Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2006/10/12
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Alastair wrote: Makes me think a few shares in Leica might prove a good investment afterall ;-) If you can buy them; I believe shares are still listed but my understanding is that Mr. Kaufmann's company opwns north of 90%. After the refinancings, recapitalizations and share reduction, I own 166 shares! ;-) Seth ----- Original Message ----- From: "Alastair Firkin" <firkin@ncable.net.au> To: "Leica Users Group" <lug@leica-users.org> Sent: Thursday, October 12, 2006 12:44 AM Subject: Re: [Leica] LHSA meeting in Wetzlar; Leica Camera AG > Thanks for this report. > > Cheers > >> Hi LUG friends! >> >> I have resubscribed after a fairly lengthy absence to bring you all up to >> date on what I have learned about Leica Camera AG and its future at the >> LHSA >> meeting in Wetzlar ten days ago. Had an opportunity to visit at some >> length >> with Andreas Kaufmann whose Company has bought full control of Leica >> Camera >> and also with Steven Lee, an American who has assumed a senior management >> role with the Company. Both are photography and Leica enthusiasts and >> have >> a >> shared vision of where they hope to take the Company. As you doubtless >> have >> read, Leica introduced not only the M-8 but also three other digital >> cameras. The Leica booths at Photokina were mobbed, especially, >> naturally, >> that of the M-8. >> >> What is most impressive is the enthusiasm at the factory. All of the >> feedback from our friends at the Company made clear that there is a new >> sense of excitement at Solms, that the tacit concern amongst employees >> for >> the Company's survival is gone. A truly great sense of optimism invests >> the >> place. As several staff members put it, everyone is eager to come to work >> again. Evidence of this is that despite the fact that Tuesday 3 October >> was >> a national holiday and almost everyone takes off the Monday (2 October) >> to >> make a long weekend, production workers on the M-8 came to work >> voluntarily >> to ensure that the Company continues to produce enough cameras to meet >> demand. >> >> I had a chance to read only a very few M-8 comments in the LUG archive >> and >> will comment on just one issue, the coding of older lenses for the M-8. I >> am >> ill-equipped to answer this technically but as I understand it, because >> of >> the oblique angle at which light rays from shorter focal length lenses >> reach >> the sensor, Leica has placed before the sensor a device that adjusts the >> rays to reduce or elminate that effect. The code on older lenses tells >> the >> camera what adjustment is indicated for that focal length. I have been >> told >> that this is more important for lenses under 50mm, that the deleterious >> effect at 50mm is not too great and at the longer focal lengths, the >> lenses >> probably do not really need the coding. >> >> The LHSA meeting really was pretty wonderful, on Friday a good day of >> programs and projection presentations and the banquet at which both Mr. >> Kaufmann and Steven Lee spoke about their enthusiasm for Leica and >> briefly >> about their plans for the future. Saturday visit to Photokina in Cologne, >> Sunday back to Photoboerse, a massive trade fair, Monday factory visit >> and >> visit to Braunfels and the castle, Tuesday a luncheon cruise on the Rhine >> and a medieval banquet and departure Wednesday. Twenty members stayed on >> through Wednesday for a Leica Akademie program with the M-8. >> >> Surprising number of our members attended carrying..........digital >> cameras! >> We're not all old f-rts stroking our - you will pardon the expression - >> Thambars! >> >> Cheerio all, >> >> Seth >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> 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 >