Did this ever happen? New Film body

[Anbaric]

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2 minutes ago, earleygallery said:

I don't think engraving a different country would enable them to reduce the cost (as you say, most production is in Portugal as it is) and a plain brown card box would save how much?

That was kind of my point - they couldn't really save anything significant in the production costs, they'd just be signalling that this camera was a little lower in the hierarchy than the top of the range, Wetzlar-blessed model they'd still be selling at the original price. In practice, they'd be accepting a smaller margin on each (probably only slightly) cheaper camera, but getting some good publicity that would generate interest in the brand. Imagine all those YouTube videos from Camera Influencers about the 'M6.2'...

I don't think a cheaper camera is actually going to happen, and if it did the price difference would be very modest, but it might be an interesting marketing strategy. As you say, a substantially cheaper camera would have to be made by some partner elsewhere, and as a luxury brand that's not the market Leica is in.

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[Herr Barnack]

On 5/26/2022 at 4:57 AM, frame-it said:

m6 without electronics is like an m4p

Leica could produce a modern version of the M4-P, but it wouldn't be substantially lower in price than the $5600 USD M-A. 

Why?  Leica won't let an M camera be made in China and I'm glad for that.  L cameras are made in Germany.  Making them in Portugal wouldn't lower the price much, either.

Then there is the issue of the Leica level of materials, quality and craftsmanship.  Leica will not lower their standards to make a low quality M camera for the masses - and that is a good thing.  A (supposed) M camera built down to a $1500 or $2000 USD price point would not be a Leica M. 

Whether it's cameras, time pieces or automobiles - impeccable design, materials, quality and craftsmanship come at higher prices. 

 

 

Edited June 13, 2022 by Herr Barnack

[madNbad]

M cameras have always been made in far fewer numbers than cameras from Canon or Nikon. They’re a niche product for enthusiasts and a limited number of professionals. Lower production equates to a higher cost. With the, Titan, Leica more or less announced the M-A will be the primary film body offered. No electronics to worry about and a proven design. Leica is still the only company making a high quality film body and has done so long after many other companies have abandoned film. Sure, I would love to have a brand new M body for half the price of an M-A but it’s not going to happen. Just the cost of skilled labor to make one easily exceeds the cost of stamping out plastic digital cameras. 250 $20,000 cameras selling out in one day let’s them know the market is there. We all know they sell every M-A that comes off the line.

[LocalHero1953]

The cost of a product to the producer is:
The cost of development (amortised)
+ cost of machinery to manufacture (amortised or divided by product run)
+ cost of materials/basic components
+ cost of labour to manufacture. 
Then add the profit margin that the producer thinks the market will bear.

My guess is that cost of materials is fairly low down the list of elements that affect the sale price of a Leica film camera. (In a digital camera, I suspect the sensor and perhaps some other tech elements take a greater share).

I have no real knowledge, but I suspect cost of skilled labour to make a new Leica film M (including the cost of training and retaining new young staff) is becoming as significant as profit margin in determining the sale price these days.

[Helge]

Three items may have to be added:

- after sales costs like service, support and warranty

- capitalization of components, semi products and ready products in stock

- all kind of maintenance of the used manufacturing equipment/machinery, some of it is really old 

I suppose the first has some significant share, the second one was about 10 years ago a real issue for Leica (large amount of stock, „dead“ capital), however might be somewhat lower today considering the stated throughput.

I don’t think material costs are this low, since Leica is buying a lot of components from suppliers. I would expect a lot of material been used for the viewfinder and the shutter here. Also labour costs for assembling those two sub systems might be very high.

[Huss]

Given the popularity, and now fragility, of cameras like the Contax T2/3, Leica Minilux and CM etc, I think a new Minilux/CM type camera would be great.  That Summarit lens was fantastic and this camera would not compete with an M.