What would you ask the Leica CEO?

[Damaso]

One of the reasons I love my job is that I often have the chance to meet interesting people. ON Thursday I will interview the CEO of Leica Camera, Steven K. Lee for a profile I am doing for Vaity Fair Germany.

So guys, here is your chance: if you were me, what would you ask him? What do you want to know; what are your concerns? You have 36 hours to get your questions in and I promise that I will ask him the good ones!

 

[CosmicCharlie]

With all Mom & Pop shops on the bubble or soon to be
I would ask him how the demise of the small leica dealers has effected sales.

 

[Damaso]

Good question Charlie!

 

[Tuolumne]

Cool. Here are my questions:

1) What are his top priorities for the company?
2) Where does he see the company in five years?
3) What keeps him up at night?
4) Is the company hiring staff? If so, what are the skills Leica most seeks?
5) What things does he most want to change at Leica?
6) What does he most want to keep the same at Leica?
7) When people say the name "Leica" what does he want to be the first thought that comes to mind?

/T

 

[CameraQuest]

I spent about a half an hour talking with Steven Lee last Sept, at the Leica factory in Solms. Oddly enough, he is an adapter customer of mine.

He is very bright and perceptive, as well as being a long time Leica enthusiast and collector. About the only thing we really disagreed on was the long term viability of the R line.

I think Leica is in good hands.

Stephen

 

[doitashimash1te]

What is Leica's policy towards film-based cameras? Will they continue producing (or even developing new) film-M's in the foreseeable future? Or will the current M7 / MP line be the last film-based M's and will the digital line take over?

 

[Damaso]

As I expected, some very good responses!

 

[Didier]

My questions to Mr. Lee:

- When can we expect the fullframe M9?
- Will the R/DMR line be kept or discontinued?
- Does Leica plan to design AF lenses for others than the 4/3 mount?
- Does Leica plan to produce or design manual focus lenses for other DSLR mounts (like R-lenses in EOS or Nikon F mount)?

Thanks,

Didier

I forgot: will you hopefully shoot him with your Bessa R/Color Skopar? 🙂

 

[Santafecino]

Damaso--
Where is Leica going? We see with the Summarit line of lenses that Leica is willing to offer mid-priced equipment for the advanced amateur. Good decision! How will Leica expand this offering? Years ago Leica offered the CL--a versatile well designed camera for the tourist or nonprofessional--not a "system" camera but a capable one. Some suspect that Leica discontinued the CL (& its lenses) because it was too good--it cut into M sales. Might Leica go again in this direction with film cameras?

Will Leica consider marketing M-mount camera bodies made--at least in part--outside Germany? What about lenses?

In what way, if any, does Leica believe that 35mm film photography is superior to digital processes?

Which direction will Leica digital products go--something more price-friendly for the amateur? A full-frame digital body for the professional? Both maybe?

Is autofocus incompatible with the quality standards for Leica equipment?

Just a few thoughts.
--Lindsay

 

[x-ray]

Are you and if so when are you going to get back to making cameras and lenses with the same build quality of the 50's and 60's? How are you planning to improve your QC?

 

[mtbbrian]

My question to you would be.
How can we read your article?
Good Luck!
Brian

 

[Damaso]

I will make sure to post a link when it is done but it won't be for a few weeks at the earliest! Oh yeah, and it will be in German!

 

[mtbbrian]

I will make sure to post a link when it is done but it won't be for a few weeks at the earliest! Oh yeah, and it will be in German!

OH Well!
I guess babblefish will help!
Thanks!
Brian

 

[photogdave]

Can you look at setting up a Canadian distributership independent from Leica USA so Canadian retailers will be able to carry stock without fear of actually losing money on inventory when the dollar drops?
(I suppose this could apply to other countries too!)
Thanks for this idea Damaso. Good luck with the interview!

 

[MartinP]

You could ask if the list of existing ingredients, below, might be baked in to the obvious result . . .

1) WATE, fixed-lens (modified for full frame, removes flange-to-film distance problem & can contain IR filter if required)
2) full-frame sensor (developed from the previous Kodak model, using current M8 features)
3) MP style rangefinder/viewfinder (but three single framelines obviously)
4) electronic shutter (to be modified to have user switchable auto/manual cocking)
5) weather sealing (from R range, or ??)

Then, of course, can I have one for long-term testing please ?

 

[wontonny]

Can I test every piece of photographic equipment that you currently make or are going to make?

 

[x-ray]

Do you have plans to provide professional support like canon CPS and Nikon NPS?

 

[sienarot]

What is Leica's policy towards film-based cameras? Will they continue producing (or even developing new) film-M's in the foreseeable future? Or will the current M7 / MP line be the last film-based M's and will the digital line take over?

While I'd never be able to afford a new model Leica anything, this I'd be very interested in knowing as well. As an addendum to the latter, if the M7/MP will be the last of the film M's, how long can we expect production for it to continue (I doubt this could really be answered, but who knows)?

Also, tape or no tape? 😛

 

[photogdave]

Also, tape or no tape? 😛

Too funny! 😀

 

[Artorius]

I agree

I agree

x-ray makes a good point. I've been NPS since the late '70's.(early '70 I was shooting a couple of M2's in the USN) It would be nice if Leica could supply support in the same way, especially now with digital.

Do you have plans to provide professional support like canon CPS and Nikon NPS?