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1. people (I use this word here to mean the majority of ordinary masses) will not accept that any other company can do it just as good. Look at the failure of the Hexar.

2. people will not accept Leica can do anything just as good, look at the Leicaflex/R line

3. people will not accept any change, even the shape, look at the M5

4. people will not accept any Leica made outside Germany, no matter how much the knowledgeable ones tries to tell the public each time this subject comes up

5. people will not accept that Leica can make the transition to digital, look at the S1/DMR/M8.

6. people will not accept any kind of innovation, look at the resistance to auto focus.

This post is addressed to Leica management, in the hope of starting/stimulating discussions and deliberations on this observation as a possible plan to rescue the company.[/quote]

Possibly this IS a joke?

1. Voigtlander have had much success with their rangefinders and lenses.

2. I and many others here use the R system, not to mention the various compacts and digicams

3. The M5 was much larger than the M4. One of the reasons people like the M is for compactness but the M5 has many fans out there.

4. My Leica R3 was made in Portugal and lenses from Canada. The Leica digitals apart from the M8 are made by Panasonic. I don't think this is an issue for anyone.

5. Yes look at the DMR and M8! You do know there is a waiting list for the M8 don't you?!!

6. Again the compacts and digicams are AF. M users don't need AF and R users like the fact that the R systems is the one quality manual focus 35mm SLR system left.

The Leica name is one of the most famous in photography. To consider it to be a drawback is just crazy!

I think the Leica management are busy enough meeting M8 demand and working on the next generation R. Who needs to be rescued?