[LRFlex] Re: Leica article

David,

I agree with most of your views you pointed out
regarding Leica and what if any future they may have. 
But I want to mention though, a point no one has
brought up about the possible investors Leica may have
to bring the other foot out of the grave.

You mentioned that no Japanese brand would be
interested though you did mention Cosina and
Panasonic.  Has anyone thought that with the recent
release of the F6 and future release of the SP, Nikon
is still very well interested in providing film users
with the best possible equipment? Albeit the new SP is
more of a collectors item with an exuberent price tag
(similiar to Leica Anniversary Titanium perhaps?).

But if they do so, I can only see them furthering the
M line of cameras and lenses; which possibly may spark
more interest in making the S rangfinders in greater
numbers and in new variations.  They probably would
not continue with the R series bodies (unfortunately),
but they may keep the R lens as an alternative Manual
Focus F mount line.

I too will continue to use M and R equipment for as
long as I can access them.  I can only hope the few
qualified technicians will continue to perform their
magic on restoring these cameras for decades to come
as my Leica's will definitely last longer than I.

Maybe I've had a wee bit too much coffee this
morning...

Gary

> ------------------------------
> 
> Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2005 08:12:59 -0800
> From: David Young <dnr@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: [LRFlex] Re: Leica article.
> 
> Douglas Sharp posted:
> 
> >"Leica Camera AG announced on Monday that their
> banks have partially 
> >closed the
> >companys credit lines. The basis for this decision
> is the announcement dated
> >17th of February in which Leica expects that the
> losses, calculated to March
> >2005,will comprise one half of the company capital.
> 
> <<huge snip>>
> 
> 
> In a private note to me, Douglas said the only error
> in this translation 
> was the Date... which should have been 31 May, not
> 31 March.
> 
> Still, this is not good news. Sadly, not unexpected
> either.
> 
> Speculating on potential buyers... Cosina springs to
> mind as the most able 
> to use the Leica brand-name to advantage.  However,
> Matsushita (Panasonic) 
> has the funds and could be interested, if only to
> continue using the name 
> on their lenses.
> 
> I agree, I cannot see Hermes pouring more money into
> Leica.  More likely 
> they'll be looking to bail, recovering what they
> can.
> 
> Hasselblad has no money. They own Imacon, and will
> take a big enough hit 
> from the DM-R.
> 
> None of the major Japanese brands have any need for
> the name, as I see it.
> 
> I'd like to see Leica survive on their own, though I
> don't think it is likely.
> 
> Without a major partner magically appearing, I think
> Leica will soon join 
> Voigtlander as a wonderful German name, but nothing
> more. :(
> 
> -----
> 
> All that being said, I have no intentions of
> stopping using my 
> Leicas.  They are built well enough to last my
> lifetime.
> 
> Nor will this list disappear, for I think most of us
> feel the same way.
> 
> LeiCanon's and the photos made with them, have been
> and will continue to be 
> welcome here. And if someone comes up with a way to
> use Leica glass on any 
> other brand of body, discussion and photos from that
> will be welcome, too!
> 
> ----------
> 
> David Young,     | égalité, liberté,
> Victoria, CANADA | fraternité et Beaujolais.
> 
> Personal Web-site at:
>       http://www.horizon.bc.ca/~dnr
> Leica Reflex Forum web-page:
>       http://www.horizon.bc.ca/~dnr/lrflex.htm




                
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