More Desperate Promotions from Leica UK

[andybarton]

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My family has been in the retail business since the war. A 70% mark up is the norm, but only for goods of relatively low value (the family was in the ironmongery and hardware trade). So, if you buy some screws or nails or cleaning products, the mark up is 70%

 

If you buy fashion clothes, the mark up is at least 100%

 

If you buy a £3000 camera, the mark up will be very small indeed.

 

If you buy a car, there's probably no mark up at all, by the time you get the keys in your hand. The dealers make their money servicing the car and selling you plastic mud flaps for £100...

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

[graham_mitchell]

When I was working at an electronics retailer (audio and video) the mark up was around 50% on average, even for large ticket items which cost more than these cameras.

[MJLogan]

Speaking as someone who paid full price for a D3 when it was first released, I have to say I still love mine. I bought an original D-LUX a few years ago on a whim (because it was gorgeous), and was hooked on digital photography. Having shot for 15 years with a variety of old OM-1 bodies and just one 50mm 1.4 prime lens, I was put off by the design and control layout of every DSLR I looked at, until the L1/D3 appeared. I made a conscious decision to spend the extra for the Leica, because I thought it was more attractive, the knobs felt a bit firmer, and I preferred the JPG output.

 

I think it's a pity that the D3 isn't a big hit for Leica, and hope that they'll stick with the system, at least for a few years. The lenses (granted, there are only two so far) are great, and the body works exactly the way I want it to. I do wish both body and lenses were a bit smaller, but that's not a big deal.

 

So I don't regret the purchase at all--there is still NO alternative body that satisfies me.

[jdlaing]

Speaking as someone who paid full price for a D3 when it was first released, I have to say I still love mine. I bought an original D-LUX a few years ago on a whim (because it was gorgeous), and was hooked on digital photography. Having shot for 15 years with a variety of old OM-1 bodies and just one 50mm 1.4 prime lens, I was put off by the design and control layout of every DSLR I looked at, until the L1/D3 appeared. I made a conscious decision to spend the extra for the Leica, because I thought it was more attractive, the knobs felt a bit firmer, and I preferred the JPG output.

 

I think it's a pity that the D3 isn't a big hit for Leica, and hope that they'll stick with the system, at least for a few years. The lenses (granted, there are only two so far) are great, and the body works exactly the way I want it to. I do wish both body and lenses were a bit smaller, but that's not a big deal.

 

So I don't regret the purchase at all--there is still NO alternative body that satisfies me.

 

 

Ditto for me.

I feel the same way MJLogan does.....

And I use DSLr bodies too.

[FastFashnReloaded]

Speaking as someone who paid full price for a D3 when it was first released, I have to say I still love mine. I bought an original D-LUX a few years ago on a whim (because it was gorgeous), and was hooked on digital photography. Having shot for 15 years with a variety of old OM-1 bodies and just one 50mm 1.4 prime lens, I was put off by the design and control layout of every DSLR I looked at, until the L1/D3 appeared. I made a conscious decision to spend the extra for the Leica, because I thought it was more attractive, the knobs felt a bit firmer, and I preferred the JPG output.

 

I think it's a pity that the D3 isn't a big hit for Leica, and hope that they'll stick with the system, at least for a few years. The lenses (granted, there are only two so far) are great, and the body works exactly the way I want it to. I do wish both body and lenses were a bit smaller, but that's not a big deal.

 

So I don't regret the purchase at all--there is still NO alternative body that satisfies me.

 

I agree, I love the camera - my only beef is that the price is out of line with the equivalent Oly and PanaLeica imagers. Also the Pana version is more comfortable in my hand. The control layout is excellent, the finish is very nice, the lens is PDG.

[JBonner]

I agree with the last two posters. The D3 is a superb device. I jumped at the chance to get rid of the D2 when my sensor failed and have not regretted that decision once. The D2 is a toy in comparison. It's ridiculous viewer and the lack of interchangable lenses makes it inflexible and limited in operational usefulness. Not only is the D3 superior in every way to the earlier model, the offer made by Leica was, I thought, fair and generous in the circumstances. It may have arisen from corporate embarrassment at the almost universal failure of the D2's sensor units but to suggest that it was a "desperate promotion" is not to acknowledge that Leica, just this once, have tried to do the right thing.

[spylaw4]

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I agree with the last two posters. The D3 is a superb device. I jumped at the chance to get rid of the D2 when my sensor failed and have not regretted that decision once. The D2 is a toy in comparison. It's ridiculous viewer and the lack of interchangable lenses makes it inflexible and limited in operational usefulness. Not only is the D3 superior in every way to the earlier model, the offer made by Leica was, I thought, fair and generous in the circumstances. It may have arisen from corporate embarrassment at the almost universal failure of the D2's sensor units but to suggest that it was a "desperate promotion" is not to acknowledge that Leica, just this once, have tried to do the right thing.

 

In general I agree the L1/D3 is a good camera, and the lenses so far are "PDG" as has been said, but it's certainly not perfect. What I would take (a friendly) issue with is that the D2 is "a toy in comparison", which is rather like comparing apples and oranges. It's a differnt animal entirely, produces superb results and although I have not used mine very much since I got the L1, I can cope with its idiosyncracies and can't quite bring my self to sell it. If the sensor goes on mine I'll have it repaired.

 

I add my voice to say that I hope Leica stick with 4/3 for at least another camera iteration, as the technology is improving all the time. Perhaps Leica will consider applying their own skill to sensor/noise (we should be so lucky)!

[elansprint72]

I jumped at the chance to get rid of the D2 when my sensor failed and have not regretted that decision once. The D2 is a toy in comparison. It's ridiculous viewer and the lack of interchangable lenses makes it inflexible and limited in operational usefulness.

 

Look forward with interest to seeing some of your masterworks posted in the photo forum.

 

That's myself and the rest of the D2 toy-users put in my place.

[JBonner]

Look forward with interest to seeing some of your masterworks posted in the photo forum.

 

That's myself and the rest of the D2 toy-users put in my place.

 

No need to get tetchy. Merely my personal opinion, having owned both.

[Guest stnami]

Unfortunatly its not a very good personal opinion,................

[JBonner]

Unfortunatly its not a very good personal opinion,................

 

Because it differs from yours?

 

So much for diversity of thought.

[Guest stnami]

.............nahhh mine has always been better, and don't you forget it!!!!............I wonder how many D3s it takes to weigh a body down for use as fish bait.....

[rob_x2004]

None...Being a panasonic it floats. And comes with a built in tuna.

[Guest stnami]

..................yea but it is a lot bigger than a can of tuna

[MrEd]

Ex retail.

 

Karlitos

Ok, where you in the front?. or in the back office going over the Numbers the wholesalers where giving you? at the present time or a few decades back? and what kind of retail business was/is?

 

 

 

 

.sounds interesting....

[JBonner]

I see that this forum is maintaining its usual high standard of well-informed debate. Always a pleasure to engage with such mature and thoughtful folk.

[Guest stnami]

.................happy to please and willing to come down to your level buddy:p

[karlitos]

Ok, where you in the front?. or in the back office going over the Numbers the wholesalers where giving you? at the present time or a few decades back? and what kind of retail business was/is?

 

 

 

 

.sounds interesting....

 

Front and back office, (that sounds dodgy). And recently. Major profit lines, as a previous poster said, are the add ons: bags, cards, filters, printer media, etc. Not enough to live on with hard ware. It was a common misconception that we made lashings of profit on hardware and therfore could slash prices all over the place. Some customers would get the hump if I didn't casually knock off £50. If I did that with a Nikon/Canon DSLR outfit it would end up being sold for less than invoice. Can't survive like that. (cough! Jessops, cough!) I have heard it said, over the years, that Leica as a international brand would not de-value their products with cash discounts. But they certainly seem to be doing it by other means in the case of the D3. I still like the D3 though, and won't part with it in a hurry.

 

Karlitos.

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Hallo,

Look here: Interesting Leica gear

[guywalder]

I don't want to laugh, but when I first looked at the D3 I just wondered who was this idiot

who designed this monstrosity.

A body in the shape of an Leica M and a R lens attached to it.( it's also large))

I said at the time on this forum, it had the same weight to about my 1A filter on my 28-90mm lens, and personally don't hold much future for it.

 

Many on this Leica forum continue to push Leica forward on it's future existence by taking on board fully this Electronic medium.

 

..........................................................WELL.......................................................

 

Leica should be more careful about treading on this Digital bandwagon, it could be more harm then good, remember Minolta.

In my view, they should be more astute in selecting in what models they market and sell.

Stick to what they know best, thats making quality products like in the M and R range.

Sure make Lenses for Panasonic, but not take on board some of their fly by night wonders.

 

.......................................................KEEP OFF...........................................................

 

In making and marketing mickey mouse cameras, otherwise they will need to convert Solms or Wetzlar to Werehouses to store the spare parts for them.

These modern Electronic cams are not designed to last, and thats contrary to Leica's ethics.

 

Ken.

 

PS..... How about a film scanner, I am sure there will be a market for that.

 

 

as the UK's most successful event promoter said in interview 'never make the mistake of promoting what you like personally at the expense of promoting what other people will pay to see'.

Look at Leica's commercial reports, its compact digital cameras that are showing the most sales growth. Yet even with the substantial mark up compared to Panasonic's versions of the same thing, Leica are still only making small profits.

It'll be interesting to see if that growth holds up overall since the launch of the D3.

[FastFashnReloaded]

I don't want to laugh, but when I first looked at the D3 I just wondered who was this idiot

who designed this monstrosity.

A body in the shape of an Leica M and a R lens attached to it.( it's also large))

I said at the time on this forum, it had the same weight to about my 1A filter on my 28-90mm lens, and personally don't hold much future for it.

 

Many on this Leica forum continue to push Leica forward on it's future existence by taking on board fully this Electronic medium.

 

..........................................................WELL.......................................................

 

Leica should be more careful about treading on this Digital bandwagon, it could be more harm then good, remember Minolta.

In my view, they should be more astute in selecting in what models they market and sell.

Stick to what they know best, thats making quality products like in the M and R range.

Sure make Lenses for Panasonic, but not take on board some of their fly by night wonders.

 

.......................................................KEEP OFF...........................................................

 

In making and marketing mickey mouse cameras, otherwise they will need to convert Solms or Wetzlar to Werehouses to store the spare parts for them.

These modern Electronic cams are not designed to last, and thats contrary to Leica's ethics.

 

Ken.

 

PS..... How about a film scanner, I am sure there will be a market for that.

 

Actually, modern electronic cameras are built to last, within the limits of the technology. The shutters are the same as they have been for ages, metering is better than it has ever been, and actually there are fewer moving parts in a digital camera than a film camera.

The reason that old Leica Ms (with cleaning and adjustments) lasted so long is because there really isn't very much to them. From a technical POV, it isn't hard for a little old lady with a sewing machine to make cloth shutter curtains.

 

Insofar as ETHICS are concerned, child, the ETHIC is to make money for the company. They aren't in business to make gold and platinum paper weights.

 

"I don't want to laugh, but when I first looked at the D3 I just wondered who was this idiot

who designed this monstrosity." I'm sure some Leica fanatics said the same thing about the M5. Time to wake up and smell the coffee, try new things (some will work out and some won't but no reason to stop trying) and keep pushing the envelope.