What difference will Steven Lee's Departure make?

[CameraQuest]

The details of Steven Lee's departure may be interesting gossip,
but the real story is Leica's future.

What difference will Steven Lee's departure make?

The good, the bad?

We can make guesses, but as the answers play out, it will write real interesting Leica history.

Stephen

 

[veraikon]

and some dealers in Germany

Leica bei Meister Newsletter:


Liebe Leica Freunde,
STEVEN K. LEE IST WEG !
Mit sofortiger Wirkung hat der Aufsichtsrat der Leica Camera AG den Vorstandsvorsitzenden Steven K. Lee abberufen.
Über diese Entlassung können wir uns auf jeden Fall freuen.
Steven Lee vertrat eine Visison eines Geschäftsmodelles, welches die traditionell guten Beziehungen zu Händlern, Zulieferern und -als wichtigsten Teil- Ihnen als Leica-Kunden empfindlich gestört hätte.
Widerstand gegen Lee entwickelte sich auf allen Ebenen. Innerbetrieblich entstand ein massiver Widerstand auch deshalb, weil Lee neben seinen fachlichen Entscheidungen auch menschlich in Fragen der Personalführung nicht anerkannt war.
Ein gut verstricktes Händler-Netzwerk setzte die verschiedenen Informationen zusammen und teilte dem Aufsichtsrat die Aussenbetrachtung von Lee`s Strategie mit.
Wie auch immer - es liegen wieder harte Zeiten vor Leica, da Lee die Entwicklung von neuen Produkten, speziell den kleinen digitalen "Panasonic-Leicas" vernachlässigt hat.
Leica hat auf der anderen Seite einen hervorragenden Mitarbeiterstamm, der jetzt wieder hochmotiviert das umsetzt, was in diesen Köpfen schon lange in der Planung ist: Die komplette Palette an digitalen Produkten - von digitalen Kompakt-Leicas über die M9 bis zur R10 und vieles mehr...



Hoffen wir, daß die Leica Camera von weiteren Schicksalsschlägen nunmehr verschont bleibt. Schließlich leidet Leica seit nunmehr 40 Jahren unter den verschiedensten Rückschlägen. Und mit Dr. Andreas Kaufmann als Inhaber und neuem Vostandsvorsitzendem (bis vorerst 28.02.2009) besteht erstmals seit Jahrzehnten wieder das Rückgrat, welches die Firma braucht, um wachsen zu können. Freuen wir uns also auf den zu errichtenden "Leitz-Park" in Wetzlar.


Ihnen, liebe Leica Freunde, gebührt der Dank, dass Sie Leica auch in schwierigen Zeiten die Treue gehalten haben. Ich bin mir sicher, dass die Leica Camera Ihnen zukünftig so richtig Freude machen wird und als Dank mit vielen neuen Produkten überzeugt. Lassen Sie sich auf der Photokina 2008 überraschen !


Für diejenigen, welche heute schon mit einer digitalen Kompakt-Leica liebäugeln - oder Leica durch einen "Unterstützungskauf" helfen mögen - bieten wir ab sofort die Leica C-Lux 2 inkl. der Leica-roten Ledertasche zum Sonderpreis von 499.- Euro an. Sie sparen also 49.- Euro oder oder ca 10% gegenüber dem Listenpreis.


Ich bedanke mich bei allen Beteiligten für die gezeigte Zivilcourage, allen voran den Leica-Mitarbeitern, welche Ihren Job aufs Spiel gesetzt haben.
Ihr Martin Meister

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica...-steven-k-lee-heute-entthront.html#post491070

 

[RF-Addict]

For those of you who don't speak german - let me give you the reader's digest version:

It confirms that Lee is out. Reason given is that he was in the process of damaging the relationship between the Leica dealers, manufacturers and clients that Leica has built over the years. Leica personnel did not like him at all and are enthusiastic that he is gone now.

He talks about a new opportunity to develop the entire digital product offerings from he M9 to the R10 and beyond. He emphasizes the need to continue the joint development with Panasonic for digital cameras.

He is hopeful that Leica will be spared any additional back-lashes.

The rest is bla, bla, bla

Hope this helps

 

[kevin m]

I realize there is little trust on the RFF simply because there are so many "experts."

Fred, all you can do is state your background and hope for the best. This is the internet, not a classroom. 😀

 

[M. Valdemar]

There's a VAST untapped market for Leica M digital cameras. Leica is clueless on how to reach them. They need "cool" serious cameras that people aspire to, a rung above Canon mass market "Rebels".

The public at large sort of knows the name but knows little to nothing about them.

Students, young people, enthusiastic amateurs would all buy a "tool" Leica digital M and lenses if:

1) The prices didn't border on insanity.

2) The camera was reliable and functional.

3) The camera and lenses looked good, was built substantially, and was accessible.

I'm in the marketing business. The marketing of Leica is asinine. Young people would LOVE the cachet of owning a Leica and using it as a digital tool. The history of Leica could be used to great effect as a status symbol, its still a valuable brand image.

Build a full-frame, tough, metal and leather digital M in China if they have to, sell it with a lens for under $2000, and MARKET it with a really good ad campaign, and they would fly out the door.

Right now, the camera is virtually unknown in the vast youth demographic, and the fan base consists of aging middle aged mental cases with midlife crises and fetishistic tendencies.

Make Leicas what they were in the 1930's.....astonishingly cool gadgets that are adopted by the avant-garde to create art.

The public is dying for them.

Nikon could pull it off. I even think you could make one that has AF by a movable "film plane" ala the late Contax SLR's.

 

[xayraa33]

There's a VAST untapped market for Leica M digital cameras. Leica is clueless on how to reach them. They need "cool" serious cameras that people aspire to, a rung above Canon mass market "Rebels".

The public at large sort of knows the name but knows little to nothing about them.

Students, young people, enthusiastic amateurs would all buy a "tool" Leica digital M and lenses if:

1) The prices didn't border on insanity.

2) The camera was reliable and functional.

3) The camera and lenses looked good, was built substantially, and was accessible.

I'm in the marketing business. The marketing of Leica is asinine. Young people would LOVE the cachet of owning a Leica and using it as a digital tool. The history of Leica could be used to great effect as a status symbol, its still a valuable brand image.

Build a full-frame, tough, metal and leather digital M in China if they have to, sell it with a lens for under $2000, and MARKET it with a really good ad campaign, and they would fly out the door.

Right now, the camera is virtually unknown in the vast youth demographic, and the fan base consists of aging middle aged mental cases with midlife crises and fetishistic tendencies.

Make Leicas what they were in the 1930's.....astonishingly cool gadgets that are adopted by the avant-garde to create art.

The public is dying for them.

Nikon could pull it off. I even think you could make one that has AF by a movable "film plane" ala the late Contax SLR's.

I have to say that you have hit the nail on the head with what you said.
I wonder why Leica cannot see all this?

 

[kevin m]

There's a VAST untapped market for Leica M digital cameras. Leica is clueless on how to reach them.

Amen. Many pros are DYING to use something smaller than a DSLR. Every time there's a thread on the DWF about the M8, it's clear they'd love to use it, or something like it. But the cameras quirks and faults are a deal-breaker for most. Single card slot, removeable bottom plate (???!!) banding, magenta, etc., etc.. Nobody but the Leica faithful is willing to put up with that stuff.

The biggest money-maker for them, IMO, would be a functional, "retro-styled" manual control,small sensor digicam. Something like the Ricoh GR-D but with analog readouts for the dial functions and, perhaps, an aperture ring on the lens. Price it under a grand and they'd sell.

An old Indian saying comes to mind regarding the company as it faces an uncertain future: "Jump! It's not as far as you think."

 

[dcsang]

Can someone give me the Coles / Cliff notes version on what or who this Steven K Lee guy was before he showed up at Leica?

I may own Leica gear but I don't follow the Days Of Leica soap opera so can someone bring me up to speed in 100 words or less? 😀

Dave

 

[xayraa33]

Mr. Lee came from Best Buy, if I am not mistaken Dave.
He did start out at IBM.

 

[RF-Addict]

Al, go for the G9 - you will always regret that you didn't otherwise. I have owned a G7 for over a year and switched to the G9 just recently and the difference is quite remarkable. For one, the G9 offers RAW, which the G7 doesn't. Once you have tried RAW you do not want to go back to JPEG only. The noise characteristics at higher ISOs has alos improved with the G9 - yes, it is not a 5D or D3, but pictures taken at ISO1600 after some quick NoiseNinja clean-up are absolutely usable - not so with the G7. For the minor price difference between the two cameras, the G9 is by far the better deal.

 

[LeicaTom]

Make Leicas what they were in the 1930's.....astonishingly cool gadgets that are adopted by the avant-garde to create art.

As an artist I agree 200%

I really HOPE that this Mr Lee is REALLY gone, because it`s because of HIM that Leo B`s and My Leica book cannot be finished due to him being responsible for the closure of the Leica Archives to the public

And I hope also that those rumors of Leica moving BACK to Wetzlar are also TRUE , it`s good enough reason to bring back the old engravings - or even a more fantastic wish to see another Leitz Company USA, but that will maybe never happen again, but building the cameras here would really bring the LABOR costs down

Tom

 

[kevin m]

Once Leica does anything but a digital that looks, feels, smells and quacks like an M3-M6, it's just another digital camera in a world full of digital cameras and they won't be able to sell them.....

(italics mine)

....to the Leica faithful, maybe. But that's a small boat that appears to be taking on water.

It's a big world out there. If Leica builds it, they will come.

 

[veraikon]

rumors of Leica moving BACK to Wetzlar are also TRUE ,

it is no rumor it is real. They are building the Leica Park at Wetzlar . Foundation was last November.

 

[Dan States]

Al, go for the G9 - you will always regret that you didn't otherwise. I have owned a G7 for over a year and switched to the G9 just recently and the difference is quite remarkable. For one, the G9 offers RAW, which the G7 doesn't. Once you have tried RAW you do not want to go back to JPEG only. The noise characteristics at higher ISOs has alos improved with the G9 - yes, it is not a 5D or D3, but pictures taken at ISO1600 after some quick NoiseNinja clean-up are absolutely usable - not so with the G7. For the minor price difference between the two cameras, the G9 is by far the better deal.

Couldn't agree more. The G9 blows the 7 out of the water in image quality because of RAW. Used with Capture 1V4 the files look outstanding.

Dan

 

[ZebGoesZeiss]

I just want them to stop fiddling around with the rich and famous, peddling fashion accesories to Paris Hilton's serious step twin - and build the friggin' cameras! No upgrade/update/service/lifestyle/eternity BS, just - cameras. Build it in Germany, build it in Taiwan, build it in China - I don't care. But take the knowledge, the spirit of Barnack, the tradition - and build the cameras!

Oh, and please, for the love of God, DO something about that website. My M8 makes me feel pretentious enough as it is, without having ze German modelz in ze Italian zuits adding weight to this burden.

 

[Didier]

I think Steven Lee's dismission is not a good news for Leica shooters, as he stood for a forward strategy; accelerating Leica's legendary and somehow morbid slowness. I can believe some people there didn't feel well about him and his style, but he did what the company really needed - he pushed it forward.

Now it looks like rather backward oriented forces (under strong support of local dealers) seem to get the upper hand in Solms, again.

Didier

 

[kevin m]

Now it looks like rather backward oriented forces (under strong support of local dealers) seem to get the upper hand in Solms, again.

[sarcasm] Great! The photographic world has been waiting for a digital camera with an Ostrich-skin cover! [/sarcasm]


😀 🙄 😀 :bang:

 

[paragon]

Just got an email:

Steven K. Lee Dismissed as Chairman

The Supervisory Board of Leica Camera AG today removed Steven K. Lee as Chairman of the Board of Management of Leica Camera AG with immediate effect.
At the same time the Supervisory Board appointed Dr. Andreas Kaufmann Chairman of the Board of Management for the period until February 28, 2009.
What does that mean for us Leica customers and future developments?


The email was from L Camera Newsletter - presumably the Leica Forum

It does not leave anything to the imagination - most un-germanic, to state a Board change using the words Dismissed and removed
The Germans were never subtle but such an annoucement cannot do their corporate image much good



Just my opinion I am not aware of the history to the decision

 

[Harry Lime]

Amen. Many pros are DYING to use something smaller than a DSLR. Every time there's a thread on the DWF about the M8, it's clear they'd love to use it, or something like it. But the cameras quirks and faults are a deal-breaker for most. Single card slot, removeable bottom plate (???!!) banding, magenta, etc., etc.. Nobody but the Leica faithful is willing to put up with that stuff. "[/i]

Believe it or not the very poor accuracy of the frame lines is the biggest turn off for any pro I have spoken to. I know people who actually bought the camera and sold it again for this very reason. They all wanted to like it, but the framing problems were a deal breaker.

 

[bobkonos]

Hmm...I used my MP today, then loaded my M2 and will use that later today. They work beautifully, and are a joy to use.

Now if you tell me DAG has retired, well, that would be big news. But Steven Lee? Steven who???