[LRflex] Re: Kaufmann Interview
- From: David Young <dsy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: leicareflex@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Fri, 04 Apr 2008 06:39:57 -0700
Charlie Falke offered:
A 4/3 would sell to high end consumers, but A 4/3 will have a
hard time competing against larger Nikon and Canon iron,
in the professional market. (remember what everybody was using
at the Rugby game.)
He seems to have abandoned that market.
Given the market performance of previous Leica R's, this is
not an unrealistic viewpoint. It's still very disappointing.
Good Morning, Charlie!
I don't think Kaufmann has abandoned the pro market. I think this is
more a case of whatever they have designed being late ... and not
ready for Photokina. In an interview I read recently, he said
something about "at Photokina we'd get an idea of where they are
heading". (Not an exact quote.) Meaning, of course, that the R10
is not ready for introduction.
I think this may have a lot to do with pixel count. If they were
heading for an R10 in the 20+mpixel range, then Canon is already
there ... although at Leica prices. A bigger threat is Sony, who
recently announced a 24+ mpixel, full frame CMOS sensor and according
to the Rangefinder magazine just received, are expected to introduce
it in a camera at Photokina and have it on the market by years
end. Expected price? Around $3000 US, or some $5000 below the
Canon. This alters the equation of what Leica must do to capture
the pro market, and they may have felt compelled to change some of
the design (at least, as pertaining to the sensor) mid-stream....
which would cause delays.
As for 4/3rds not appealing to pros? Ask Gary Todoroff about
that. And Howard did say he saw one E3 in the hands of a pro at the
rugby games.... There is more to a camera than pixel count, and I
can see many pros finding the E3 and other FourThirds dSLRs very
appealing for many uses.
As Andy said, Hr. Kaufmann is, indeed, playing his cards close to his vest!
Cheers!
---
David Young,
Logan Lake, CANADA
Limited Edition Prints at: www.furnfeather.net
Personal Web-site at: www.main.furnfeather.net
Stock Photography at: http://tinyurl.com/2amll4
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