Leica new product development?

[riddick51]

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hello, i am curious, is there any sort of information on leica research & development?

 

specifically, i'm thinking on getting a leica 35mm, and i don't want to be caught buying today if a new model is on the horizon within months.

 

or is the release of a new R series 5 to 10 years away?

 

thank you for your insight o_0

[john_f]

hello, i am curious, is there any sort of information on leica research & development?

 

specifically, i'm thinking on getting a leica 35mm, and i don't want to be caught buying today if a new model is on the horizon within months.

 

or is the release of a new R series 5 to 10 years away?

 

thank you for your insight o_0

 

 

Gary,

 

Welcome to the Leica Forum. If by "leica 35mm" you mean a new film-based camera, there was an interview published in LetsGoDigital in which a Leica rep mentionned that the door was not entirely closed for yet another film Leica ("It is the idea to have two series, one digital [M8] and one analogue [M7/MP]. But what can we change on the M7? It is perfect and if the M7 will be modified it will probably be called M7-2 or so").

 

Have a look at the interview: Leica Interview | Digital Camera Review

 

On the other hand, if you are waiting for a new digital Leica (yes, I know, it's not the right forum...), we do know that Leica is working very hard to come out ASAP with a new D-SLR camera (100% digital reflex - not a detachable back). We have been told not to expect it before next Photokina (Sept 23, 2008). Then again, the Leica DMR has just been discontinued and the yearly PMA (Photo Marketing Association) trade show starts on March 8th. Leica might have new product announcements. We should know pretty soon ...

[stuny]

Gary -

 

Welcome to the Forum. If you are looking for a film SLR, I imagine that the R9 will remain current for quite some time -- Camera product development efforts are on digital, and the R lenses (for the SLR) are fabulous.

[riddick51]

thank you for your responses ;x

[craigrmurray]

Gary:

 

Last year at the LHSA Spring Shoot, Christian Erhardt (Marketing Director for Leica USA) told me that Leica had no plans for designing or marketing any new M series film cameras. I'm sure they will undoubtedly continue to offer the MP and M7 at least until stock runs out, and perhaps introduce future commemortive editions (like for LHSA, eg.), film Leica Ms won't be in short supply. Also consider the used market -- a Leica isn't exactly the kind of consumer item that people just throw away or sell in garage sales.

[riddick51]

thank you, i've been vacillating on film vs digital, i don't see how i can go film.

 

currently, i'm on a "IR" kick, those black and white types. can a digital slr do those? maybe i'm asking in the wrong place

[stuny]

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The Digilux 2 is realtively insensitive to IR. I don't know how sensitive the DMR is (I have one but have not tried IR). Thye M8 users can speak to IR, but I'll bet it works well.

[riddick51]

to be honest, i find it unsatisfactory that leica doesn't have a high-end dSLR on the market. maybe this is not a revolutionary idea.

 

the panasonic/leica fz-20 was released like spring of 2005. would it be too hard to partner with panasonic, or samsung, or mitsubishi, and bring about a nikon D2Xs killer?

 

i mean, christ, even i would have the foresight for something along those lines.

 

barring a late entry by Leica to that tune, this is what i'll be looking to get into this summer:

Sony dSLR Pro Model coupled with carl zeiss:

 

or the D2Xs

[rgfenn]

I completely agree with the above post. It is no secret that Leica has had to suffer through some very difficult financial times lately. Why? Because they seem to be incapable of revamping their business model.

 

Lately, Leica has brought in some new younger minds, let go some old wood and started to look into the future with new products.

 

However, during this transition instead of communicating there new vision with Leica worldwide, they continue to be vague about new products and timelines.

 

There will always be Leica lovers: hell I am one of them. But I fear that by the time Leica starts to get its new products into the retail pipeline, a significant number of people will have moved on to other products that use Zeiss glass. The result, few customers, reduced market share and of coarse higher prices to make justify production.