[LRFlex] Further speculation on the R-10D - sorry David
- From: "Douglas M. Sharp" <DouglasMSharp@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: leicareflex@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Wed, 24 Nov 2004 19:21:14 +0100
Sorry to contradict your very interesting information David,
but
Their approach is predicated on three facts. [1] They know they need to
get into the digital area, or perish. This means learning the
technology... and fast! [2] They have an unsold inventory of R9's that
number into the thousands.
The above are liabilities, #3 used to be an asset
[3] Germany has a law on it's books that says
whenever a municipality or other government body needs a product, they
must by German made, if it is available, regardless of cost!
Unfortunately for Leica , no longer
Only if no
suitable German built product is available, may they consider EU
products, and only if no EU made product is available will they be able
to consider non-EU (read Japanese with regard to cameras) products.
This means that every police force, municipal plumbing inspector etc.,
who needs a digital camera will be required to buy a Leica R9/DMR/lens
combo!
Afraid not . It's more likely that if some authority has money left over from
it's annual allotment at the end of the year (which can't be transferred to the
next fiscal period) they may consider Leica in order to spend enough to get the
same budget in the next year.If they don't spend it all the sum gets reduced.
Years ago you could pick up MDs and copying equipment for pennies at auctions
just because they were spending leftover money for the latest equipment.
Overkill? For most of 'em, yes. But an effective strategy for
Leica, for there is no German built alternative. This is the main
reason that Leica are building it in Germany, rather than Portugal!
I think that this information just may be a little outdated David.
This used to be so , European law now forbids it. For example Rollei has
supplied Police Forces in Germany with a digital camera which was definitely not
built in Germany. SL530 ED, a digital camera (ED = Erkennungs Dienst)
There is an unless factor which bollixes Leica at every step "unless a suitable
product at a lower price can be purchased"
Traffic surveillance cameras are however still supplied by Robot because they're
specialists at this game, the best (most reliable) speed trap equipment IS built
by Leica, but only a few states use it, most of them have hand held or tripod
mounted radar "guns" from the USA which cost around 75% less.
The buying of equipment for state institutions is done on a tender basis with no
clauses excluding foreign suppliers, however a company tendering does have to
pay a non-returnable tendering fee.
As far as I am informed,and I have many contacts in government institutions,
few, if any, research facilities use modern standard Leica equipment for
photography. It's a totally different matter if you consider geodesy equipment,
here Leica is King of the Hill.
In other fields microscopes are very much in the hands of Zeiss on the basis of
superior quality,many medical research establishments are now using Japanese
equipment, Leica is an also ran.
The QUALITY of photographic results for communal or state purposes is NOT a
decisive factor, ease of use, durability and price is. If you can read a car
number plate at 25meters on a picture it's good enough, if your average Polizist
can't get the hang of it in seconds it won't be bought. These are areas were
point and shoot attributes are of the essence.
The only high quality equipment being used by police forces is photogrammetric
and stereo stuff which is not built by Solms.
Ranging and targetting equipment is in the hands of Optronics suppliers, Leica
didn't get into this branch soon enough either. Rifle scopes are a non runner
for Leica and in astronomy they were never a factor to be reckoned with.
The same criteria apply to binoculars and military optics, Leica is as good as
not there, Docter, Swarovski, Zeiss and co are all in there at lower prices with
an ADEQUATE quality. This is what the market is all about, adequacy, if it does
the job within the tolerances set by the working environment and doesn't fall to
pieces then it has a good chance in this market.
Leica is still a good name with hunters here (mostly very rich people), the
scopes and binos go down well with birdwatchers too (a lifetime investment).
This should, fairly quickly, eat up the unsold backlog of film bodies;
while gaining Leica lots of money and expertise, rather quickly.
Again I'm afraid not, if Leica had been so important they would have been
supported by state finance , either from the state of Hessen or from Federal
Government when they first got into financial trouble, this was not the case.
Leica is just not in the game any more and will need binoculars to even find the
sidelines. This a very sorry state to be in but these are the economic facts of
life.
I'm expecting Leica's press release for this year soon in the local paper, I'll
translate this and pass it on when it comes.
Sorry to damp all our hopes but that's the ay it goes.
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