Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2010/08/05
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Actually they are appealing to professional photographers. Not cashmere wearing dentists. -------------------- Mark William Rabiner Photography mark at rabinergroup.com > From: Montie Talbert <montoid at earthlink.net> > Reply-To: Leica Users Group <lug at leica-users.org> > Date: Thu, 5 Aug 2010 08:39:18 -0400 (EDT) > To: Leica Users Group <lug at leica-users.org> > Subject: Re: [Leica] What are the rumours around Leica and Photokina? WAS : > Leica annual report > > IMHO, Leica, utilizing "brand name and reputation", has taken the "Ferrari" > approach in marketing the S2. Massive sales may not be the intent. > > They're trying to appeal to a select group of consumers in the top half > of the economic food chain who buy things because..."It's the best money > can > buy", a group that may be a tad larger than some of us VW drivers realize. > > Worldwide, there is probably a nice handfull of Pros who feel they will > need > to purchase and use this system to maintain an "edge", as misguided as that > may be. > > Montie > > > >> I claimed, many months ago, that the chief market for the S2 was rich > amateurs....or, if you prefer the PC words, well heeled photographers that > are non-full-time-Professionals...... > > I have hendled an S2. It was pretty fabulous as an experience in its own > right. Very nice. I have seen Leica official marketing shots taken with > the camera, which convinces me of nothing. ( as a retired marketing > person, > I would pick scenes to show the best...and I bet Leica does the same....) > But I can believe the optics are superb, and probably the sensor is good > too..... So I would grant the S2 may be pretty good.... > > But the thing costs $50K for a minor system.... who has that much > disposable > cash? Working pros? I doubt many have customers that really care the > differences the optics can show off....and, more importantly, have clients > that actually will pay for the images.... Amateurs? sure.... > > Of course, there is the competitive thing, where Hasselblad already had > market presence..... and others have joined the fray.....and upped the > ante.... > > George asks the one question that is important.. is this camera financially > a success? > > And we have no idea.... > > There were 2200 DMR's made ( I think I have seen this number, but I have > also seen the number of 1500)..... > > In perspective, a dribble even compared to the M9 production of 50-100 a > day.......... > > So if they have not SOLD ( made makes no difference how many they have > given > away or loaned for the buzz, sold counts!) this many cameras at a retail > level, it is a really poor showing...... > > And all that R+D was spent not developing what many of us want and would > pay > for, a camera that would use R optics..... > > We will find out in the future if the S2 was viable in the market > place.......... > > Frank, still hoping for an R10.....against all currrent info..... > > > > >> Do you (or anyone else) know how many S2 bodies have been made and/or >> sold? >> >> Has the number yet exceeded the number of DMRs manufactured? >> We may very well see the S2 system fail in the market place. >> or >> We may see it succeed and stimulate competition in its class. >> > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information