[LRflex] Re: Modular cameras
- From: David Young <dsy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: leicareflex@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Fri, 30 May 2008 10:27:51 -0700
XYAndy commented:
David Young <dsy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
But the big key would be the sensor. Let's assume that the first
one would be 14 megapixels (this is all speculation - I have no
knowledge of this). Two years later, they introduce an 18mp
model. But with the "smaller" model remaining in the line at a
lower price ... so that buyers would have a choice of pixel count
and price levels. Two years later still, the 22mp sensor is
introduced... and the 18mp becomes the lower cost option, with the
14mp model being discontinued.
The advantages, to Leica, aside from lower cost/ quicker time to
market would be that they could offer pros the one thing that
Leica's competition is not offering them. Protection from
obsolescence. That alone, might be enough to make many pros move
from brands N & C to brand L.
David
If you really look at the N&C's-All they are really doing is
upgrading the electronics in their cameras-- the basic body stays
the same with a few cosmetic features to give it a look of new at
least in the prosumer lines. Ofcourse they market them as entirely
new and must have fantastic.
Will Leica build such camera? I have absolutely no idea. But to
me, it makes a lot of sense, as a way for a "niche player" to
increase the size of their niche.
Makes alot of sense to me also--question being by introducing such a
perpetually upgradable camera wouldn't Leica be alienating the
retailer. I believe that may have been part of the reason Mr. Lee
was dismissed. Rumor has it that he should not have leaked that info
regarding the M8
Hi Andy!
Of course, you are right... Canon & Nikon simply upgrade the
electronics and restyle the body... then call it "all new". This
sort of "upgrade" forces the consumer to buy many parts all over
again (good for the maker, not good for the buyer). In lower cost
cameras, this makes sense. But, at the top price levels (and Leica
is there) there is a huge resistance from pros (in particular) who
need to keep up, but cannot really afford all new gear every 18 to 20
months.. or even sooner. With the DMR-2 concept, they buy the camera
once a decade and buy the equivalent off a semi-pro body (in the cost
of the backs), every couple of years... while maintaining top quality gear.
Can't say about the rumours around Mr. Lee and his sudden
departure. But, as for the retailer ... no, I cannot see anything
but a big plus. After all, we (the consumers - both amateur and
pro) would buy our new backs from our dealer, the same
as Hasselblad users would buy new or additional backs from the Hassy
dealers. One of the big complaints that dealers have, with Leica,
is the inability to sell Leica in quantity, because the prices are so
high. But, selling 40% of a camera (in the form of a back), every
two or three years, to the same consumer is the sort of repeat
business that dealers need and want. Moreover, unlike other brands,
the consumer is bound to buy more Leica, or lose his investment in
the rest of the body. Canon always worries about losing customers to
Nikon, & vice versa. But, for Leica it is the same strategy which
made Hassy dominant in the 6x6 market. Why should it not work in a
smaller format?
As for Leica, it means that over, say, 10 years, they'd sell one
body ($3000) and 5 backs (one at the start, another every 2
years). Without allowing for inflation, that's $13,000 over 10 years
- considerably more than they got out their buyers, in the age of
mechanical cameras. Even for the amateur, who might buy a new back
only every 4 years, that's still 1 body, and three backs for gross
sales of $9,000 in that decade.
And that's not counting the lenses!
I see this as a win/win format, for Leica (one which really could
attract the pro market they so desperately want and need) and for the
consumers, both pro and amateur, who can keep up with the times, and
with Leica quality, at a much lower, over-all cost.
But, will they make it??? Herr Kaufmann knows... and he's not talking!
He has said only that, at Photokina, they will show
"something" which will give us an idea which way they are
heading. That is a long way from talk, a couple of years ago, when
they'd hoped to show at Photokina and deliver by November of this
year... though that could, I guess, still happen.
Interesting to conjecture about. Wait for the Photokina news.
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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