[jrc]

I'm like the OP, I'd like to see an official announcement. This isn't just silly over-eagerness -- I need a new or upgraded DSLR system, and the M8 has impressed me enough that I'd consider the R10. But if the R10 is three or four years away, then I'm going with the Nikon. If the R10 is more-or-less a year away (Photokina fall 2008) then I'll wait. I know there are business reasons for picking a certain time to make an announcement, but there are also business and personal reasons for moving to a new system -- Leica has their business, and we have ours. If I decide that I have to go with a Nikon because my current (aging) system is a problem, then Leica takes a dead loss: that's one guy who won't be buying $30,000 worth of new Leica gear.

What will Leica give up by assuring us that a new system is on the way? Surprise? Most people here already wouldn't be surprised. Strategic advantage? Do you really think Canon, Nikon and Sony care that much? An announcement would simply say, "Yes, we're planning an R10 and we expect to release it next year. We have no definate time-table, we have no specs, but that's what we plan to do. We'll make another annoucment on our progress on June 1."

A regular pre-scheduled series of progress announcements would actually build interest, if done cleverly.

I think such an announcment would only help.

JC