The Leica Predicament — 2014 Outlook and Beyond

[Rangefinderfreak]

All this speculation is based on the situation NOW ... It will change when the new factory will open in Wetzlar. I guess the output will be at least double or more. The cost of producing the M and S will be lower... the profit more. Fuji and Sony are "mass market" cameras, leica is a special brand like Hermes, some of the fashion houses, sold in very tightly selected outlets ( Their own shops) I think Mr Kaufmann is capable of figuring this out. I think all this "scoop" of "Insider knowledge" is just plain jealous babble.

 

[Addy101]

I read this rumour before: "As reported, Leica’s mirrorless system camera will be a variation of the Leica X Vario. The Leica system camera with APS-C CMOS sensor will in essence be a Panasonic with primary Leica elements." but that is strange as Panasonic makes m4/3's cameras, not APS-C. Also, APS-C means it will be yet another mount... I'm sure they are working on something, but if they decide to make a new mount, I think they're in a dead end street.

The downfall of Leica has often been foretold. They seem to be in a niche and are riding that niche very well. Buying Sinar means they're expanding their niche - good for them!

 

[Roger Hicks]

. . . The downfall of Leica has often been foretold. They seem to be in a niche and are riding that niche very well. Buying Sinar means they're expanding their niche - good for them!

In fact it nearly happened a couple of photokinas back.

As I said in another post, it always amuses me that just about EVERYONE on RFF knows how to run Leica, better than the owners. Not just everyone here, either, as witness the drivel quoted in the original post.

Cheers,

R.

 

[lenticularis]

...The M240 sensors are actually manufactured by ST Microelectronics, Europe's largest semiconductor firm by revenue, that is 27% owned by the French and Italian governments. The state-of-the-art Grenoble plant that makes the sensors specializes in cameraphone sensors (they had to use stitching techniques to make the full-frame sensor for the M240). In other words, the supply of sensors is in no danger.

Thanks for that insightful detail re sensor production.

Where are M9 (M-E now) sensors produced currently, since I have been waiting many months for supply of a replacement to Australia?

 

[Sparrow]

I am not sure what to make of this - any thoughts or insights would be greatly appreciated...

Link: http://www.the.me/the-leica-predicament-2014-outlook-and-beyond/

... to know that about their strategic position the author would need to be on Leica's board, and therefor putting his job at risk by writing it ... or his job is actually making the whole thing up in the first place?

 

[Addy101]

In fact it nearly happened a couple of photokinas back.

Funny, according to La Vida Leica "At Photokina 2006, Leica had announced that it had purchased a 51% controlling share, only to have the deal fall through three months later. Seven years later now, Leica has finally succeeded."

It is inconsequential, because you're right, we don't know what happens in the boardroom in Solms!

Edit: I just realized that by "nearly" you meant "almost happened" - while I read it in the wrong spot: "happened nearly a couple". Language and grammar: moving a word and the meaning changes.... it is wonderful!

 

[Roger Hicks]

Funny, according to La Vida Leica "At Photokina 2006, Leica had announced that it had purchased a 51% controlling share, only to have the deal fall through three months later. Seven years later now, Leica has finally succeeded."

It is inconsequential, because you're right, we don't know what happens in the boardroom in Solms!

In fact,some of the Leica people were wearing Sinar pins in their lapels -- and then took them out... All right, three photokinas back, 'cos time goes faster as you get older!

Until the private equity people got on board, the "board" was pretty much Dr. Kaufmann, and my understanding is that he retains a controlling interest to this day. I like him and I think he's doing a great job for Leica - and one would need to get up VERY early in the morning to get the better of him. I'd not care to be on the other side of an argument.

Edit: point about language and grammar fully taken: I was in my turn slightly surprised at how you phrased your reply, but it still wasn't actually inconsistent with what I expected to read: just not quite the same.

Cheers,

R.

 

[raid]

All this talk or rumours about Leica and its future are less interesting to me than seeing evidence of great customer service ... etc. If Leica actually goes downhill, then it would sadden me to see a great company become less great.

Most importantly now is to have quick access to repair at manageable costs. I am happy if the M8 and M9 were the last two Leica cameras made. Why want anything else or more?

 

[noimmunity]

I said it when the Sony A7 came out and I'll say it again here: the M9/M-E/MM are becoming more and more desirable, even as they become more and more obsolete. The last of a line.

 

[Rangefinderfreak]

Dr. Kaufmann, and my understanding is that he retains a controlling interest to this day. I like him and I think he's doing a great job for Leica - and one would need to get up VERY early in the morning to get the better of him. I'd not care to be on the other side of an argument.

R.

Dr. A Kaufmann is a FB pal of mine and he recently wrote: "If I could decide, I would only produce analog M leicas, but I am afraid that our family would fire me in a year"... he certainly has a sense of humor, as well as some business know how.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/40146285@N08/11288290494/in/pool-l_s_f

 

[raid]

If you think of a camera as a computer, then the digital M cameras are getting behind, but if you view what you have as an exquisite tool, then such tools may be what you want to continue using until there are no spare parts left.

 

[Bill Clark]

I believe Leica will do just fine. The business model they have set up works for them. I would be concerned about the others though. Lots of factories aren't humming along like they once were. Why? Smart phones, tablet computing, internet web sites for viewing, social media sites, face time have changed how the human races makes, views and talks about photos. We are still social creatures, so photography will always be somewhere for us to enjoy.

 

[Rangefinderfreak]

I said it when the Sony A7 came out and I'll say it again here: the M9/M-E/MM are becoming more and more desirable, even as they become more and more obsolete. The last of a line.

Are you serious ? I don`t think any leica M is obsolete, even M3 is very much present, you can get it serviced, MM and M 240 will be around a long time , but "progress" don`t stop here. Rangefinder M will be more like a miniature movie camera, once Leica gets it`s act together with sensor manufacturer. That feature will really be the turning point in using it`s great lenses. The extra bottom/grip can house extra battery and a huge memory to recodr live, once the sensor part will handle it. And besides, those guys can afford what leica produces in this category, just as advertising and studio guys can afford what Leica will do with its S series...

 

[Benjamin Marks]

My own impression is that Leica has faced the same basic problem for a decade now: order-of-magnitude shortening business cycles for the imaging industry. A prime justification for purchasing a mechanical Leica was always that they were high-quality, robust machines, designed to be repaired over the years. They might have cost three times as much as a Nikon, but they would last three times as long. Model life for the most popular designs was measured on the order of one or more decades (e.g. M3, M6). But that durability is oddly a liability rather than an asset in today's marketplace. To state the obvious: now that the sensor-lens interaction (a much more complicated one optically than film-lens) is at the heart of the thing, you have to have an up-to-date chip in your machine to be competitive. The life-cycle of camera models is now measured in months rather than decades. A small company like Leica, even with a talented CEO, has to move at a sprint over this rapidly changing terrain without making a single misstep. Can you imagine the effect of an M5-style debacle on Leica today? Yikes. Grease spot in the tome of photographic history.

Ben

 

[Godfrey]

...
As I said in another post, it always amuses me that just about EVERYONE on RFF knows how to run Leica, better than the owners. Not just everyone here, either, as witness the drivel quoted in the original post.

My gosh, we're in harmony Roger!

G

 

[Benjamin Marks]

As I said in another post, it always amuses me that just about EVERYONE on RFF knows how to run Leica, better than the owners.
R.

But Roger, my armchair is soooo comfy. I have a cat nestled between my ankles, and a pot of tea at my elbow. Now lemme tell ya how to fix world hunger . . . . (tongue firmly in cheek /what's the smiley for that?)

 

[noisycheese]

wow…chinese leicas?

Perish the thought!! 😱

 

[awslee]

Couldn't care less about what Blackstone thinks, these PE are know to destroy companies for their short term needs

 

[pgk]

Leica's predicament is to ensure that less people believe the doom laden ramblings of pundits who are probably in less of a position to predict the future than us - the camera/lens purchasers..........

 

[dshfoto]

As the proud owner of a Leica Digital-Module-R, and lots of Leica glass, I became disenchanted with (and distrustful of) Leica when the dropped the R system, and stopped supplying parts. In my most recent conversation with their reps, I learned that it is almost impossible to get a new battery for the DMR. I just got my 10 year plus Imacon scanner serviced by Hasselblad.
If Leica wanted to differentiate themselves from the herd they could go the Apple route, and control the entire image chain for their product line. Unless they do that, they will just become another commodity vendor. And that game they cannot win.
More emphasis on service, maintaining the highest standards in all phases of the imaging chain, including film, developer, scanning and printing, etc. might differentiate their product. In the future they will need more that a Red Dot.