On cannibalising sales

[Steve Ash]

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New consumers are unlikely to care about Leica's legacy.

I do not think this is particular true. For some the approach to Leica is the brand itself. To buy into such thing as a luxury item is easier if there is a story sold as well. Edited March 10, 2018 by Steve Ash

[pgk]

Leica needs not to be the best in all regards, it only needs to be very good in its niche.

 

Well put.

 

Cannibalisation implies a better or as good product at a lower price to outcompete the higher priced product. I see no indication of this in Leica's line up. What I do see is a divergence of products, but one which retains three lens systems with great cross compatibility of legacy lenses. I can't see this cannibalisation.

[helged]

"During 2017, we announced a partnership with Yuanchen Microelectronics for backside illumination manufacturing...will be ready for this mass production early second half of this year with multiple customers already having started their product designs.“

 

http://image-sensors-world.blogspot.de/2018/02/towerjazz-updates-on-its-cis-business.html

+1. It's claimed that TowerJazz is behind the excellent Nikon D850 sensor. Leica's long collaboration with TowerJ is interesting when discussing new (Leica) sensors. I would think we will see substantial modifications to the S and SL sensors (and possibly Q) in 2018.

Edited March 11, 2018 by helged

[sunil]

I heard this argument in the 70s about Honda and Toyota taking over the automobile market. In the 80s it was Nikon, then Canon in photography. Truth is I am skeptical that anyone can "take over" a particular large market. It just spurs competition and many rise to the occasion and carve out specialized niches for themselves or else just respond in a big way. I have no worries that Leica will continue to flourish - they better since I am buying their products. Worst case they'll go belly up and we'll have collectors items on our hands. Think of them as Duesenbergs or Ferraris and you'll feel a lot better. In fact, what the heck. On second thought, I hope they go belly up. 

 

 

 

 They have their eyes far down the road and are steadily setting themselves up for a full-on takeover of the industry.

Source

 

 

Sometimes to not include a feature is a feature itself. It's Leica's philosophy. It's why those cameras have the best handling and operation in the world. But if a reason to not make a camera better would ever be a worry of "cannibalising sales" - I hope Leica will learn from Sony.