Forum member meeting with Dr. Kaufmann

[admin]

Hi,

I just returned from the first official photokina day with a very interesting member meeting with Leica:

Leica CEO Mr. Kaufmann took nearly two hours of his time to attend the meeting and to answer questions about all topics. He was supported by Stefan Daniel, product manager M system and Maike Harberts and Stephan Schulz, responsible for the develpoment of the new S-System - Codename AFRica.

The codename derived from its former goal to develop an Autofocus R camera, until the development changed to its final result.

The S system is planned as "lighthouse" project that shall change the perception of the whole brand as well as to push technical development further.

According to Stephan Schulz the S2 is "the biggest SLR Leica ever built" but the "smallest medium format SLR in the market".

It's thought as professional system: medium format quality and a 35mm camera handling.

Four lenses are planned for the market start (35 mm, 70 mm, 120 mmmacro, 180 mm), after that will follow lenses in the range form 24 to 350 mm.

More features:
- OLED colour display on camera top
- no aperture ring on the lens but on the camera body
- interchangable focussing screens
- RAW files in three different flavours (RAW, lossfree compressed RAW, small RAW)
- lenses with lens shutter (developed by Leica)

No detailed prices were told, Mr. Kaufmann pointed out that semiconductor prices depend very much on the ordered amount - and making cameras is semiconductor business. As a kind of scale he mentioned the price of a Canon fullformat 35 mm camera and certain Hasselblad systems - without any further details...

Regarding the R system he repeated his clear commitment to a digital R10 - with autofocus lenses!

Stefan Daniel positioned the Leica M8.2 as the M system flagship. Full 35 mm format fopr the M system has the highesst priority but the difficulties to transfer an existing system to full format are much bigger than creating one from scratch.

After questions about cheaper cameras Mr. Kaufmann made an interesting statement: Between the new digital compact cameras C-LUX 3 and D-LUX 4 on the one side and the M8 is a big price gap - that could be big enough for two cameras. No more details were told...

If anyone of the participants has corrections, please let me know!

Best regards
Andreas

[andybarton]

Nice work, Andreas.

All very interesting, and very positive.

The best Photokina I have know, by far.

[Rona|d]

and here some quick snapshots from today ...

[Rona|d]

Dr. Kaufmann showing the new S2 and the Maestro-Chip ...

[Rona|d]

...

[Rona|d]

...

[Rona|d]

Your question, please!

[andybarton]

Great to see Andreas on the top table.

Just goes to show how much the LUF means to Leica.

[Rona|d]

Mr Kaufmann is also a forum member and said, that he visits the forum every second day and that Leica take user´s input very serious!

[admin]

With Ronald's images you could think, I sat there only a few minutes.

Indeed I was there the whole time (with Ronald taking pictures on my lap, my shoulder, everywhere ...)

Best regards from Bonn
Andreas

[abrewer]

Just curious, what lens does Herr Doctor carry on his M?

Also, who is the blonde woman with glasses?

Do you have any pics of her without the glasses?

[andybarton]

The blonde is Maike and the S2 is her baby.

Stefan Daniels looks like he is saying to her "Don't drop it... we've only made 8..."

[Rona|d]

She wouldn´t drop it, would a mother drop her baby? The follow up will be the R10 - a girl btw. (S2 was the boy). Congratulations to Maike and the whole team.

Originally Posted by andybarton

The blonde is Maike and the S2 is her baby.

Stefan Daniels looks like he is saying to her "Don't drop it... we've only made 8..."

[philipotto]

Thanks for the superb shots Rona|d.
Great to see Andreas up front.
Kaufmann looks like fun. I have tremendous faith in Leica and am excited about their future in Kauffmann's hands.

Originally Posted by Rona|d

She wouldn´t drop it, would a mother drop her baby? The follow up will be the R10 - a girl btw. (S2 was the boy). Congratulations to Maike and the whole team.

That explains the S2s good looks. It also bodes well for the R10.