaspen]

I once was able to purchase new Leica (not with ease mind you). That has slipped over the last several years, even though my net income has increased (oh so slightly). Truly, I have always been an avid amateur photographer (and briefly a successful "pro") that was once a good example of the target demographic (market) for Leica M gears. One problem with getting old is watching some things change in a way that I'd rather not see. I still buy Leica, but much more used now. I have a kid in college so my discretionary spending is severely curtailed. Not that I'd blithely plunk down the asking price for a new M240 or even M9 these days. I'll pursue those used; less cash on the table and my wife doesn't get that concerned look. My Leica lenses don't seem to go bad (whew!) so little motivation to purchase new ones, although the elmarit-M 90 is a desire, as is that 24/3.4. Eh. Not likely to happen for another 4 years.

 

[greyelm]

The Fuji Instax series cameras outsell all of Fuji's other digital products combined.

Leica should introduce a high end instant camera taking the instax film. Call it the Leicaroid. Or Leicalax..

Oh, and introduce a high quality dedicated film scanner to go alongside Leica's real cameras.

I used to suffer from Leicaroids but after a couple of doses of Leicalax they got better. 😀

 

[gunston]

revive CCD sensor technology

 

[Huss]

I used to suffer from Leicaroids but after a couple of doses of Leicalax they got better. 😀

Taking pictures would require far less strain, and your rate of production would increase.

Now that that's out of our system.. why not an instant Leica? Fuji sells millions of Instaxs every year. Why not offer a higher end, much better built alternative that has real features? The top end Instax Neo Classic is still a horrible cheaply made plastic thing, that sells for about $140-$180.

Keep that classic look, build it much sturdier, give it an m-mount! Imagine how fun that would be if you could actually focus those images. It wouldn't even need a light meter, the film is 800 ASA so all it would need is a pictorial guide like Sunny F16.
Think of a cross between a Fuji Neo Classic and an M-A.

 

[Darshan]

Partner with Fuji or Oly to make an exclusive full frame M mount camera while focusing 100% on optics.

 

[Huss]

The M60 (at a normal price), but with wireless connectivity to your smart phone.

 

[DougFord]

Sell the company immediately while the brand name still retains some value as a high-end source of photographic/imaging products. Think 'Lexus' division of Panasonic.

 

[Mr_Toad]

.


Step 1. Lay off fifteen percent of Leica employees.
Step 2. Declare a big executive bonus for visionary leadership.


(Did you want good ideas, or the reality of the world in which we live?)


🙂


.

 

[Jason Sprenger]

If I were CEO, I'd instruct the engineering to...

1. Enlarge the M viewfinder and give it lots of eye relief.

2. Thin the M body back down to 38mm even if the lens mount has to be perched on a 4mm box to do it.

3. Make a magnesium version priced in the neighborhood of $2000 US. Lighter for folks who want that and cheaper for the folks who want that.

Then plan for incremental improvements in camera responsiveness, high ISO performance, digital rangefinder components, live-view, and movie mode in that order.

Strive to regain what was lost from the past while building toward the future.

 

[David Murphy]

What I would like to see - and maybe even buy - are more re-issues of vintage product along the lines of the Leica O or Nikon's reissue of the S3, SP. Re-issues of classic lenses, particularly in LTM would make me a buyer. Imagine a LTM Noctilux (wasn't there one a long time ago?).

 

[splitimageview]

The problem is that the vast majority of the folks who responded to your poll don't buy new Leica equipment.

That's what the CEO should be rectifying.

The fact is, the vast majority of photographers do not buy Leica.

To fix this, they should do what they do best, and that's optics.

Leave the digital sensor business treadmill to the companies that have sufficient volumes to properly manage it.

Supply glass for these other mounts.

Canikon sells more cameras in a month than Leica does in years.

There is a huge installed base of cameras for which Leica can supply glass, far greater than the installed base that Leica will ever achieve on their own.

This is the way to maximize profits, which is what a CEO is supposed to be doing for the shareholders.

 

[Livesteamer]

If they were to do classic reissues, how about a IIIc with an M mount. I saw a photo of a prototype once. Or a IIIc with a finder for 35mm instead of 50mm. Seriously though, Make the M9 reliable and I might find a way to buy one. Joe

 

[CK Dexter Haven]

I like your idea of remaking new versions of the 28 Elmarit-R second version and the 50 Lux-R "E60" for use on other makers DSLR's. I would even say this is a good idea if if they were manual focus lenses, but had a working auto diaphram on the other makers DSLR's.

As far as auto focus goes, is this where you are skeptical about the performance? Optically the 28 Elmarit second version and 50 "E60" are kinda great and some may say unsurpassed.

Cal

I had the 28 Elmarit (late edition) for a brief period but never the 50 E60. I compared the 28 Elmarit to a Contax 28 Distagon and Nikkor AIS(?), and the Leica-R was equal to if not a hair better than the Contax which was maybe the same measure better than the Nikkor. But, for all (my) practical purposes, the Leica and Contax were equal. I recall the 50 E60 was supposed to be better than the Canon 50/1.4 AF i had, and better than the RSummicron 50, but i think the current AF 50s (Sigma, 50L) available for the Canon mount are also better than those last two lenses, so i'm assuming they would match or better the 50 E60. Just a guess, though, and even if they don't, they're plenty good enough for me. I'm happy-ish with the old Canon 50/1.4AF.

I'm done splitting hairs after my decade-ish long Leica M and R experiences. After spending thousands of dollars on those two systems, on multiple periods of owning them, i now find myself happier with a Nikon 50/1.8 Series E (for film). And, when i get back into digital with a Canon 5D-something or Nikon d810 or sony A-something, all of the currently available lenses are more than sharp enough. I would absolutely not feel the need to spend Leica prices for lenses. With digital, everything's already too sharp.

 

[aizan]

1. hire me and put me in charge. =)
2. make a t-series body with a rangefinder style evf and knobs and dials.
3. medium format mirrorless.
4. make 3rd party lenses for canon, nikon, fuji, and sony. they're sort of doing it for 4/3, but they need to go further.
5. make a panoramic camera system.
6. put rangefinder style evfs in the x-series cameras.

 

[Kwesi]

It is not about that poll at all. Stephen gave me an extensive list of excellent questions for the CEO. The CEO emailed me that he would chat with me after April 1, which is now.

Glad to hear that.
looking forward to your debriefing.

 

[David Murphy]

If they were to do classic reissues, how about a IIIc with an M mount. I saw a photo of a prototype once. Or a IIIc with a finder for 35mm instead of 50mm. Seriously though, Make the M9 reliable and I might find a way to buy one. Joe

Nice ideas. This was the sort of innovative approach of Voigtlander - merge the old with new, stay reasonably priced, and appeal to both the user and collector. No other company has such a legacy of collectible cameras and lenses as does Leica, most of which are stellar performers then and now, and many of which command almost unbelievable prices today. That fact spells demand in my view. I think Leica can succeed as a niche company, and not try to compete with Canon, Nikon, etc. One problem is that many corporate leaders think in grand expansive ways, not in terms of doing what they do best, even it if means remaining fairly small.

Leica is the Bentley of cameras and they can never be a Toyota - that will doom their brand and probably their company. I do not think they should embrace advanced camera body technology, but essentially move in the other direction. As some have suggested a possible path for them would be to make fine lenses and optics for a wider market, and simultaneously focus on classic reissues of cameras (and some classic lens reissues) for their own niche collector/fan market. Another reason not to focus on modern camera bodies is that they are being replaced by things like cell phones and iPads in the mass market. Market trends indicate that the digital camera itself, as an entity separate from portable computing device/phones, is on the decline and perhaps headed for extinction.