redfalo Posted March 10, 2008 Share #1 Posted March 10, 2008 Advertisement (gone after registration) Last week I met Andreas Kaufmann for an interview in Solms which is published today on Handelsblatt.com. We just put an english version online: http://www.handelsblatt.com/news/default_200038_1401865.aspx Yours Olaf Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted March 10, 2008 Posted March 10, 2008 Hi redfalo, Take a look here Interview with Andreas Kaufmann on Handelsblatt.com. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
george + Posted March 10, 2008 Share #2 Posted March 10, 2008 This is excellent Olaf. Many thanks. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted March 10, 2008 Share #3 Posted March 10, 2008 An interesting and balanced interview. It will not put all speculation to rest, but I fail to see how Mr. Kaufmann could say more in his position. It conveys the impression that things are well in hand - now - and gives some interesting hints at the causes of the recent upheaval. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted March 10, 2008 Share #4 Posted March 10, 2008 Interesting indeed. Some pretty strong hints that there's a desire to build a 'digital' CL. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spylaw4 Posted March 10, 2008 Share #5 Posted March 10, 2008 Fascinating - as much for what it did not say, as for what it did and implied. Now I wonder who AK is on here? And a more active role - very interesting! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest stnami Posted March 10, 2008 Share #6 Posted March 10, 2008 ............ one for the rumour mongers Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted March 10, 2008 Share #7 Posted March 10, 2008 Advertisement (gone after registration) AK is your name!!! :eek: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted March 10, 2008 Share #8 Posted March 10, 2008 I am Spartacus! Interesting too that he said he didn't post here 'very often' - presumably his posts are in the German section of the forum. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevelap Posted March 10, 2008 Share #9 Posted March 10, 2008 Olaf, Very interesting. I get the feeling that Leica is in very capable hands and that Herr Kaufmann has a clear view of how he wants the company and its products to develop. Many thanks Steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted March 10, 2008 Share #10 Posted March 10, 2008 Interesting indeed. Some pretty strong hints that there's a desire to build a 'digital' CL. Good sense always prevails soon or late. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted March 10, 2008 Share #11 Posted March 10, 2008 Didn't exactly seem enthusiastic about the D3 either. I got the feeling that any D4 will be a different beast. Maybe the CL he was talking about with AE and AF? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
vertekijker Posted March 10, 2008 Share #12 Posted March 10, 2008 Confidence building. Interesting that they read this forum! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom0511 Posted March 10, 2008 Share #13 Posted March 10, 2008 I feel he did not say anything. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted March 10, 2008 Share #14 Posted March 10, 2008 Great "scoop" Olaf. Good to hear some direct input instead of all the third-hand "insights" and speculation that has been the fodder here for far too long. Regards, Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted March 10, 2008 Share #15 Posted March 10, 2008 Didn't exactly seem enthusiastic about the D3 either. I got the feeling that any D4 will be a different beast. Maybe the CL he was talking about with AE and AF? My fingers are crossed for a "back to the future" D4 along the lines of a revamped D2... Regards, Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted March 10, 2008 Share #16 Posted March 10, 2008 Interesting, reassuring, well balanced ... and the personal partecipation to the Forum is good by itself... and a lot FUNNY for us (jaap : AK is too easy.... ) Maybe he's in the German forum... but if he's really smart, better to have a window on a broader market... Let's see if some meber would post something like "That's for you, Kaufmann !" - The lawsuit affair with Lee is normal... and he says they are "relaxed" about... - The "CL concept" appreciation is one of the very interesting points - "Something" shall be seen at Photokina - "embedding" the UVIR filter I think could be a future upgrade... - Suppose ONE UVIR filter costs them 50 Euros, delivered (100 Euro in my shop... bought another last week) ... he speaks of 2 Mil. cost ... this makes 20.000 M8 delivered... no bad but neither a spectacular success. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rosuna Posted March 10, 2008 Share #17 Posted March 10, 2008 The interview is very interesting. Where is Leica heading in general? State of the art camerals and lenses will be our core business. The M8 is our flagship, but we cannot earn our living from the M8 alone.We´re working under high pressure to widen our product range. You saw the first step on the Photokina in 2006. You´ll see the next steps on the Photokina in 2008. Leica hasn't a complete portfolio o digital products, so the sales have a stable/slighly declining trend. The M system can attract new customers if the price of the camera is reduced and if this special system is presented as a strong alternative for particular types of photography. Please don´t forget that we´re a medium sized company. Our R&D capabilities are limited. Leica is not Microsoft. They cannot develop 50 new state-of-the-art products every year. Why is the camera and lens business as unprofitable as it is? This is due to our massive investments within the photography segment. We have projects in the pipeline which represent investments in the range of double-digit millions. They are making a real effort! Users of the Leica SLR system, the “R” system, are particularly unsettled at the moment. They wonder if and how the R system will be continued in the digital world. You can be assured that to us it´s very clear what’s going to happen with regard to the topic SLR. We´re developing a solution which we will present to the public. And there are a DSRL development project. The 4/3 line is not so promising at this moment. Two systems (R and M) is enough, considering the need for cheaper entry-level products for the M and maybe even the R system. I think this interview makes clear (and brigther) many points. Customers should have a more positive and optimistic feeling about Leica's future. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Photoskeptic Posted March 10, 2008 Share #18 Posted March 10, 2008 Thank you, Olaf, for posting this. I thought the interview was quite positive and Kaufmann seems to have a grasp of the issues and the wherewithall to follow through with solutions which will benefit everyone. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marknorton Posted March 10, 2008 Share #19 Posted March 10, 2008 I like the comment that "the employees have been happy since a few weeks (ago)"... Do you think they had a whip-round to send a certain person on his way? I know what AK's user id is but I'm not telling. Less than 10 posts. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marknorton Posted March 10, 2008 Share #20 Posted March 10, 2008 Leica is not Microsoft. They cannot develop 50 new state-of-the-art products every year. LOL, I agree Microsoft cannot develop 50 state-of-the-art products every year. Windows Vista, anyone? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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