Antonio Russell Posted March 3, 2015 Share #21 Posted March 3, 2015 Advertisement (gone after registration) I might be even nicer to see whether there are losses or not. As far as I am aware this is pure speculation. I dont think companies change CEO when all is going well.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted March 3, 2015 Posted March 3, 2015 Hi Antonio Russell, Take a look here New Leica CEO?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
semi-ambivalent Posted March 3, 2015 Share #22 Posted March 3, 2015 Yes, he did me a favour recently when the usual people at Leica were being stubbornly unhelpful. Interesting to read the rumours re: Blackstone and recent financial performance. I've been saying here for a long time that you only have to talk to any dealer to know that the products haven't been selling well for at least a year or more. Incidentally, I notice that the two latest special editions – Kravitz and Safari – both feature the 35 Summicron when the recent norm has been to include the Summilux in these kits. I wonder whether this is a sign that one of the product announcements for this summer (I think the new Monochrom is a given) is a new 35 Summicron. If I recall correctly, the Monochrom was launched along with the 50 APO so they might want to do something similar this year? The 35 Summicron is arguably the quintessential Leica M lens and hasn't been updated in about 20 years. What, a 35mm APO Summicron FLE? What would that cost? The 'lux is $5k, how many $4k Summicrons do you think they could sell? This would only have the result as what the 90 Summicron and the 135 APO did to prices of their predecessors in the used market. Can't see that making Blackstone happy. I understand that companies need to make a profit but the only emotions they have are 'anger' and '$'. interesting times, s-a Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted March 3, 2015 Share #23 Posted March 3, 2015 Now this I had not heard of. Not M bodies certainly, or were they? thanks, s-a Just the M8/9 as mentioned. Another case reported here recently http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m9-forum/365171-m9-broken-while-using-tripod.html Anyway, I'm sure we all wish the new CEO well in his role. I've no knowledge of the personalities concerned, or of course the real reasons behind the changes, but I do feel that Leica have become rather complacent in the last year or two, not just the quality issues, but also resting on their laurels and pitching themselves ever more towards the luxury gift market, with 'boutique's' in places like Mayfair. It will be interesting to see what happens next...... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck Albertson Posted March 3, 2015 Share #24 Posted March 3, 2015 Well, which is it? If Blackstone is looking to dump their shares in Leica, why would they bother to engineer a boardroom coup and have the CEO sacked? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted March 3, 2015 Share #25 Posted March 3, 2015 I dont think companies change CEO when all is going well.... What is claimed might just be true: that Mr Schopf decided to move on himself.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted March 3, 2015 Share #26 Posted March 3, 2015 What, a 35mm APO Summicron FLE? What would that cost? The 'lux is $5k,how many $4k Summicrons do you think they could sell? You may have your sights set way too low….the 50 APO Summicron is more than double the cost of the 50 Summilux ASPH, at $8250. Similarly doubling the 35 Summilux ASPH price would yield a $10,000 APO 35 Summicron lens. At any rate, let's hope for no central veiling glare. Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Overgaard Posted March 4, 2015 Share #27 Posted March 4, 2015 Advertisement (gone after registration) In a family owned business where the owner is managing the overall company on a daily basis, the CEO will mostly be a figure that changes when strategy changes. The CEO post at Leica is probably the one with the most changes, in a company where many have been there for 10 and 25 years. What the change of CEO signals is usually change of strategy. Alfred Schopf lasted for more than four years, so that was quite a long time. I think he did many good things and stabilized a lot of things in a time of moving the production, expanding the stores and consolidating the brand after the introduction of the Leica S and Cine Lenses and more. Leica has been on a constant move or change-management since Kaufmann stepped in the door, and changing of CEO is usually an indication of a new focus ares. When Leica celebrated 100 years it was literally 100 years since Barnack made the Leica M prototype. They didn't celebrate that Leica had arrived to present time yet, that has yet to happen What Leica lacks is innovation and an insight into digital future which will change the company quite a bit in the coming years. The way they market and sell products worldwide, as well as a change of the rather German selfperception Leica have, resulting in ridiculous (when not nonexistent) PR activities. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted March 4, 2015 Share #28 Posted March 4, 2015 The announcement is to suggest a change. Change is intended to suggest optimism to interested parties. In fact it means nothing but fodder for investment wannabes. Investment in Leica is not possible. Only time will tell. . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manoleica Posted March 4, 2015 Share #29 Posted March 4, 2015 Lets be honest, the 35mm Leicas will and go on and on, Leica lenses will always be top notch optically, notwithstanding some QC. The digital M Leica's are obsolete even before they ship, as are most digital cameras.. At the end of the day R&D must be more thorough & customer orientated, QC in all it's aspects must be improved (M Range) and retail prices must come down substantially so Leica can appeal to a wider spectrum of photographers.. If some choose Leica and are happy to pay a premium, then Leica needs to realise that even the well healed" need minimal quirks, reliability & the highest possible customer service... Good Luck to the new CEO, he certainly has some challenges ahead... Sadly I cancelled my recent order for the M-E, I'm just going to wait awhile.. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramosa Posted March 4, 2015 Share #30 Posted March 4, 2015 What is claimed might just be true: that Mr Schopf decided to move on himself.... Please Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlindstrom Posted March 4, 2015 Share #31 Posted March 4, 2015 retail prices must come down substantially so Leica can appeal to a wider spectrum of photographers.. If some choose Leica and are happy to pay a premium, then Leica needs to realise that even the well healed" need minimal quirks, reliability & the highest possible customer service... This! I tend to agree. The prices should come down, not Canikon down but let's say a drop of 1000-1500€ on the digital M prices would help sell quite a lot more. And the 35mm Leica prices are borderline insane, they should be cut in half. They'd still be expensive, but far more available than currently. As for good service, that should be synanomous to Leica brand as well as high quality. I would say the wealthy expect far better service than average consumers! //Juha Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted March 4, 2015 Share #32 Posted March 4, 2015 Please Well, you have to admit the possibility. I once knew an Oral Surgeon who decided that he wanted to be a sheep farmer and emigrated to Ireland.They might have claimed health reasons but didn't.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pop Posted March 4, 2015 Share #33 Posted March 4, 2015 When the change is due to come. Thunder in the other course of heaven. Things cannot be destroyed once and for all. Change returns success Going and coming without error. Action brings good fortune. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manoleica Posted March 4, 2015 Share #34 Posted March 4, 2015 Hi POP, We definately need a separate Post for Phylosophy! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
yeeper Posted March 4, 2015 Share #35 Posted March 4, 2015 Any CEO who would release a THIRD film camera (which happens to be an MP without a meter) deserves the boot. I mean, SERIOUSLY. I own an M6 and M240. I totally get the MP (mmmmmm... brass.....) as well as the M7 with auto exposure. These cameras exist for a reason. But the M-A's existence makes zero sense when the other two are still in production. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manoleica Posted March 4, 2015 Share #36 Posted March 4, 2015 The new CEO should set up a team to contact via email/phone All purchasers of Leica M's in the last 6months and get their feedback... Then replace all cameras that have had 2 or more sensors replaced with the latest 240. Refurbish the returned cameras and offer them @ a competitive price with an insurance similar to AppleCare.. Get the R&D department to work with 100 or so Leica owners on their new products.. Get feedback, listen, and act accordingly.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy Posted March 4, 2015 Share #37 Posted March 4, 2015 Any CEO who would release a THIRD film camera (which happens to be an MP without a meter) deserves the boot. I mean, SERIOUSLY. I own an M6 and M240. I totally get the MP (mmmmmm... brass.....) as well as the M7 with auto exposure. These cameras exist for a reason. But the M-A's existence makes zero sense when the other two are still in production. Well, I can only speak personally but I bought more M-A cameras last year than I did any of the MP, M7 and M240. I reckon the M-A will be considered a success and has probably sold above expectations, which is probably more than can be said for the warmed over M240 in its M-P guise. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrozenInTime Posted March 4, 2015 Share #38 Posted March 4, 2015 Well, I can only speak personally but I bought more M-A cameras last year than I did any of the MP, M7 and M240. I reckon the M-A will be considered a success and has probably sold above expectations, which is probably more than can be said for the warmed over M240 in its M-P guise. +1 I suspect they will sell more M-As than X-Vario and T cameras (with it's overpriced OEM lenses ) The investment to bring the M-A to market is microscopic compared to a digital platform. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy Posted March 4, 2015 Share #39 Posted March 4, 2015 Yes, the T has to go down as a complete flop. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wda Posted March 4, 2015 Share #40 Posted March 4, 2015 Panasonic have a long relationship with Leica ... And Fuji before Panasonic. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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