Leica Solution?

[andalus]

I suggest that Leica, being a small company with limited resources, drop ALL its film cameras (and allow those that own them now to revel in their expanding rarity) NOW and devote all its resources to producing the BEST and most reliable and rugged digital cameras in the world utilizing current Leica glass: an M and an R version. Both cameras should be capable of upgrades, even sensor upgrades, too. And like the fil M series, built to last a couple of decades...
Forget every other product and go for these two cameras, and M and an R...the best that can be and damn the cost to consumers. They will pay for these.

[cocker]

What a load of rubbish! Did you really expect a serious response to this nonsense.

[imported_peter_m]

That be two responses now

[bill]

Nah,

Digital's a fad. They should stick with film.

I know this 'cos it's not only true it's self-evident.

So there.

Regards,

Bill

[Speenth]

Andalus: "I suggest that Leica ... devote all its resources to producing the BEST and most reliable and rugged digital cameras in the world utilizing current Leica glass: an M and an R version".



... and in this frantic world of swiftly obsolescent throw-away technologies, what happens when digital becomes out-dated next week?

Quite possibly, ten years from now, we'll be using an in-ear Leica mobile phone to produce the World's best images.

[biglouis]

Originally Posted by Speenth

Andalus: "I suggest that Leica ... devote all its resources to producing the BEST and most reliable and rugged digital cameras in the world utilizing current Leica glass: an M and an R version".



... and in this frantic world of swiftly obsolescent throw-away technologies, what happens when digital becomes out-dated next week?

Quite possibly, ten years from now, we'll be using an in-ear Leica mobile phone to produce the World's best images.

.... and replacement Leica eyeballs with, wait for it, autofocus! Yes, I predict that Leica will finally enter the autofocus world with its replacement eyeballs.....

[luigi bertolotti]

Discarding the film cameras I think wouldn't be a good idea; and, above all. in industrial terms would be not a so significant availability of new resources: does someone expect new investiments on the film Leicas ? There is no competition, the brand is famous, the market is thin... the lenses may anyaway have a "common lifecycle" with digital RF line... film RF Leicas can quietly continue to be available without representing a fixed cost of significant impact on their balance sheet, till there shall be someone who likes to buy one.

[christer]

Originally Posted by imported_peter_m

That be two responses now

3!

[tollie]

Here is #4...

I'd like a less expensive digital body that uses Leica M glass.

[jimmy pro]

I really wonder if Leica is just selling whatever's already made up, or at most would assemble a new body from parts on hand if someone actually orders an alacarte MP or M7. I gotta believe they're smarter than to have a bunch of people coming into work every day building film cameras for a nonexistant market.

[rob_x2004]

Dont tell em that Jimmy! I am so impressed with the M8 I am looking for a second MP. There dont seem to be many in buy and sell and none on ePrey. Gee Ive got to get something to hold the film straight and mount a lens.

[jimmy pro]

You bring up another point Rob: whatever market there is for film Leica's is mostly looking for something used. At the current price for new, I do have to wonder how many of them are being bought.

[stunsworth]

I seem to remember that 'things' at Leica are built in batches, so I doubt that anyone is making M7s and MPs just at the moment. A la carte cameras obvious can vary cosmetically, so I'd guess they have some bodies built, but not finished, waiting to be covered in unicorn hide and have a plutonium top plate fitted.

[andybarton]

I'd bet that they have enough M7s and MPs made to last them forever.

Maybe we can find out on the tour?

[andalus]

ONE thing's for sure: I'd never sell my MP, quaint as it may be. And I hope Leica does not plan to build many more of them. Meanwhile, what they need is a very simple (if that's possible), totally reliable, long lasting platform for the Leica glass, which really is the best thing Leica makes (the glass). I don't care about AF and all the bells and whistles. I just want to be able to shoot fine digital images, based on the glass, with a take anywhere camera (like the MP is) that I am sure won't fail, as so many M8's periodically seem to do. They ARE overpriced, IMO. I'd wind up with two superb platforms, one digital, the other film, both RF and easy to carry about on trips. I figure Leica could make such a digital camera and price it at about the same as the MP currently. As it is, I am tiptoeing towards digital alongside the MP, maybe to a Canon G9, which costs only 500 bucks. Why couldn't Leica make a 4k difital rangefinds that's built like a tank with really good electronics and firmware that I can rely on not to fail periodically?

[stunsworth]

Originally Posted by andalus

I figure Leica could make such a digital camera and price it at about the same as the MP currently.

As far as I'm aware there isn't a single manufacturer of film and digital cameras who's managed to do that - price the digital camera at the same price as the equivalent film body.

I'd like the M8 to be given away with cornflakes, no wait, I'd like Leica to pay me for buying the thing.

[andalus]

Steve, That's my point. No one's done it, but maybe Leica could. I know nada about digital cams, so forgive my ignorance. (Never owned one.) But the question does arise, for example, what could be subtracted from the current M8 without (or maybe even boosting) its reliability and maintaining the same quality of its imagery? I know, this is probably impossible. Maybe the M8 is already very stripped down compared to the Canon and Nikon offerings above the point and shoot models.

[jimmy pro]

Originally Posted by andybarton

I'd bet that they have enough M7s and MPs made to last them forever.

At the price they're asking today, that'd be, what, about a dozen altogether?

[zapp]

Who cares. As long as film cameras sell, sell them.
Best digital cameras? What do you mean by "best"? Best quality these days is provided by digital medium format backs on dedicated cameras. No cost issue, pro's only. Pros have quite often less money to spend than consumers. If they have unlimited funding they go medium format back and an M Leica on the side.
If you need a super reliable camera, get two normal cameras and don't forget to double up on lenses as well.
Exchangeable sensor, well did I say medium format back already?
Get real.

[Stephan_Chandler]

Give up film for just digital???
That would be something like swearing off eating beans, and eating only peas from now on!
I love digital; but I could never give up film... it's... well... just different.
One cannot really supersede the other.