[Leica] Re: Rebadged 4/3 lenses

[hoppyman at bigpond.net.au (G Hopkinson)]

Larry, Leica has already announced its version of the Panasonic L1, being 
the Digilux 3. My personal view is that this is
unattractive compared to the M8, for a Leica user. Of course as part of the 
four thirds group it's reasonable to have a body within
their range, just that it seems to have been made redundant by the M8, for 
that particular market segment. Still, I suppose sensible
to have an option should the M8 not be successful in the market place. 
Without meaning to stir a controversy, I'm always puzzled by
the way that lens system has gone. I mean the physical size (diameter) of 
the lenses for what could otherwise be a compact system. I
am aware of some of the technical issues there, still it seems odd in 
comparison to the "APS-C" type sensor cameras. Olympus made
considerable representations when the system was launched regarding starting 
with a clean slate for an SLR system.

Cheers
Hoppy

-----Original Message-----
From: lug-bounces+hoppyman=bigpond.net.au@leica-users.org 
[mailto:lug-bounces+hoppyman=bigpond.net.au@leica-users.org] On Behalf Of
Lawrence Zeitlin
Sent: Thursday, 19 October 2006 12:05
To: lug@leica-users.org
Subject: [Leica] Re: Rebadged 4/3 lenses


On Oct 18, 2006, at 7:59 PM, Howard wrote:

> It was on display at the Olympus stand at Photokina, under glass and
> lit like a jewelry display. I asked the Olympus rep what the
> suggested retail price might be and he smiled and said that I would
> have to ask Leica. So, I infer that it is going to be Leica priced
> rather than Olympus priced and therefore expensive. Still, I would
> sure like to have one.

Every time Leica rebadges a product made by another concern, the  
retail price raises by at least 20%. It was that way when Leica  
rebadged the Fuji 1700 and 1700 Zoom digital cameras and sold them as  
the original Digilux and Digilux zoom. It was that way when Leica  
rebadged the Panasonic cameras to sell as the more recent Digiluxi. I  
suspect it will be that way when Leica rebadges the Olympus and  
Panasonic 4/3 lenses. To be fair, when Leica offered the Fuji and  
Panasonic Digilux cameras, they added a bit more software, usually a  
version of Photoshop LE to the package.

Leica's involvement in the 4/3 consortium implies that a 4/3 camera  
is in the offing to use the new lenses. Whether it will be made by  
Leica or someone else is anyone's guess.

Larry Z


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