abenner
undecided
OK, so Leica still makes the M7 and MP but clearly have turned their attention to making digital cameras, and I believe they've stated they don't plan to further advance the M film camera line.
Making cameras the way Leica does is certainly costly. Most have probably seen this video of an M7 being made (http://bit.ly/3iXTc). Interestingly, in the video they say they're making 100 to 150 cameras a month. I assume that includes the M7 and MP. That's a staggeringly low number, reflecting low sales of new film M's, which of course have become very expensive.
They occasionally put out special edition cameras, some fabulous like the MP3, and some that make you shake your head like the Ralph Gibson edition. But they're crazily priced and meant for collectors and aren't going to do much for the film M going forward.
So here's an idea: build me a new M2. No meter. No timer. Simple 0.72 rangefinder. Simple frameline set. No crazy colors, just silver chrome or black paint. Hell, they've been building these cameras for over 50 years, and the thing was perfect the way it was.
There's no research to do. You don't have to spend money on marketing. It's an M2. Anybody who might buy it knows what it is.
Couldn't they do this tomorrow with no effort at all? Wouldn't it be easy and cheap? Find a way to do it, provide a Passport Warranty, and sell it for a number that starts with a 2.
I mean, the film line is dead if they don't do something, right? And they can't really go forward and make something more expensive, because of course their competition at this point is Voigtlander, Zeiss, and most importantly, the used Leica market.
Wouldn't people buy this? How crazy is this?
Making cameras the way Leica does is certainly costly. Most have probably seen this video of an M7 being made (http://bit.ly/3iXTc). Interestingly, in the video they say they're making 100 to 150 cameras a month. I assume that includes the M7 and MP. That's a staggeringly low number, reflecting low sales of new film M's, which of course have become very expensive.
They occasionally put out special edition cameras, some fabulous like the MP3, and some that make you shake your head like the Ralph Gibson edition. But they're crazily priced and meant for collectors and aren't going to do much for the film M going forward.
So here's an idea: build me a new M2. No meter. No timer. Simple 0.72 rangefinder. Simple frameline set. No crazy colors, just silver chrome or black paint. Hell, they've been building these cameras for over 50 years, and the thing was perfect the way it was.
There's no research to do. You don't have to spend money on marketing. It's an M2. Anybody who might buy it knows what it is.
Couldn't they do this tomorrow with no effort at all? Wouldn't it be easy and cheap? Find a way to do it, provide a Passport Warranty, and sell it for a number that starts with a 2.
I mean, the film line is dead if they don't do something, right? And they can't really go forward and make something more expensive, because of course their competition at this point is Voigtlander, Zeiss, and most importantly, the used Leica market.
Wouldn't people buy this? How crazy is this?