Digital Compact Camera Scenario

[Ron Kennett]

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Leica and Fuji (and indeed other successful players) are engaged in an interesting struggle for the hearts and minds of photographers seeking sophisticated yet compact cameras.

 

My experience has involved parting with cash for four Leica cameras - C-Lux 2, D-Lux 4, X1 and Digilux 3, all of which have much to commend them, although many will argue that except perhaps for the X1, they are not 'proper Leicas'. Personally, I love the Digilux 3, but it can hardly be described as compact and Leica seem reluctant to remember that they produced it. In my view, the C-Lux 2 and D-Lux 4 perform well and have a premium feel. The X1 has been presented as a proudly German Leica and has superlative performance. They all are priced well above competitors. Nevertheless, they seem to have been good business, but we cannot verify this.

 

Fuji seem to have a strategy that aims to offer Leica-like philosophy and quality, as manifest in their Xpro1, X100 and X10 models at prices that must cause headaches in Solms. I have defected from the D-Lux 4 to the X10 and from the X1 to the X100 and consider the Fuji offerings to be highly attractive premium products. Substantial sales are seemingly being achieved, but it is not clear whether the pricing is sustainable.

 

This move upmarket by Fuji really changes the Leica premium product position in the market place for compact digital cameras and it will be interesting to see how things develop over the next few years. Much has been justifiably made of Leica lens superiority, but it is questionable how meaningful this is seen to be outside the laboratory, by amateur photographers.

 

Unless Leica wishes to make the S2/M9 segment its principal market, the Fuji move will represent a wake-up call. For example, they cannot afford the kind of sloppiness of plastic barrelled collapsible lenses marring otherwise aesthetically excellent designs.

 

Should be interesting to watch the emerging scenario!

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[Archiver]

Collapsible lens barrels have been the mainstay of compact cameras, although there has been a trend away from that in recent years. Even the newly announced Sigma DP1M and DP2M do not have extending lens barrels, and incorporate manual focus rings on the lens. Given that the DP1M lens barrel gives the camera the same thickness as the original DP1 with the lens barrel retracted, it ought to be very possible for Leica to create a new X camera with a similar lens design.

[NZDavid]

A new compact interchangeable lens version of the X1 would surely sell well. New cameras with APS-sized sensor from Panasonic, Olympus, Sony, and others represent a significant new market. Who else would fancy a new ILS Leica? It would be a C21 version of Oscar Barnack's concept of a small yet highly capable system camera.

[dave.gt]

I think Leica understands it's marketing quite well as evidenced by their record profits over the past couple of years. Yes, they are all in competition, nothing new.

 

Interchangeable lenses on a body? Sure there is a market for that as long as it looks like a Leica and not a plastic blob with a huge lens on it. Collapsible lenses make perfect sense for something pocketable.

 

Try sticking the ugly Nikon 1 in your pants pocket.

 

My III F is the perfect sized camera but even it is not pocketable in the sense a D Lux 5 is...

 

So, what will Leica do next? Whatever they perceive is the correct path...I trust 'em!!!