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AlanG · 02/28/08, 04:23 AM

If you go to the Leica Microsystems web site you'll see this:

"...Leica Microsystems’ business serves completely different markets and customers to Leica Camera AG and Leica Geosystems AG. The reported financial difficulties of Leica Camera are in no way connected to the financial position of Leica Microsystems GmbH, which is pleased to confirm that its own financial position remains solid with strong current trading results."

Consider that Canon, Zeiss and Nikon got out of the interchangeable lens rangefinder business in the 60s. I think they saw the handwriting on the wall and went in other directions with great success. Did they know something that Leica didn't? It left Leica to be the sole provider to this market and they did well for a while. I just read this history of Leica, and it seems that they made several missteps the past few decades.

Leica Camera AG: Information and Much More from Answers.com

Although it also looks like they were at least trying to find a way.

And it seems to me that maybe there simply are limits to how many rangefinder cameras can now be sold worldwide and that makes it difficult to have the means to do all of the things that everyone is asking from Leica. Consider that the world has grown a lot richer in recent years and the demand for quality and luxury goods has increased. There surely must be new markets open to Leica (Asia, the middle east, etc.) So what's the problem?

I remember the movie "Other People's Money" where a corporate raider, played by Danny DeVito, said (paraphrased), "You don't want to be one of the last companies increasing market share in a diminishing market." And, "I'm sure that the last buggy whip company in America made the best damn buggy whips in the world."

02/28/08, 04:23 AM	#81 (permalink)
AlanG Erfahrener Benutzer Join Date: 11/22/06 Location: Chevy Chase, MD Posts: 919	Re: Erwin Puts on Leicas future If you go to the Leica Microsystems web site you'll see this: "...Leica Microsystems’ business serves completely different markets and customers to Leica Camera AG and Leica Geosystems AG. The reported financial difficulties of Leica Camera are in no way connected to the financial position of Leica Microsystems GmbH, which is pleased to confirm that its own financial position remains solid with strong current trading results." Consider that Canon, Zeiss and Nikon got out of the interchangeable lens rangefinder business in the 60s. I think they saw the handwriting on the wall and went in other directions with great success. Did they know something that Leica didn't? It left Leica to be the sole provider to this market and they did well for a while. I just read this history of Leica, and it seems that they made several missteps the past few decades. Leica Camera AG: Information and Much More from Answers.com Although it also looks like they were at least trying to find a way. And it seems to me that maybe there simply are limits to how many rangefinder cameras can now be sold worldwide and that makes it difficult to have the means to do all of the things that everyone is asking from Leica. Consider that the world has grown a lot richer in recent years and the demand for quality and luxury goods has increased. There surely must be new markets open to Leica (Asia, the middle east, etc.) So what's the problem? I remember the movie "Other People's Money" where a corporate raider, played by Danny DeVito, said (paraphrased), "You don't want to be one of the last companies increasing market share in a diminishing market." And, "I'm sure that the last buggy whip company in America made the best damn buggy whips in the world." __________________ Alan Goldstein www.goldsteinphoto.com Stock photos and galleries at: http://www.photoshelter.com/user/AlanGoldstein Last edited by AlanG : 02/28/08 at 04:26 AM.