Interview with Andreas Kaufmann on Handelsblatt.com

[redfalo]

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I absolutely agree with James on the IR cut filter thing. This was a communication desaster which could easily have been avoided. I guess they underestimated the strength of the IR effect. Otherwise they woulnd´t have handed a demo M8 to LFI without an IR filter. That was really embarrasing.

 

Regarding Kaufmann I have to agree that he seems quite reasonable. Almost no management blurb. I got the impression that he knows what he´s doing and where the company is heading.

 

Remains only one awkward question: If Lee was really doing such a bad job, why didn´t he (or the board in general) intervene much earlier?

 

@mym6is12: ever tried an M8 for more than 5 minutes? I bet you´ll love it if you like Ms...

[aXs]

Olaf

 

With all due respect, I wish to correct you: it is much more than that. Look at LFI Leica magazine from 2/2007 "Alles wird gut"/ "All will be good" by Holgar Sparr (German and international editions). If you have considered the previous M8 article in LFI magazine a "communication desaster" - did your opinion change after Holgar Sparr's piece? ( 6 month time span from Photokina Sept/2006 to LFI 2/2007).

 

...on the IR cut filter thing...this was a communication desaster which could easily have been avoided. they...handed a demo M8 to LFI without an IR filter. That was really embarrasing...

 

Steven K. Lee

 

In my opinion, he was a visionary manager and had strong ideas about promoting the M8 camera ("product placement" with film stars and TV personalities) - also his creative projects and art events and the whole tie-in with Leica Flagship-stores. Kaufmann hired him for these kinds of ideas...

 

...regarding Kaufmann... remains only one awkward question: If [steven K.] Lee was really doing such a bad job, why didn´t...[Kaufmann]... intervene much earlier?

 

Axel

 

Axel Sanders

[CameronDavidson]

An interesting interview, he gave as much as he could and expressed his concerns and thoughts. I am impressed.

 

Even though I sold my M8 bodies and am now shooting with my M6's, I would consider going back to a digital M in the future. Maybe the next generation.

 

I enjoyed reading the article. Thank you for the link.

[aXs]

Olaf,

 

another point, is when you stated "[Andreas Kaufmann has] some 'strong stuff' against Steven K. Lee". But didn't you get the impression it was more of a conflict of strong personalities - Kaufmann vs Lee - and a question of Leica's corporate-culture resistent to change?

 

...regarding the lawsuit or the sacking of [steven K. Lee]... Kaufmann did not say anything more... I got the feeling that they [Leica Camera AG] have some strong stuff against Lee... Kaufmann declined to comment...

 

Axel

 

Axel Sanders

[jaapv]

Olaf

 

With all due respect, I wish to correct you: it is much more than that. Look at LFI Leica magazine from 2/2007 "Alles wird gut"/ "All will be good" by Holgar Sparr (German and international editions). If you have considered the previous M8 article in LFI magazine a "communication desaster" - did your opinion change after Holgar Sparr's piece? ( 6 month time span from Photokina Sept/2006 to LFI 2/2007).

 

 

 

Axel

 

Axel Sanders

 

 

The "disaster"was most in the Internet hype that followed, not in the fact itself. Maybe a new-age marketing manager could have foreseen that, I don't know. At any rate, taking my first flash photograph with the M8 of our black cat sitting in my wife's lap, who was wearing a black blouse showed up the magenta. It took me about two seconds to identify the problem, as I knew somebody who went through IR woes with a Nikon D70 a few months before that, and I bought an IR cut filter the next morning. For me that was : problem solved.....

I believe Leica when they say it was simply not picked up in the beta testing. After all, it was summer in southern Germany, not many persons wear synthetics there, days were long, not much flash, so maybe the situation did not arise often enough to attract attention.

Either that or a miscommunication between R&D and Marketing. But a honest mistake, not a conspiracy.

It might have been wise for Mr. Kaufmann to have said one sentence on the subject in the interview, if only to lay this ghost of the past to rest.

[aXs]

As we all know, the history of Leica's communication about the IR-problem and IR filters was during the first 6 months. The M8 product launch in Sept 2006 to February 2007 (Leica's official statement "Alles wird gut") published in their in-house magazine LFI 2/2007.

 

jaapv:

re: the recent interview with Kaufmann 10/3/2008 and the M8 article in LFI-magazine 2/2007:

Olaf expressed his feeling, that Andreas Kaufmann had "some 'strong stuff' against Steven K. Lee" - but this 'one sentence' (or a similiar one) was not to be read in the published version in the Handelsblatt newspaper (I asked Olaf about this point and wrote to him at his newspaper).

 

...it might have been wise for Mr. Kaufmann to have said 'one sentence' on the subject [LFI article about M8] in the interview, if only to lay this ghost of the past to rest...

 

It is certainly a problem of Leica corporate communications. R&D and Marketing/PR departments are also important areas of control for Leica's board of directors and Andreas Kaufmann.

Now pointing the finger towards the "ghost" of Steven K. Lee or the "ghost" of Gero F., (former head of Leica PR/communications) doesn't make sense.

 

...a miscommunication between R&D and Marketing...

 

LFI-magazine published interviews with Kaufmann and Leica events/exhibitions, but there was never mention about possible mixed signals and as Olaf stated: "...remains only one awkward question: If Steven K. Lee was really doing such a bad job, why didn´t Kaufmann (or the board in general) intervene much earlier?

 

Leica's communication about the IR-problem was during the first 6 months from Sept 2006 to February 2007 (Leica's official statement "Alles wird gut") in their in-house magazine LFI 2/2007.

 

 

Axel

 

Axel Sanders

[redfalo]

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Olaf,

 

another point, is when you stated "[Andreas Kaufmann has] some 'strong stuff' against Steven K. Lee". But didn't you get the impression it was more of a conflict of strong personalities - Kaufmann vs Lee - and a question of Leica's corporate-culture resistent to change?

 

 

 

Axel

 

No, I didn´t get this impression.

[jaapv]

It is certainly a problem of Leica corporate communications. R&D and Marketing/PR departments are also important areas of control for Leica's board of directors and Andreas Kaufmann.

Now pointing the finger towards the "ghost" of Steven K. Lee or the "ghost" of Gero F., (former head of Leica PR/communications) doesn't make sense.

 

You misread my post: the ghost is not a person but the IR snafu at the introduction.

 

LFI-magazine published interviews with Kaufmann and Leica events/exhibitions, but there was never mention about possible mixed signals and as Olaf stated: "...remains only one awkward question: If Steven K. Lee was really doing such a bad job, why didn´t Kaufmann (or the board in general) intervene much earlier?

 

 

Axel

 

Axel Sanders

 

 

No there was no mention of an internal communications mix-up. Nobody said there was as a hard fact, as no explanation ever came out of Solms ( nor was there an obligation for such an explanation btw)

But it is reasonable to assume it as one of the possible reasons behind the affair. And Mr. Lee had nothing to do with the introduction. He was not even connected to Leica back then....

[mjh]

Leica's communication about the IR-problem was during the first 6 months from Sept 2006 to February 2007 (Leica's official statement "Alles wird gut") in their in-house magazine LFI 2/2007.

Just to make that clear: LFI isn’t published by Leica. Articles in LFI represent the views of their respective authors, not necessarily those of Leica.

[sdai]

It seems to me that every journalist should hire a lawyer to read their stuff before getting published ... just imagine the number of question, and different ways people read INTO it.

[earleygallery]

It seems to me that every journalist should hire a lawyer to read their stuff before getting published ... just imagine the number of question, and different ways people read INTO it.

 

I think that is exactly why most politicians and businessmen speak the way they do, lots of ambiguity so that its really hard to tell what they have really said at all.

[redfalo]

Just to make that clear: LFI isn’t published by Leica. Articles in LFI represent the views of their respective authors, not necessarily those of Leica.

 

That´s true. They are not really independent, either. They are, for example, mentioned in on page 10 of Leicas current annual report (german edition) as independet but tigthly related ("Eng mit dem Unternehmen verbunden ist die unabhängige Zeitschrift Leica Fotografie International").

yours

Olaf

[bill]

I think that is exactly why most politicians and businessmen speak the way they do, lots of ambiguity so that its really hard to tell what they have really said at all.

 

Let me introduce you to my good friend, the "safe harbor (sic) statement":

 

"This document is for informational purposes. It is not a commitment to deliver any material, code, or functionality, and should not be relied upon in making purchasing decisions. The development, release, and timing of any features or functionality described in this document remains at the sole discretion of XXXXXX. This document in any form, software or printed matter, contains proprietary information that is the exclusive property of XXXXXX. This document and information contained herein may not be disclosed, copied, reproduced or distributed to anyone outside XXXXXX without prior written consent of XXXXXX. This document is not part of your license agreement nor can it be incorporated into any contractual agreement with XXXXXXX or its subsidiaries or affiliates."

 

Regards,

 

Bill

 

P.S. I think I am going to start using a variation of this in my signature, for the benefit of our more litigious readers

[mjh]

That´s true. They are not really independent, either. They are, for example, mentioned in on page 10 of Leicas current annual report (german edition) as independet but tigthly related ("Eng mit dem Unternehmen verbunden ist die unabhängige Zeitschrift Leica Fotografie International").

Sure there’s a special relationship; for one thing, LFI is using the Leica name and the red dot by permission. But when I’m writing for LFI, I don’t take orders from Leica.

[mooky]

To Mr. Kauffman,,,,,,,

I am pleased with the fact you made yourself available for the interview. It is always good to hear from 'the top brass' speak as candidly as possible about Leica camera and products. I hope we can look forward to more information, I thank you, and I look forward to Photokina (especially the R system) and the future. Best of Luck........

[aXs]

LFI-magazine 2/2007 - Leica Fotografie International:

 

Michael, (mjh),

 

as a journalist working for Leica's LFI-magazine, I'm sure you are well aware, LFI-magazine has been published since 1948 and is the in-house magazine of Leica Camera AG. A few years ago - and part of their new strategy - Leica "outsourced" several of its corporate activities and also granted a license to _continue_ publishing their Leica branded LFI-magazine to "IDC Corporate Publishing GmbH", a company registered in Hamburg. The legal responsible director Frank P. Lohstöter of IDC is the same Editor-in-Chief of LFI-magazine.

 

Therefore, with all due repect, I repeat: "Leica's official statement "Alles wird gut" was published in Leica's in-house magazine LFI 2/2007.

 

 

Just to make that clear: LFI isn’t published by Leica. Articles in LFI represent the views of their respective authors, not necessarily those of Leica.

 

Your statement is misleading: LFI-magazine is in fact published under license from Leica Camera AG. The legal relationship between Leica Camera AG and LFI-magazine and IDC GmbH has been clearly stated in various Leica financial documents, annual reports and investors information given to banks.

 

The legal responsible director Frank P. Lohstöter of IDC Corprate Publishing GmbH is the same Editor-in-Chief of LFI-magazine. What ever gets published in LFI-magazine - text or images or advertisements and announcements - he is responsible to Leica Camera AG.

 

Axel

 

Axel Sanders

 

 

As we all know, the history of Leica's communication about the IR-problem and IR filters was during the first 6 months. The M8 product launch in Sept 2006 to February 2007 (Leica's official statement "Alles wird gut") published in their in-house magazine LFI 2/2007.

 

re: the recent interview with Kaufmann 10/3/2008 and the M8 article in LFI-magazine 2/2007

[redfalo]

Sure there’s a special relationship; for one thing, LFI is using the Leica name and the red dot by permission. But when I’m writing for LFI, I don’t take orders from Leica.

 

Michael, I didn´t want to offend you. Sorry if I did. I´m a subscriber to LFI and really like it. Especially the articles about digtial workflow, the portfolios and the detailed tests of Leica gear.

 

BUT I´d wish that LFI would develop a certain critical distance regarding the business decisions of the company. For example from my personal point of view the article about the M8 update in the lasted issue really was a joke. Uncritical and superficial. And why don´t they do a story about all the complains regarding the customer service, for example?

[aXs]

Olaf and Michael,

 

(mjh)'s statement is misleading: LFI-magazine is in fact published under license from Leica Camera AG.

 

The legal relationship between Leica Camera AG and LFI-magazine and IDC GmbH has been clearly stated in various Leica financial documents, annual reports and investors information given to banks.

 

... wish LFI-magazine would develop a certain critical distance regarding the business decisions of [Leica Camera AG]... [and]...article about M8 update in the last issue really was... uncritical and superficial... [and]...all the complaints regarding customer service?...

 

Just read again the editorial comment in LFI-magazine (1/2007) regarding a problem with Leica's corporate communications:

 

"...perhaps blinded Leica into being overly covert at first, with a little transparency things would have looked quite different..."

 

The legal responsible director Frank P. Lohstöter of IDC Corprate Publishing GmbH is the same Editor-in-Chief of LFI-magazine. What ever gets published in LFI-magazine - text or images or advertisements and announcements - he is responsible to Leica Camera AG.

 

I ask the same question to Leica's in-house magazine LFI: How would things would have looked quite different regarding customer service complaints today?

 

 

Axel

 

Axel Sanders

[mjh]

Therefore, with all due repect, I repeat: "Leica's official statement "Alles wird gut" was published in Leica's in-house magazine LFI 2/2007.

And still, neither can this article be construed as an official statement by Leica – Leica issues press releases if they want to make official statements – nor is LFI an “in-house magazine“, its special relationship with Leica notwithstanding. If you intend to make an argument based on Leica’s position on certain issues, you will have to quote Leica, not LFI (unless LFI is quoting Leica representatives, of course).

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Hallo,

Look here: Interesting Leica gear

[mjh]

For example from my personal point of view the article about the M8 update in the lasted issue really was a joke. Uncritical and superficial.

I wouldn’t call it that, but on the other hand, I don’t think anyone was completely satisfied with the result. But that’s the problem when you are writing for a print magazine (and I’ve been bitten by that, too): even when you get information ahead of time, it may already be superseded by more detailed or more accurate info when the magazine hits the newsstands.