[Leica] M8 and the Future

[abridge at gmail.com (Adam Bridge)]

I'm not sure what your point is here, BD.

Or maybe I'm not sure what it means. Suppose Leica doesn't sell
another film camera and everyone only buys a DMR/R9 or an M8. If the
company can keep up with demand, and if the demand is equal to its
film cameras, then they have a winner as a company.

Of course I don't think this is what will happen. Film camera sales
will shrink as digital takes hold. Because it appears that the M8 is a
real winner - making images better than film can produce at high
speeds (over 800) - with excellent work-flow for both color and B&W
operation.

I think the loss of film could be a blessing to Leica. Not, of course
to those who want to shoot film but, as you point out, there will be
some real deals on film cameras.

Adam

On 10/25/06, B. D. Colen <bd@bdcolenphoto.com> wrote:
> The issue isn't just how many M8 bodies Leica will sell - and I'm going to
> guess 2500-3000 the first year, and less in the second - but rather what 
> the
> release of the M8 will do to film camera sales. As we know, Leica is barely
> afloat; the R8-9 has been a loss leader for some time, and the M6 and M7
> were steady, if modest, sellers. But with the introduction of the M8, one
> has to wonder if the sales of new M7s will dwindle to next to nothing,
> because people are unloading their film Ms at bargain prices to purchase
> M8s, making used cameras much more inviting than new ones. So it's unlikely
> the M8 will really add to the Leica bottom line, as, 10 years ago, an
> entry-level M film body might have, but rather will drain film sales. Of
> course it may turn out that the company will succeed in developing a new,
> digital, business model which will revive it and keep it going. It's going
> to be interesting to watch.