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

[Roger Hicks]

Stop wasting time listening to people on the internet, who make a lot of noise but seldom buy new Leicas and rarely have any idea about the difficulties of camera design (e.g. full-frame IIIcs).

Focus on things like portfolio reviews at Arles. Most wannabees will never get there; nor will most other Leica reviews; but many will fantasize about it.

More Leica publications: books of top-flight Leica pics like they used to do in the 30s.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Calzone]

^^Cal, your level of enthusiasm is what they had better develop over in the QC dept.

I have not had any issues with quality control, and have owned my Monochrome for over two years. So far no sign of corosion. Never had to send a camera back to Leica, but know that I have sent many-many used Leica cameras to Sherry for service, upgrades, and mods.

The R8 that I now own I believe should be a trouble free camera, even though some early ones were plagued with problems. Funny how say a camera like a M3 can get legendary status, and a SL or SL2 can get slammed for having VF'er issues.

Like Leica I embrace original thinking and recently bought both a R8 and a SL2-MOT for no money due to the disfavor of others. I'm also very happy how Leica intends on honoring a repair on the recognized corosion problem.

Cal

 

[CK Dexter Haven]

•*Produce a full-featured M at <$4500. With a current-spec sensor. Buy them from Sony if necessary, and infuse the "Leica glow" with fairy dust in the covert bunker.
• If they must continue with the 'tribute' special edition BS, pay tribute to actual photographers who built the historical heritage, or contemporary photographers who are actually doing real work. Get those models photographed around the necks of celebs, and use that PR/those images to market to the celeb-worshipping crowd.
• Produce lenses at competitive price points. No reason why a 50mm should cost three grand.
• Make AF SLR lenses for Canon and Nikon? Start with the glass they've already engineered — the 28 Elmarit and 50mm E50 Summilux.... There might be a market for this, but i'm actually skeptical these lenses would match the performance of even the recent Sigma Art line....
• Reduce the price of the S2>S3. When there's a Canon 5D-something at 50MP, the older S2 with only a slightly larger sensor is going to look like a bit of a waste of money. If it doesn't already.
• Customer Service. Actually HAVE some.
• Stop creating marketing imagery featuring White Gloves. You're essentially saying, "this isn't even a camera anymore. We're above that." You're not. Get over yourselves before your client base dies (literally).
• Create traveling exhibitions of vintage photography. Display them in high-end shopping centers. Build the brand through the legacy.
• [Eventually] Make an eye-controlled (EOS3-like) AF camera in the same form factor as the M.

 

[jarski]

New CEO looks like not having experience with camera industry, rather a manager from Microsoft Germany. Link

Am somewhat doubtful there is any kind of big visionary directing Leicas future now.

 

[MikeL]

Leica makes nice lenses. Maybe do one thing well and make them for other mounts.

 

[f16sunshine]

Stop wasting time listening to people on the internet, who make a lot of noise but seldom buy new Leicas and rarely have any idea about the difficulties of camera design (e.g. full-frame IIIcs). Focus on things like portfolio reviews at Arles. Most wannabees will never get there; nor will most other Leica reviews; but many will fantasize about it. More Leica publications: books of top-flight Leica pics like they used to do in the 30s. Cheers, R.

Do you really think Leica brass spends any time at all listening to people in the Internet ?

 

[Calzone]

Make AF SLR lenses for Canon and Nikon? Start with the glass they've already engineered — the 28 Elmarit and 50mm E50 Summilux.... There might be a market for this, but i'm actually skeptical these lenses would match the performance of even the recent Sigma Art line....

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

 

[Calzone]

Do you really think Leica brass spends any time at all listening to people in the Internet ?

Andy,

I think they do. I've talked with Leica representitives at PhotoPlusExpo's.

I also think that Leica got the idea for the M60 right here on RFF from one of my friends. He was even contacted by someone from Leica's R&D.

Perhaps Leica top brass may not be concerned so much with the chatter, but know that someone in Leica is lurking at our posts.

The world is not that big. You'd be surprised.

Cal

 

[Mackinaw]

Do you really think Leica brass spends any time at all listening to people in the Internet ?

Leica management regularly looks at the Leica forum. Stefan Daniel will comment on an issue too, on occasion.

Jim B.

 

[Calzone]

Leica makes nice lenses. Maybe do one thing well and make them for other mounts.

I second the idea. Even manual focus works for me.

Cal

 

[NeeZee]

If I were Leica CEO I'd have my IIIf serviced for free.

 

[f16sunshine]

Well how about that!
So they get their bad ideas from us.... Where should they look for good ideas ? 😉

Just kidding 😱

 

[Timmyjoe]

Pros don't care about red dots, sapphire glass, and, celebrity endorsements that inflate the cost of doing business.

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

 

[agman]

Leica should read this very thread!

 

[raid]

Hm. He could start out by emailing me, to engage RFF members in their views and wishes for Leica products.

 

[Kwesi]

Hm. He could start out by emailing me, to engage RFF members in their views and wishes for Leica products.

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

 

[kshapero]

I'd make sure Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, JayZ, Kanye, Beyonce and Pharrel Williams and Sean P. Diddy Combs had really nice M-240s or Monochromes hanging from their shoulders at all times.

I would make sure they don't.:bang:😀

 

[Kwesi]

Do you really think Leica brass spends any time at all listening to people in the Internet ?

They actually do - those who have demonstrated an ability to buy new equipment.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Do you really think Leica brass spends any time at all listening to people in the Internet ?

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.

 

[raid]

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

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.