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What are the Leica production stats?


Cityman

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Anyone knows what are the Leica production statistics for the different cameras and lenses?

 

i.e.

 

  1. How long does it take Leica to manufacture an M9? a summilux 50mm ASPH? summicron 35mm?
  2. How many do they produce daily, monthly?
  3. What are the estimates for demand from Europe, US etc.?

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http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m9-forum/110181-leica-produces-4-000-m9.html

 

Serial numbers for lenses plotted against years tends to show around 30,000-40,000 in recent years - but that included the now-defunct R line, so the M line alone is probably 25,000 a year +/-. That works out as 2 and a bit per camera produced, which sounds about right, as an average.

 

Divide by 12 and 200 (working days).

 

As to individual lens types, Leica builds in batches, since they do not own the roughly 200 lens grinding/polishing machines that would be needed for constant production of every single lens element the line uses. They grind enough glass for a year's worth of 21's or 24's or whatever, spend the next month building the final lenses, and then move on to other lenses for 11 months.

 

Likely the most popular 50 and 35 f/2 designs are in near-constant production, though.

 

As to how long one's individual 50 f/1.4 took to pass from lumps of brass and glass to a final, calibrated, boxed product? Calendar days or worker hours? I dunno. It is spread out over different workers in different locations. Actual assembly of finished parts into a finished unit is about 1 day, I think, on average.

 

Leica's market historically has been about 25% Germany, 25% Europe outside of Germany, 25% NAFTA, and 25% the rest of the world. But that has been shifting recently.

 

Sales volumes (in Euros, including sport optics, before M9 was introduced) for March-Sept. 2009 were divided about as:

 

Germany: 10%

Rest of Europe: 34%

Asia/Australia: 33%

NAFTA: 20%

Other: 3%

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  • How long does it take Heinz to produce a can of tomato soup?
  • How many tomatoes does it contain?
  • Who prints the labels for them?
  • How many cans are sold per month in Tirana?

 

I think we have a right to know...:rolleyes:

 

Regards.

 

Bill

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  • How long does it take Heinz to produce a can of tomato soup?
  • How many tomatoes does it contain?
  • Who prints the labels for them?
  • How many cans are sold per month in Tirana?

 

I think we have a right to know...:rolleyes:

 

Regards.

 

Bill

 

 

Bill, are you being cynical? :)

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The only thing I can say is that my Leica retailer in Paris received 2 Lux 50 this week, and I got 1 for my forthcoming M9... The lens is just waiting patiently for it...

 

Thanks for the info Baptiste.. though at this rate... I'm gonna lose it before I get mine :)

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Anyone knows what are the Leica production statistics for the different cameras and lenses?

 

i.e.

 

  1. How long does it take Leica to manufacture an M9? a summilux 50mm ASPH? summicron 35mm?
  2. How many do they produce daily, monthly?
  3. What are the estimates for demand from Europe, US etc.?

1. 50 a day is a reported figure... 7,5 hours std. shift (8 hours less half for beers) = 450 min = 9 minutes to make a M9, or am I wrong ? :D

2. see above

3. encouraging

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1. 50 a day is a reported figure... 7,5 hours std. shift (8 hours less half for beers) = 450 min = 9 minutes to make a M9, or am I wrong ? :D

2. see above

3. encouraging

 

If 50 a day, how come I'm waiting 2 weeks? why oh lord why ?:(:)

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The only thing I can say is that my Leica retailer in Paris received 2 Lux 50 this week, and I got 1 for my forthcoming M9... The lens is just waiting patiently for it...

 

Consider yourself lucky. There is not a 50 lux to be found stateside, and although you can indeed give a deposit to a dealer, there is no delivery promise date and none have been sent from Leica for over a month!

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Consider yourself lucky. There is not a 50 lux to be found stateside, and although you can indeed give a deposit to a dealer, there is no delivery promise date and none have been sent from Leica for over a month!

 

Strange that a few have arrived at a French dealer! Lucky you :-)

 

According to my dealer in the UK, there are none available at all and the earliest they expect them is the end of January.I was in the Leica Store in London today and they said they haven't received any to sell since the store opened 14 weeks ago. The had one on display but it wasn't even 6-bit coded.

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Consider yourself lucky. There is not a 50 lux to be found stateside, and although you can indeed give a deposit to a dealer, there is no delivery promise date and none have been sent from Leica for over a month!

 

 

I spoke with a dealer today in nyc that received 2 this week (in silver) sold one, still had the second one in stock as of noon today est. Happy to share the info if anyone is interested.

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If 50 a day, how come I'm waiting 2 weeks? why oh lord why ?:(:)

 

dude, think about it. if they're producing 50/day, and you still have to wait a long time, maybe it's because it's in SO much demand, that production can't keep up. it's fairly obvious.

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The German tank analysis says that the highest serial number (which you haven't seen yet) is about the highest that you have seen plus the average gap between serial numbers which have been seen. But there was a gap of several thousand serial numbers not used, thrown in to confuse us, perhaps?

 

scott

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Guest BigSplash

I am intrigued ...the rumour is that:

  • M9 ....shipped 4000 units since the Sept launch, and the demand remains huge. Great News.
  • M lenses (new designs) are in very short supply according to my dealer who has backlog since months on some types.
  • S2 shipped their first unit during December according to LFI is that really just one single unit, or are volumes of units now rolling off the production line? Some backlog and general acceptance that this is a great camera. Is it a commercial success however?
  • Pradovit.....have they shipped commercial quantities of this superb (I guess) unit...does anyone know?

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I am intrigued ...the rumour is that:

  • M9 ....shipped 4000 units since the Sept launch, and the demand remains huge. Great News.
  • M lenses (new designs) are in very short supply according to my dealer who has backlog since months on some types.
  • S2 shipped their first unit during December according to LFI is that really just one single unit, or are volumes of units now rolling off the production line? Some backlog and general acceptance that this is a great camera. Is it a commercial success however?
  • Pradovit.....have they shipped commercial quantities of this superb (I guess) unit...does anyone know?

I have wondered if Leica have stopped making lenses for the past few months due to pressures from other new products. If that is so, it would seem to negate enticing new entrants and converts to the compact M digital system.

 

Another factor may be the demise of some key subcontractors during the global recession. We are merely guessing because one characteristic of Leica is to avoid making statements when the news is not positive. If that is the reason I would appeal for more openness, particularly to loyal Leica customers. As reported elsewhere, I have canceled my order for a 50mm Summilux after months of false promises of delivery. I have simply readjusted my priorities and found practical alternatives. And saved money!

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