Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2002/09/28
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]We do not know what is going on behind closed doors at Solms, but it seems pretty clear that Leica simply does not have the size and resources to develop a digital R or M camera on its own. That is why its two previous forays into digital (disregarding the S1 or whatever it was called) have been in partnership with Fuji and Panasonic, respectively. When and if a digital R camera comes, it will have to be essentially a rebadged Nikon or Canon with a Leica lens on it. Longer term, I am convinced that if Leica is to survive, it will have to be acquired by one of the big camera makers, where it will serve two functions: 1) It will provide optical expertise to the rest of the group of which it will now be a part; 2) It will serve as the luxury division, continuing to sell the M line to those who want this type of camera. Not too dissimilar from what we see in the auto industry, where most of the old luxury brands are now owned by the mainstream companies (e.g. Jaguar is part of Ford etc.). Nathan Steve Huntley wrote: > Yes, it's a big disappointment Leica hasn't produced a digital SLR. > This is the company that invented 35 mm photography, yet one gets the > feeling that Leica is on the verge of missing the digital revolution > just like it missed the SLR revolution in the early 1960s. > > Steve > - -- Nathan Wajsman Herrliberg (ZH), Switzerland e-mail: wajsman@webshuttle.ch mobile: +41 78 732 1430 Photo-A-Week: http://www.wajsman.com/indexpaw2002.htm General photo site: http://www.wajsman.com/index.htm - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html