[charlesphoto99]

My take is that Leica should dump the R line and concentrate on the M line. It's what makes them unique from every other camera out there. It's their signature. And god knows when the last time someone actually bought a new R lens.

A few years back I bought a used R8 and a couple of used lenses. I so wanted to like it (like all things Leica it feels so nice in the hands, etc) but it's really a camera for wealthy afficianados and maybe a few high end niche commercial photographers. Need a 400mm f2.8 for the day? Well, I could buy a Leica one for $10k or rent a Nikon/Canon for $45. Big difference there. I felt really confined by the R for that reason. If I want a camera with just one lens then the M is that camera. SLRs are meant to be tools where one can spread their wings so to speak. And without access to rentals and even the ability to afford some basic lenses it just can't compare to the quality/price that Nikon and Canon have to offer. It's a daunting system to to try and "buy" into it. I couldn't even go there.

Leica should promote the M as a timeless design classic and add other models so as to have price tiers. But they have to be wholly unique - why should a buy a leica when I could buy essentially the same camera from panasonic for almost half the price? They should have knocked out Ricoh and Sigma a long time ago. Where's the leica equivalent of the G9? A digital version of the CL or the CM? They should not have tried to compete with the japanese on the dead in the water 4:3 format but instead concentrated on what made them famous in the first place - 35mm compact cameras. Companies shouldn't forget their history.

Rangefinders are not dead. It's only the perception that needs to be changed and maybe the technology somewhat updated. And Leica does need to move at least some of their manufacturing to China. Heck, if they can put together iPhones they should be able to assemble the guts of digital Leicas (and maybe even do it better). Keep the lenses and r&d in Germany. Anyway, it may be too late for them period. I'm sure that the sales of film M's have trickled to very little (the used market has really hurt I bet) and the M8 seems to have reached it's zenith and they've done nothing but confuse potential buyers.
They need some radical prosumer models at Photokina, and I'm sorry but an overpriced too little too late R10 isn't it.