More Desperate Promotions from Leica UK

[Black Dot]

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It doesn't have to be that way. Leica could do more to differentiate their versions from the Panasonic counterparts.

 

In any event, most people simply wanted minor upgrades to the Digilux 2. Faster RAW times, O.I.S. and a cleaner sensor. Maybe improve upon the LCD/EVF. A rare case where giving your customers what they have been asking for actually saves the manufacturer money as well. Instead they decided to spend all that time and money to take an SLR and make it look like the Digilux 2. A completely different type of camera.

 

I never really understood the 4/3 format. I understood what they wanted it to be but that just wasn't happening. That was clear early on. There is no cost savings and it can't quite compete at higher ISOs compared to the APS and FF sensor based cameras. It's the middle ground but without the price savings to match. I think it would make a nice sensor for high-end point and shoot and bridge cameras but they never explored that market.

 

Bring on the Digilux 2 mkII already! Yeah, never going to happen.

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[adan]

Actually, when Leica came out with so many varied PanaLeicas in 2006, including the Digilux-3, my first impression was that it was a marketing trial - "Let's scatter the bread upon the waters and see what happens".

 

Back in film days, Leica had one APS camera, and I know they had a prototype 110 camera in the 70s (don't think that one went to market, but might be wrong). So they've always been willing to experiment with formats.

 

Plus they knew the DMR/R9 was at the end of its run, for a whole host of reasons, and that they had a 2-year gap to cover before the digital R was ready, so what the heck - try the D3 and see if 4/3rds had any traction. Now they know.

 

The V-Lux, by comparison, seems to be holding its own.

[sdai]

In any event, most people simply wanted minor upgrades to the Digilux 2. ... A completely different type of camera.

 

 

I don't think that Leica really wanted to bother with 4/3 in the first place but ... Panasonic offered them no choice, no direct upgrade model to rebadge.

 

On the other hand, I guess Panasonic must have already made more than 10 times the money they paid to use Leica's trademark on their crappy DCs which would otherwise not sell.

[MrEd]

sounds like not many forum members know or understand the ins and outs of retail business. Please take note:

The retail mark-up is always 50% to 70% of the wholesale price. So if they are giving consumers 45% off, they still make money. Simple.

You can take this to the bank.

 

 

 

 

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[Guest stnami]

I'm with Rob on this no use complaining we all knew it was a Panasonic.......the predecessors were the same it is just some refused to believe...........Leica just tried to dupe the wrong crowd

[ptomsu]

What these promotions show to me is that they need to get rid of stock in Digilux3, because even if they are not coming with a Digilux4, Pana will bring the successor to their L1 and then nobody will buy any longer Digilux3's.

 

Reasonable?

[rjans]

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What these promotions show to me is that they need to get rid of stock in Digilux3, because even if they are not coming with a Digilux4, Pana will bring the successor to their L1 and then nobody will buy any longer Digilux3's.

 

Reasonable?

 

Sounds very reasonable. They have to get rid of remaining stock. That was also with the comparable Oly E-330 where the rebate was almost 60 %. I think the next Digilux/Pana will not be a poro prism system. Oly seems to have left that track when introducing the E 410 and E 510.

 

Best

[marknorton]

Perhaps they should prioritise M9 and R10 orders to those with not just one, but the most Digilux 3's.

 

"10 Digilux 3s, Sir? Please step right this way!"

 

Whatever, I think the D3 is in deep do-dos, I wonder just how many there are clogging up the place?

[rob_x2004]

Enough for leica to need to lift their prices across the board.

They do need leader lines though. I know the pompus say it isnt necessary.

But these days every success story has branding identifiable product to get you started.

[Hacker]

I'm not sure that even if they bundled in a free 25 f/1.4, it would be enough to tip the balance.

 

 

The 25mm is a one-hit wonder. The 45mm is no where in sight and look at the 14-35mm from Oly, 3 years in the making, 2 missed deadines and exists only in brochures. People rave about the E3, but look what the competition has come out with.

[ptomsu]

The 25mm is a one-hit wonder. The 45mm is no where in sight and look at the 14-35mm from Oly, 3 years in the making, 2 missed deadines and exists only in brochures. People rave about the E3, but look what the competition has come out with.

 

So what did the competition come out with which could top the E-3 ????

[ptomsu]

Sounds very reasonable. They have to get rid of remaining stock. That was also with the comparable Oly E-330 where the rebate was almost 60 %. I think the next Digilux/Pana will not be a poro prism system. Oly seems to have left that track when introducing the E 410 and E 510.

 

Best

 

Yes I think the PORO prism was a dead end development. I would love to see a competitive camera to the E-3 from Pana & Leica with a finder unit at least as good or even better as in the E-3. Maybe this would be an optical high end development by Leica for that camera, so they could significantly contribute to the success of that new product.

[karlitos]

sounds like not many forum members know or understand the ins and outs of retail business. Please take note:

The retail mark-up is always 50% to 70% of the wholesale price. So if they are giving consumers 45% off, they still make money. Simple.

You can take this to the bank.

 

 

 

 

.

 

That statement doesn't ring true I'm affraid. Do you mean 50% to 70% from manufacturing cost? If you're suggesting dealers have a 50%+ mark up, then I can assure you that is definately not the case in the UK. Try knocking the zero out of the figure and that is much closer. If you mean that Leica Uk's set RRP is 50-70% above their cost, that I will accept, but these things always undermine dealers.

 

Karlitos

[MrEd]

That statement doesn't ring true I'm affraid. Do you mean 50% to 70% from manufacturing cost? If you're suggesting dealers have a 50%+ mark up, then I can assure you that is definately not the case in the UK. Try knocking the zero out of the figure and that is much closer. If you mean that Leica Uk's set RRP is 50-70% above their cost, that I will accept, but these things always undermine dealers.

 

Karlitos

 

Are you in the retail business?

 

 

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[AlanG]

Are you in the retail business?

 

 

.

 

My cousin owned two camera stores in the Washington DC area. I worked there on my summer vacations in high school and college back in the 60s and early 70s. The markup varied a bit from brand to brand. The list price for some brands often represented about a 40 percent profit. For Leica it was lower. But we could never sell at list. Often we'd make more profit on the camera case, UV filter and a couple of rolls of film than we did on an SLR and normal lens.

 

These days, I'm sure margins are pretty low on cameras due to intense competition. If a camera is being discounted heavily by all retailers, then the manufacturer is probably giving some kind of rebate or incentive to the dealer.

 

By the way there are other factors that come into play with camera costs. A big manufacturer such as Canon or Nikon will give co-op ad money, delayed payments, and often "free" accessories based on purchase volume of that brand or other sales promotions. Sometimes it is hard to get down to the exact cost of a specific item.

[FastFashnReloaded]

I'm not sure that even if they bundled in a free 25 f/1.4, it would be enough to tip the balance.

 

I had been hoping the E-3 would be more OM1..4 like, and make a good Leica M compliment, but it's as big as APS-C DSLRs and there are still no compact primes.

If the Digilux 3 had been launched with a 20 f/2.8 pancake - I would have fallen for it.

But now 4/3 is looking a lost cause - akin to APS film.

 

At least no temptations means I can keep saving up for a M9.

 

Whatever. How many E-510s have been sold? How many E-500s, 410s, 330s and 300s? The Digilux three is an Oly E-330, which you can buy for around $550 with a two lens kit. Why would you buy the same thing with a crippled live view for a thousand dollars more?

 

THIS isn't the fault of the Four Thirds system, it's a problem with pricing the da__ thing out of the market.

 

If someone on here, Mr., said that the M8 was the death of Leica because they have only sold X number instead of XXX, he would be jumped on as a troll. I think you are trolling, Mr.

[FastFashnReloaded]

The 25mm is a one-hit wonder. The 45mm is no where in sight and look at the 14-35mm from Oly, 3 years in the making, 2 missed deadines and exists only in brochures. People rave about the E3, but look what the competition has come out with.

 

Troll, troll, troll.

 

Wow, look at how long it is taking Leica to come our with an R"10" or an M that doesn't need IR filters. Look at how long it is taking Canon to come out with a compact camera with a full frame sensor (Sigma did it), or a series of lenses that don't look like alien sex toys.

[Guest stnami]

Dan Sigma have come out with nothing or can't you read and understand in a proper sequence

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Hallo,

Look here: Interesting Leica gear

[FastFashnReloaded]

Dan Sigma have come out with nothing or can't you read and understand in a proper sequence

 

I meant APS sized sensor, sorry, and yes, we are still waiting for the actual production Sigma DP-1 unit to be released. By the way, is that Anglish yer badly manglin' in that post of yours?

 

Canon hasn't come out with anything really new and interesting in ages. They are like Microsoft - take a good idea that someone else came up with and flog every gram of interesting out of it. Nikon isn't much better. After all, boring and similar is safe!

 

Who had the first full frame (35mm sized) digital SLR? Who had the first autofocus SLR? Who had the first color live view SLR with adjustable angle LCD? Who made the first (and so far only) autofocus rangefinder? Who had the first, off the film plane, metering systems? The answer to all these questions are NOT Canon and Nikon.

 

It is always easy to steal someone else' good idea and "perfect" it.

 

Thank the goddess for Oly, Leica, Zeiss and Cosina, without which we would all be walking around with Digital Rebel clones.

[karlitos]

Are you in the retail business?

 

 

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Ex retail.

 

Karlitos