[Leica] leica digital back; now marketing will save Leica?

[luisripoll at telefonica.net (Luis Ripoll)]

I agree your opinion Don, and I would add that actually the traditional
Leica's philosophy is even against the market rules, in our days only a few
people can appreciate a product to have a live of 30 years, even if the
price was very, very strongly reduced most of the buyers don't want invest
with a long life product, simply because the technology progress will kill
it in a few years.

I love the Leica tradition, quality, philosophy, and I'm sure that many of
us too, but with these elements is very difficult that Leica survives, even
if you and me and many Lugers we continue buying Leica.

I have read the interesting point of view of Erwin Puts,
http://www.imx.nl/photosite/comments/c007.html, and I thing he is right.

In my opinion Leica should be specialised on Optics, the future digital
M-back belongs to a reduced market, and I don't think that Leica be capable
to offer it at a competitive price. As Erwin Puts says, today the market is
involved in a new revolution, so important as the Leica was in early 20th
Century.

Saludos desde Barcelona
Luis


-----Mensaje original-----
De: lug-bounces+luisripoll=telefonica.net@leica-users.org
[mailto:lug-bounces+luisripoll=telefonica.net@leica-users.org]En nombre de
Don Dory
Enviado el: domingo, 10 de abril de 2005 19:28
Para: 'Leica Users Group'
Asunto: RE: [Leica] leica digital back; now marketing will save Leica?

I disagree that it is lack of marketing that is killing Leica.  The old
product line is killing Leica.  The new lenses are without reproach, but
the bodies just are not sufficiently modern to attract enough users to
sell enough lenses.

For professionals, there is a severe lack of product that fits today's
workflow.  The innovation of new technology is placing excitement in
digital sensors, ipods, music, video, and online gaming: photography
exists in a continuum of users; photography is a pastime that shares
users with resources.  Their product line is geared to the connoisseur,
the user who can appreciate the tool at the end of the curve.

It is a true fact that the products from brand N, C, O, M, and P will
produce results indistinguishable from Leica for at least 80% of users.
Combined with the NEW of digital capture Leica's market share will
continue to drop.

There is a caveat, if Leica could start a low key, cheap campaign to
promote itself to the discriminating photographer: that might work if
they can bring out a digital M.  Another approach is to put a $100
reward check to the sales person who sells a Leica body.  But, unless
Leica wants to go the way of buggy whip manufacturers, then the digital
M had better be a killer device, the ipod of cameras, the Mac of
computers.

0.02

Don
dorysrus@mindspring.com

-----Original Message-----
From: lug-bounces+dorysrus=mindspring.com@leica-users.org
[mailto:lug-bounces+dorysrus=mindspring.com@leica-users.org] On Behalf
Of B. D. Colen
Sent: Sunday, April 10, 2005 7:28 AM
To: 'Leica Users Group'
Subject: RE: [Leica] leica digital back-initial test results

IF it does behave like a somewhat lower res MF back; and IF it produces
the image quality the post says it does, then for professionals who NEED
the image quality, don't need or want autofocus, and who have a major
investment in R equipment, it may indeed be worth the cost. For anyone
else who needs to even think before writing a check, it's over priced.
Because given the uses to which most camera owners put their images, the
image quality difference will not be apparent.

As to Leica not needing PR because the first year's miniscule production
run is sold out - it is a lack of good PR/Advertising/Marketing savvy -
and they are all inextricably intertwined - that is killing Leica.


_______________________________________________
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_______________________________________________
Leica Users Group.
See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information