Leicas were and are simply too expensive. There are simply much better options out there. In fact, in the case of their digital cameras, their sensors lag far behind Nikon and Sony. This is according to DxO. Say what you will about DxO? But they do do sophisticated tests, in labs, with real lab equipment. Their site is ancillary to their business. They are not paid off. They perform these tests in order to develop their software. Of course, this produces backlash when the Canon and Leica cults are confronted with the inconvenient truth that their coveted gear is simply not keeping up. In Leica's case, the highest-rated sensor on one of their new full frame models barely edges out the consumer Nikon D5300 I had. It doesn't touch even seven year old full frame cameras from Nikon like the entry-level full frame D600s from 2012 I bought used for $650. Nor does it come close to Sony. So, if I can get a camera with a better sensor and a body with more features that's very well-made for this price, thousands less, why bother with the red dot?
So, a sensor is not the only thing that makes a camera? Here again, Leica brings nothing to the table. In fact, they lag. Leica stopped innovating decades ago.
And I've always thought what Leica should do is farm all their digital out to a Japanese company -- Panasonic, Toshiba, Sony whomever and focus on making lenses in other mounts. Leica was never an electronics company. They -- from a realistic standpoint, can't compete with those who are electronics companies. But they sure make a heckuva lens.
What does Leica make that's great? It is no longer their cameras, sad to say. The more camera's go/went electronic? The more Leica lost its edge to the Japanese -- and this goes back to the later days of the film era with Leica lagging even to include a built-in meter. Few care about "mechanical perfection" these days. But imagine the demand for a Cron in a native Canon, Nikon, or Sony mount. They would sell like hotcakes. A Lecia body and a Cron might be out of reach. But I might be able to spring for a Cron for my Canon body. Sigma, Tokina, Zeiss, Tamron and many others have done it (until recently with the exception of Zeiss on the budget end).
Why not Leica?
It I was CEO of Leica, I'd point the ship in that direction.
From a consumer standpoint. Film Leica? Sure. Digital? No way. Not unless I've invested heavily in Leica glass, refuse to sell it, and was "trapped" in the Leica system.
