Puts weighs in on Q…and more

[nicci78]

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Leica representatives are quite talkative. There is no secret culture among them. Not like Apple at all. 

They can even confirmed rumours for you. I once place myself in third position into their secret launching waiting list for the M10. Three weeks before official announcement. 

I also got the first Q sold in Paris like that. 

You can already place "secret" order for Q2 if interested. The list is already growing. 

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The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[nicci78]

Of course if you are not a select customers of these shops. You will get no information. I just buy Leica stuff into every parisian Leica shops. They are all nice. No fidelity whatsoever, except for Leica Store Beaumarchais for their secret launching list. But they all got one anyway. 

[IkarusJohn]

Who is FNAC?

[IkarusJohn]

Who is FNAC?

This is all a rather pointless exchange, if it dissolves into a point of pride, who’s the better connected Leica owner with the longer Leica owning history etc.  Having visited Leica stores and boutiques in London, Paris, Germany, Hong Kong, Singapore and across the US, I’ve heard a lot of very odd nonsense.  I’m sure FNAC is the font of all Leica-wisdom.  That is not my point.

What bothers me is baseless rumours getting traction to the cost of the company.  The fact is, only the Leica mothership knows this information, and they’re not telling anyone. Even the best placed dealer in Paris, London or New York gets the limited information the company is prepared to disclose.  The comments above on the Leica T are a case in point - the T had problems, but it was the first L mount camera and was the start of a new direction for the company.  Leica then released the TL and the TL2, and the CL and SL, and continues to offer all three, despite the informed experts here predicting the death of the TL and the SL.

Conversely, the Q is a dead end - popular and successful, no doubt, but not part of a system.  When Leica sells a TL, a CL, an M or an SL or S, it will sell lenses. Lots of lenses.  Then it sells more cameras to go with those lenses, whether back ups or upgrades, because the buyer has lots of lenses.  If you want to judge Leica sales by availability (globally, not just what your preferred dealer has o the shelf), the shortage of TL lenses should tell you something ...

You buy a Q, you have the whole deal.  You might buy a case, but that’s it.  Selling a TL opens a far wider door for Leica.

[prk60091]

4 hours ago, IkarusJohn said:

 . . .

Conversely, the Q is a dead end - popular and successful, no doubt, but not part of a system.  When Leica sells a TL, a CL, an M or an SL or S, it will sell lenses. Lots of lenses.  Then it sells more cameras to go with those lenses, whether back ups or upgrades, because the buyer has lots of lenses.  If you want to judge Leica sales by availability (globally, not just what your preferred dealer has o the shelf), the shortage of TL lenses should tell you something ...

You buy a Q, you have the whole deal.  You might buy a case, but that’s it.  Selling a TL opens a far wider door for Leica.

that is true so far as it goes---but. . .

there are numerous examples in this forum of people buying the Q as their first 'real Leica' (whatever that means) and then buying into a CL or M.  The Q is the gateway drug. 

[IkarusJohn]

Agreed, but that is, perhaps, a different point.

[jaapv]

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4 hours ago, IkarusJohn said:

Who is FNAC?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fnac

[MCJ]

2 hours ago, prk60091 said:

that is true so far as it goes---but. . .

there are numerous examples in this forum of people buying the Q as their first 'real Leica' (whatever that means) and then buying into a CL or M.  The Q is the gateway drug. 

Truth!!  The Q brought me to Leica.  Never owned one before that.  I could barely get my mind around the price of the thing for an enthusiast.  Now I’m open to the idea of other systems potentially one day.  The Q literally took me from zero interest or knowledge and appreciation of Leica to “i doubt I would buy another brand when buying my next camera”.  Unclear whether I will one day buy a IL system but there is a chance today and there was no chance not that long ago. Gateway drug is a good term here.  The simplicity and elegance of the systems make photography more enjoyable for me.  The complex “computer cameras” with 400 layer sub menus just turn me off and they end up in my closet rather than around my neck.  

[prk60091]

13 hours ago, IkarusJohn said:

Agreed, but that is, perhaps, a different point.

that is the point... getting  people to buy more leica gear....

[IkarusJohn]

No, not quite.  You buy a Q, you might subsequently buy a CL, SL or M, but if you do you’re buying into a new system.  Your appreciation of your Q and Leica may well induce you to buy on - many do.

But if you have your first M camera and a 28mm Elmarit, you have a similar camera to the Q, but you’re far more likely to add a lens or two, then upgrade your body to the next M ... I’m not saying the Q isn’t a good camera or a gateway product.  Just not as good a gateway product as a system camera (this forum is proof of that). If you decide you want a 50mm lens to go with your 28mm Q, you can’t just add a lens. You have to buy a system camera and a lens - that’s an expensive step in Leicaland, and you end up with two cameras - big step ...