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

[airfrogusmc]

That's true... but you do have Sigma. They said they do not make $ on the cameras they make but believed it was important to make cameras (as opposed to just lenses). That said, some mainstream cameras are really great and some are innovative while trying to sell to the masses.

I don't own Sigma. I'm sure they are great for some. I have never cared for their glass and auto everything is surely not my cup of tea. I know you can turn it off but I don't have to with my MM.

 

[Out to Lunch]

Whatever. A new CEO is expected to increase profitability. It's up to the Board of Directors how much time he has to do so.

 

[jsrockit]

I don't own Sigma. I'm sure they are great for some. I have never cared for their glass and auto everything is surely not my cup of tea. I know you can turn it off but I don't have to with my MM.

Well, it's great for you (and Cal) that it made the MM. I've also been opposed to auto everything etc using Leicas for many years. However, now that I've opened my mind to other tools, I've realized that there are better fits for me than a MF rangefinder. I understand both sides of the argument though and will defend Leica users always. I get it.

 

[David Murphy]

Make a digital back to convert any film M body into a digital camera. Make the conversion reversible so you can switch back to film just by clipping on the film back again.

Bundle this with the new MA for $6K. (Hint' get someone else to make this back for you)

To accomplish this give up a little bit of format size. The sensor could be 20X30mm.

If you sell the digital back by itself set the price at $1500

I think this is an excellent idea as it very much caters to multiple segments of their fan base and is a fairly novel idea (although there is some precedent for this from, I believe, Haselblad). I'd like to see it with a full frame sensor option as well. I wonder if this is technically feasible from the mechanical point-of-view though.

 

[Calzone]

The Monochrom is a novel camera and as the only dedicated B&W camera on the market, it is without peer, but then again this is a small niche market. I am very lucky that Leica built a camera that suits me well, and to take it a bit further it seems that Leica kinda built me my dream camera.

Leica glass has its own identity and rendering which is another novelty. I can say there is nothing like Leica glass, and it would be true. As suggested by others, Leica could easily invade other makers' turf and make lenses that accomodate the other makers' DSLRs. Never to be a 800 pound gorilla, but it could impose some loss of market share to competitors and make another premium niche market that furthers the Leica brand.

The Nikon DF is a cool camera in concept, but didn't go as far as many would have liked. The most frequent complaint is that the DF has a plastic feel, has too many buttons, and does not offer interchangeable screens. Basically Nikon did not make a camera that was retro enough for many, nor basic enough to be just a stripped down digital color camera with a great sensor, offer no frills and a solid retro vibe, with perhaps the only complexity being interchangeable screens. Pretty much the market research and the focus group work has been done for Leica to create yet another niche camera. How radical and out of the box would it be for Leica to make another SLR again other than the S2 and S. Definitely another niche camera, that would not have mass appeal but it would yet be another boutique camera. This time riffing off a Nikon DF.

If Leica makes glass for other makers' bodies then why not make their own small format SLR again, but digital. Kinda a crazy idea but I like it. In the boutique world something novel is always good.

BTW I still hope MM-240 rumor is true. Not for everyone again, but a very cool camera.

Cal

 

[SuperUJ]

I still hope MM-240 rumor is true. Not for everyone again, but a very cool camera.

+1 Patiently waiting here as well.

John

 

[Calzone]

+1 Patiently waiting here as well.

John

John,

You have good taste. LOL.

Cal