[LRflex] Re: Next "R" Camera Survey - 20 Questions.
- From: Javier Perez <summarex@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: leicareflex@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 19 Oct 2006 11:49:44 -0700 (PDT)
Well David
Those are all nice thoughts, but the company you are
describing already exists. It's called Canon. As for
this Lees fellow not haveing the time to answer
questions on this list, if that's the case why should
we have the time to buy his cameras! BAD ANSWER! As
for the young managers, thing. It looks like they want
to start marketing themselves as a young and vibrant
company! I have never liked companies that worship
the youth culture and I avoid them like the plague! If
that's what Leitz turns into then I will not have
anything to do with them.
When I need technology, the EOSes can get the job
done. If I need superb optics I can use C/Y, LF or new
stock Zeiss M42 lenses. So then, assuming that I have
the disposable income, in order for me to buy Leica I
have to like the comopany and their products.
As for the survey. I found one question very unusual.
That was the use of polycarbonate lens barrels. I
believe unreinforced polycarbonate has a higher
expansion coefficient than most metals including I
think, aluminum. That makes it useless as a carrier
for optical elements in a critical design either
directly in the lens packs or in the focusing barrels.
Polycarbonate is also more flexible than metals and
can distort more easily under load. Again, it's not
suitable for critical apps. I believe a few R lenses
were made with plastic barrels but I think they were
limited to the normal Summicrons. Also, when designing
a premium lens the cost savings of polycarbonate over
spun aluminum is minimal. All this sez to me that
someone at Leitz is trying to squeeze the last
possible cent out a lens by taking shortcuts that
shouldn't be taken. Of course if you really want to
save money and make a lighter lens correctly you can
have polycarbonate focusing rings, aperture rings,
hoods and index scales, but that would look cheap. And
I guess in a youth orinted company, looks are
everything! Polycarbonate barrells are fine for budget
and low end L lenses but for something like this you
need metal. I'm not sure but I believe Leitz optical
designs require tighter tolerances in element location
than the others. Polycarbonate bodies are another
story as long as the film plane and lens flange are
well tied togeher and you can make the rest of the
body out of rubber for all I care. But that's another
story. I am a huge fan of plastics and composites but
in the right places!
See Ya
Javier
--- David Young <telyt@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> At 19/10/2006, you wrote:
>
> >You are probably both right. They have never
> listened
> >to customers before and those customers have
> responded
> >by switching over to other brands. Of course it's
> >possible that they are beginning to listen now and
> >they may even start turning a profit but I doubt
> any
> >of you will like the company that comes out of all
> >this. When I hear talk of new young managers and
> >designers and throwing out the oldsters and
> agressive
> >new managerial approaches by individuals who have
> made
> >a reputation for themselves by squeezing the last
> dime
> >of profit out of a company, I start thinking of
> >companies that I don't like to do business with
> like
> >Google or Microsoft. I don't know maybe if they are
> >successful, the trendy sorts will eventually swap
> >their idiotic Tommy Hilfiger T-shirts for similarly
> >idiotic Leica T-shirts. Way I see it, if this
> fellow
> >wants to impress me he would have to show that he's
> a
> >hardcore camera nut anf pictrure taker in addition
> to
> >a business man. Put him on the list and have him
> prove
> >himself! The questions might get tough!
> >
> >Javier
>
>
> Javier: I think that Mr. Lees has better things to
> do than respond
> to this list.
>
> However, I do know that both he and ACM are
> committed to maintaining
> Leica standards, both in design philosophy and
> quality. I do believe
> that the company which emerges in a couple of years
> time will be
> leaner and much more responsive. Gains will be
> made in
> manufacturing efficiencies, and much better design.
> But, from the
> standpoint of the purchaser of Leica products,
> little will change.
>
> As far as manufacturing efficiencies goes, they have
> already
> purchased Sinar, another firm in financial troubles,
> but one which as
> a lot of digital expertise. There is no doubt, in
> my mind, that
> Sinar and Leica will work together, for their mutual
> gain and profit.
>
> Likewise, before the end of this year, you will see
> ACM purchase
> several (2or 3, at least, as I understand it) of
> Leica's parts
> suppliers. This is to ensure a stable and cost
> competitive parts
> supply for Leica. Something which has been a
> problem for Leica, in past.
>
> As well, Leica have been rapidly developing their
> in-house software
> capabilities. One little known fact is that all
> their current,
> Matsushita-built, point and shoot cameras are no
> longer merely
> re-badged Panasonic cameras. Although the mechanics
> (other than
> trim) are identical, the firmware they contain is
> entirely developed
> by Leica. These days, they actually do produce
> superior photos to
> their Panasonic equivalents! And Leica is committed
> to increasing
> this in-house capability.
>
> The DMR was produced for Leica by Imacon. Similarly,
> they have a
> partner (unknown to me) in the development of the
> firmware for the
> M8, as they do not have such capabilities, as yet.
> However, they plan
> to have this capability in time for the R10, and
> later M
> cameras. Although I have not had this confirmed, I
> will not be
> surprised to see ACM buy the "partner" who has
> developed the M8's
> software (which is, btw, very, very good!).
>
> One way, or the other, Leica is rapidly becoming a
> self sufficient
> player in the field. And this, to quote Martha,
> "is a good thing".
>
> All I ask, Javier, is that you do not dismiss a firm
> that you do not
> know, and as yet, does not even exist!
>
> And, before you condemn companies who " throw... out
> the oldsters and
> aggressive new managerial approaches by individuals
> who have made a
> reputation for themselves by squeezing the last dime
> of profit out of
> a company," remember that the old managers did not
> squeeze out a
> single dime of profit, and thus drove the firm to
> the edge of
> bankruptcy and dissolution. Like it or not, profits
> make the world
> go round. They provide jobs for people who work for
> those
> companies. Without ACM's vision and faith, Leica
> would likely not
> have made it to next March, and some 2, 200 people
> would have lost
> their jobs.. not to mention we would have lost a
> producer of some
> very fine cameras.
>
> Respectfully,
>
> David.
>
>
>
> ---
>
> David Young,
> Logan Lake, CANADA
>
> Wildlife Photographs: http://www.telyt.com/
> Personal Web-pages: http://www3.telus.net/~telyt
>
>
>
>
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