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

[sevres_babylone]

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

I agree with the partnership idea, although I would include Panasonic as an option. They should also make lenses available in other mounts. Keep the M-line going as well.

 

[Pioneer]

I would suspect personally that the CEO should immediately get together with the owners and other investors to identify their concerns. He should also get with his own management staff. Gathering together the major players among the distributors/sales staff would also help. It would a good idea to sit down with the company's major suppliers.

As for product specifics, I have no earthly idea though it would seem that the S and M model lines are doing well. In my own area of interest, the Edition 60, the Monochrom and the M-A were great ideas. I could not afford the first, particularly after having bought the last two.

I think the three products already mentioned were bold steps, but steps in the right direction. It is this type of thing that differentiates Leica in a good way, defining it as more than just another run-of-the-mill manufacturer of camera equipment.

BTW - I doubt seriously that Leica holds any ill will towards those who have bought used Leica equipment. I suspect a lot of those have stepped up from used to new at some point.

 

[:: Mark]

• 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).

You mean that the Lenny Kravitz white-glove video was not intended as self mocking parody of itself and its own customers?!

At the moment there is a vast vast gulf between Leica's marketing positioning and the reality of its M-series products and support. Fixing that would seem to be me to be the highest priority, assuming that the new CEO does not decide to exit that market entirely.

 

[thegman]

Depends what the goal is, if it's to make lots of money or to make good products, I think it's tricky to do both. It becomes next to impossible if you also want to pay fair wages.

Really though, if I was CEO of Leica, I'd use the position to enrich myself.

 

[uhoh7]

Wake up and smell the coffee.

Leica has never been better positioned to excel.

Why? Because a short register FF platform is the new wave.

The lens line has never been better. But the body is bloated and expensive---though not without rabid fans LOL.

Leica should make the "swiss army knife" of M bodies. A small tough light field M body, not larger than the CL priced at around 4k.

This would steal a march on Sony, currently lost in the Maze of silly sensor stack specs, and building bigger and bigger E bodies and lenses.

The M9 and even more the M240 are too large and too heavy. Next M camera should not be bigger than ur-leica. Such a thing would sell many copies.

 

[jsrockit]

After reading the thread, I think it may be a great thing that none of us are the new CEO! 😉

 

[Keith]

Free beer!

 

[Calzone]

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.

I for one am an exception. I bought my Monochrom new from Pop Flash one of our sponsors. In the past I also have bought brand new Leica lenses and filled out the Passport warrantee without ever needing service.

When Leica comes out with the rumored MM-240 there is a very high probability that I will buy one.

Cal

 

[Godfrey]

After reading the thread, I think it may be a great thing that none of us are the new CEO! 😉

+1

I have no desire to be CEO. Nor have I ever been a CEO that I would truly understand the decision making processes at that level of a large company. And Leica is a large company despite it being a drop in the bucket compared to the giants like Sony, Panasonic, Fuji, Canon, Olympus, Samsung, Ricoh, or Nikon.

Leica has been producing excellent cameras for longer than I've been alive. And I'm not young; I've been involved with Leica cameras for the past half-century. As far as I recall, they've never been at the bleeding edge of the photographic technological bubble. They have, however, always been solid, well-thought-out, well-made, thoroughly usable cameras with fine lenses.

The CEO works for the Board of Directors. My hope is that the new CEO and the Board of Directors both understand the values that Leica has represented in the past half-century and some, doesn't get obsessed with just money or the fallacy of "market dominance," and works together to capitalize on their past success to ensure future success.

What would I like to see them produce? That's a different question. Frankly, I'm pretty happy with what they're producing now—the M typ 240 is a superb performer; the X, X Vario, and X2 are all excellent cameras; the T line poses innovative thinking in control design and is another great performer; the S line is outstanding in most every way; the Micro-FourThirds lens line made together with Panasonic is outstanding; and the Panasonic-derivative compact camera models are all good performers. I'd like to see them continue to produce products like these, and continue to improve them as well.

The new CEO should make careful judgements on how to proceed with the reality of the collapsing camera market's new economics in mind. He should guide Leica to continue to produce outstanding products, and do so in a way that accommodates a shrinking market, escalating costs, and the losses in profitability these things imply. He shouldn't be overly influenced by the random noise of every enthusiast's individual pet notion of what they perceive or want Leica to be—he should be establishing what Leica IS in the greater context of the whole market, and than make that successful.

My hope is that, in doing that, Leica remains the company that it has been: a company whose products have thrilled and inspired me for the past half-century. More than that I could not ask for.

G

 

[Keith]

+1

I have no desire to be CEO. Nor have I ever been a CEO that I would truly understand the decision making processes at that level of a large company. And Leica is a large company despite it being a drop in the bucket compared to the giants like Sony, Panasonic, Fuji, Canon, Olympus, Samsung, Ricoh, or Nikon.

Leica has been producing excellent cameras for longer than I've been alive. And I'm not young; I've been involved with Leica cameras for the past half-century. As far as I recall, they've never been at the bleeding edge of the photographic technological bubble. They have, however, always been solid, well-thought-out, well-made, thoroughly usable cameras with fine lenses.

The CEO works for the Board of Directors. My hope is that the new CEO and the Board of Directors both understand the values that Leica has represented in the past half-century and some, doesn't get obsessed with just money or the fallacy of "market dominance," and works together to capitalize on their past success to ensure future success.

What would I like to see them produce? That's a different question. Frankly, I'm pretty happy with what they're producing now—the M typ 240 is a superb performer; the X, X Vario, and X2 are all excellent cameras; the T line poses innovative thinking in control design and is another great performer; the S line is outstanding in most every way; the Micro-FourThirds lens line made together with Panasonic is outstanding; and the Panasonic-derivative compact camera models are all good performers. I'd like to see them continue to produce products like these, and continue to improve them as well.

The new CEO should make careful judgements on how to proceed with the reality of the collapsing camera market's new economics in mind. He should guide Leica to continue to produce outstanding products, and do so in a way that accommodates a shrinking market, escalating costs, and the losses in profitability these things imply. He shouldn't be overly influenced by the random noise of every enthusiast's individual pet notion of what they perceive or want Leica to be—he should be establishing what Leica IS in the greater context of the whole market, and than make that successful.

My hope is that, in doing that, Leica remains the company that it has been: a company whose products have thrilled and inspired me for the past half-century. More than that I could not ask for.

G

Good post .... thoroughly agree with all points. 🙂

 

[Calzone]

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.

CK,

Thanks for your response and sharing your experience. I recently bought a 50 "E60" but I'm using it on a R8 and black SL2-MOT.

I have the need to go DSLR so your experience is very valuable to me. Selfishly I wish that I could seamlessly utilize Leica glass on say a Nikon D3X and not be handicaped by stop down metering. I guess what would be good for me is Leica glass that would be like a Swiss Army lens. BTW the "E60" is a great-great lens.

Understand that I own and shoot M-film, R-film, M-digital, Nikon SLR-film, medium formats, and soon Nikon D3X. Know that shooting color is kinda new to me.

Thanks again.

Cal

 

[Austerby]

Start making phones.
Become a design house for other objects - like Porsche have done: instead of producing a camera with input from Porsche, how about a car with input from Leica
Leica furniture
Leica table lamps
Leica Hi-Fi
Superyacht interior design
Optical glass for spectacles
Vintage Leica range - modern production of old products
Buy up as many second-hand Leicas as possible to restrict ability of new users to use old models

 

[Particular]

Leica need to double down on the path they are on. They have figured out how to be a niche player. They have brought more technical capabilities in house, so they can be more in control of their production, and have it be more profitable.
The big companies are now trying to cope with a shrinking mass market, so they are forced to rely on their own niche products. Canon/Nikon will still sell as many pro-slrs, but will have to do without the easy money from selling millions of compacts. They need to learn how to reorganize the company in order to survive in this new reality.
Leica are already there, so they should continue to own their space. It might get crowded.

 

[Particular]

Buy up as many second-hand Leicas as possible to restrict ability of new users to use old models

Actually, instead of complaining that 70% of all leicas sold are in the used market, they could buy and sell factory refurbs. Imagine being able to buy a factory fresh leica of any model or age. That would of course come at a suitable mark up price.

 

[Calzone]

Please create a Leica version of the Nikon DF. Make it compatable with MF "R" legacy glass, changable screens and as small as the Nikon DF.

I think the "S" is a great camera, but it is too big and too much of a camera for me. Think of creating a "S Mini" for an everyday carry. Make a compact FF DSLR. Make me a fast street shooter optimized for shooting a 28 and a 50. 100% VF'er would be nice. Styling of a SL2 or R6.2 would be great because I want a camera made of metal and not plastic. Changable metering from spot/matrix/average like my R8 would be optimal. Choice of CCD, CMOS or Monochrom FF sensors. Just keep it small as possible and elegantly simple.

Cal

 

[Ronald M]

I would replace every M9 with corroded sensor with then current model for free and send a letter of apology with return.

I would get rid of the red line problem or at least allow for customer correction.

Public apology for spending so much money on acquisitions like Sinar and new facilities.

I would be smart enough not to take on this albatross.

 

[Hsg]

If I were the new Leica CEO, I'd be smart enough to know that there is nothing I can do, it is the market who will make the decisions for me.

And the still photography market right now is in the grip of an existential crisis with no sign of stability as the sales keep falling on all fronts.

 

[kbg32]

Make reliable products that consumers don't have to shell out 6 or more months of mortgage payments and then get hopelessly disappointed in returning weeks old equipment due to sensor or shutter failure. If Samsung and other manufacturers can make a $100 camera that's reliable, why can't Leica make a $6K camera body that is even more so. Don't abandon the M8 or early M9 owners in terms of parts and service.

 

[Calzone]

Lizard skin gold plated Leicaphone 6 for $6000.00.

The ship has sailed, both for true affordable professional gear and for point and shoots for the masses.

Frank,

My girl pays for my cell phone, otherwise I would not pay for one. I own no car: I walk a lot and use mass transit. I rent and don't own a home. I eat nut butter sandwitches for lunch, but I tend to buy luxury goods that seem to last longer, be timeless, and never go out of style.

The money has to come from somewhere, but somehow Leica has become part of my lifestyle and adds to my general state of happiness. I do not consider myself rich, but I do think I have a rich life.

I know I own a lot of great pro level gear. How is that possible if it is not affordable as you say? I say there are many affordable cameras, that's why I bought them.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

Make reliable products that consumers don't have to shell out 6 or more months of mortgage payments and then get hopelessly disappointed in returning weeks old equipment due to sensor or shutter failure. If Samsung and other manufacturers can make a $100 camera that's reliable, why can't Leica make a $6K camera body that is even more so. Don't abandon the M8 or early M9 owners in terms of parts and service.

Keith,

I bought my Monochrom new for $8K, shot it so far for more than 2 years, and so far no problems. My Monochrom so far has been reliable, and any future issue with my sensor will be delt with when the problem arises.

Recently I bought a black R8 with motor winder for basically "no money." It is a great camera with just the right amount of advanced features, it has the solid feel that I love, but this camera is held in disfavor by many. LOL.

SL's and SL2's seem to get slammed for costly repairs and faulty VF'ers, yet M3's which also are known to have VF'er issues have legandary cult status. I have to laugh because when is any Leica cheap to repair. I know because I have had many overhauled, modified, and upgraded by Sherry. As far as reliability goes I expect no problems with my R8 because it is already 15 years old, and I assume that any problem was either dealt with or was never an issue. The same I expect from the SL2-MOT that I sent off to Sherry recently when it returns from an overhaul.

Almost like the threads on sensor cleaning and M-digitals being "dust magnets" I'm finding some of these comments about reliablity overblown.

Cal