Ronald_H
Don't call me Ron
Just a Friday afternoon rant...
Once upon a long ago, Leica was the most expensive, because they made the best gear. Fair enough.
But the last few decennia, Leica became a 'niche company'. Rebadged Japanese digital compacts, a manual focus SLR line and of course the venerable M system for those longing for old times and 'made in Germany' quality. And for the last 10 years, if you just wanted a good rangefinder, you could buy Voigtlaender. No Leica magic, but to all intents and purpose perfectly adequate. But still Leica survived. For some reason the brand name still was strong enough to sell their very expensive stuff. In other words, they were still the most expensive, but by no means market leaders.
Now the times (and tides?) are changing. Leica introduces the S2 system. Big sensored body to compete with MF gear, auto focus, modern features, great lenses.
They introduce the X1. APS-C sensored compact. It remains to be seen how good it is, but it looks like a well thought out winner to me.
And of course the impossible, finally a FF M-mount rangefinder, the M9.
It seems from these products that Leica once more is a force to be reckoned with. They cannot take on Nikon and Canon at their own game, but they found new segments and introduced some very nice products.
BUT... they are still hideously expensive. But they will probably sell quite a few S2's, X1's and M9's, and of course lenses as well. Might it just be possible they can sell so many, that prices will drop? So they can sell even more, and make yet more money? or will they stick to their elitist pricing?
Once upon a long ago, Leica was the most expensive, because they made the best gear. Fair enough.
But the last few decennia, Leica became a 'niche company'. Rebadged Japanese digital compacts, a manual focus SLR line and of course the venerable M system for those longing for old times and 'made in Germany' quality. And for the last 10 years, if you just wanted a good rangefinder, you could buy Voigtlaender. No Leica magic, but to all intents and purpose perfectly adequate. But still Leica survived. For some reason the brand name still was strong enough to sell their very expensive stuff. In other words, they were still the most expensive, but by no means market leaders.
Now the times (and tides?) are changing. Leica introduces the S2 system. Big sensored body to compete with MF gear, auto focus, modern features, great lenses.
They introduce the X1. APS-C sensored compact. It remains to be seen how good it is, but it looks like a well thought out winner to me.
And of course the impossible, finally a FF M-mount rangefinder, the M9.
It seems from these products that Leica once more is a force to be reckoned with. They cannot take on Nikon and Canon at their own game, but they found new segments and introduced some very nice products.
BUT... they are still hideously expensive. But they will probably sell quite a few S2's, X1's and M9's, and of course lenses as well. Might it just be possible they can sell so many, that prices will drop? So they can sell even more, and make yet more money? or will they stick to their elitist pricing?
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