[Leica] Photokina - Film Dinosaur Button

[s.jessurun95 at chello.nl (animal)]

Hmm like a Ferrari?
:]

> Interesting, Bob - But I hardly think Hermes and its boutiques are going
> to have any impact what so ever on who does or does not produce film,
> and on what the "outcome" of film v. digital will be. For Gds sake, Bob,
> that battle is over, finished. Digital IS the dominant medium already,
> and will only grow stronger.
> 
> And, yes, Hermes could conceivably keep Leica 'alive.' But..how sad. Is
> that really 'alive.' It's one thing to be thought of as the camera of
> Henri Cartier-Bresson. It's another to be thought of as some rich guy's
> toy available in red octopus. ;-)
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: lug-bounces+bdcolen=earthlink.net@leica-users.org
> [mailto:lug-bounces+bdcolen=earthlink.net@leica-users.org] On Behalf Of
> Thinkofcole@aol.com
> Sent: Thursday, September 30, 2004 11:29 AM
> To: lug@leica-users.org
> Subject: [Leica] Photokina - Film Dinosaur Button 
> 
> 
> Everybody here seems to have covered most of the  problems facing Leica
> today.
>     As we now can see clearly, I believe, Leica has decided  to
> concentrate 
> largely on producing the finest lenses money can buy and to turn  over
> the 
> production of Leica cameras to proven Japanese camera manufacturers --
> of course, 
> with Leica engineering. 
>    That brings up Hermes, the fashion company -- and one-third  owner of
> what 
> Hermes must believe is the best camera in the world. Why  else would
> Hermes 
> see promise in Leica, a camera used by dinosaurs like us?  Why else
> would it 
> buy a third-interest -- not enough for control but enough to  exercise a
> major 
> voice in the future of Leica. 
>    Up to now, the full Leica line has been available  only from 
> Leica-franchised dealers [if you don't count grey marketeers and used
> camera dealers]. 
> That will still be the case, I believe, but if Hermes has its  way,
> wherever 
> Hermes scarves and ties and perfume and whatever else Hermes sells  to
> people with 
> Real Money, Leica cameras will also be displayed-- and widely  sold for
> lots 
> of money. 
>    When a woman goes into a Hermes store, which seem to be almost
> everywhere 
> on the planet,  she may buy her husband or boyfriend a few  ties at
> possibly 
> $50 or more each and then order a $5,000 Leica in red  octopus skin, for
> 
> delivery at Christmas, an idea that must have come from some  genius in
> the Hermes 
> design department. After all, people who shop in places  like Vuitton,
> Patek, 
> Givenchy, Cartier, Loewe and Hermes, to name a  few, don't really care
> what 
> things cost; they  just pull out their  credit card and sign on the
> dotted line. 
> At least, that's how how I see  it.
>    Who else but a designer at a place like Hermes would conceive  of an
> idea 
> to promote a custom-made Leica -- just like custom-made shoes, hat,
> handbag, 
> gloves or attache case. What difference if it costs a lot of money and,
> 
> getting back to the red-leather Leica, who cares if it just lies in the
> customer's 
> drawer most of the time; nobody else has one like it and it's "just  
> beautiful.'' [Moreover, custom-made Leicas are not a new idea for Leica;
> we all  know 
> that several famous Leica photographers in the Thirties, Forties and
> Fifties 
> had Leicas and Leica lenses made to their individual specifications,
> although 
> probably none with any unusual covering other than black. Like Henry
> Ford's 
> Model T.]
>   Thus:
>           (1)  Leica will  be with us for a long time. 
>           (2)  Leica lens  mounts will become standard throughout the 
> industry. 
>           (3)  Regardless  of what the major film makers decide in
> Britain, 
> Germany and the United States,  35mm film will be available everywhere,
> most 
> likely largely from Fuji and other  Japanese producers. 
>           (4)  Leica  cameras will become available more widely and, 
> gradually, more dealers will  spring up throughout the world.
>           (5)   Zeiss-Ikon will be there, too, along with Voightlander,
> Cosina
> Rolleiflex and, it seems, others. 
>           (6)  Digital  cameras will grow rapidly and become en even
> larger 
> competitor.
>           (7)   Competition will decide what system dominates.
>           (8)   Newspapers, magazines and television will get
> advertising 
> allotments -- and,  therefore, promote Leica and the others more often.
>           (9)  Most  important: We'll all be here until we join Sal
> DiMarco 
> Jr. -- bob cole
>           
> _______________________________________________
> Leica Users Group.
> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Leica Users Group.
> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information