Well I dont care about high ISO and I don't want in camera smoothing ala CaNikon, and I care about quality files so I have an M8 and now again a DMR. The quality of the files is what makes me so interested in a full frame version of the M8 and the R - and the full frame version means my lenses work like they are supposed and designed to work.
I do care about paying for Leica quality and not getting it. The simple fact of the matter is that they are destroying their franchise by delivering gear that is not up to spec. This issue is compounded by poor service. There is a brain snap going on in there regarding how much they think they can push people's loyalty.
Why should I have to send my lenses into Leica so that they can get 'coded' so that some software can recognize the lens I am using in an M camera? Why cant they just supply me with a plug in module for C1 or Adobe and let me tell the module what adjustment to make to the raw file in post shot production? They are basing a lot of their decisions on bespoke service culture - and not delivering a bespoke service.
if you guys think this is harsh - so be it. But I have been a long time user and supporter of Leica - because things used to work very well - out of the box. Now we get to the cheaper line of lenses announced - which aren't really much cheaper, and upgrade policies at ridiculous prices involving shipment back to Leica - in order to fix a sticky shutter release, noisy shutter and scratchy LCD - what rubbish!
At the same time we have pictures of square jawed models posing with Leica cameras in some kind of Teutonic castle setting not even knowing how to hold the gear properly as a marketing break through - the common denominator is well meaning strategy - poorly executed.
In a small company, lacking resources...it is a dangerous way to play. Instead of focusing on what IS going to work - we have Leica making in one way or another two different classes of lenses, numerous branded cameras and lenses,in numerous formats and moving to a fast twitch business model. They cant do this properly ( as if anyone can) - what they have ended up with now - is a lot of inventory that people aren't buying, and the stuff peopel want to buy or get serviced isnt there! ..anyone in business knows that focusing on fewer product lines and get them right is what makes money. The consultants will be in there in due course telling them same.
Looking forward what they can do right, is get world class products out - and that means - full frame bodies that work with existing and future best of breed lens designs. That has always been their market - and that should be their market. regarding announcements - making announcements via gossip and innuendo is really bad business.
/rant
Peter
Agreed with all you have said.
I would like to add that having been a CEO of two high technology companies in the Semiconductor industry I can tell you that allowing engineering to dictate the business model of the company is suicidal! Of course the engineers have to develop the products but if left alone never actually finish any design. They always have a new design or upgrade on the blackboard which is better than the design they submitted to at the outset. Consequently you get creeping elegance, higher costs and drastically increased time to market which kills the business model. Engineering, like any other discipline, must be held to their commitments and get a product that meets the original criteria to the market on time or earlier. Market windows are short and fickle . So I hope the new team doesn't allow the tail to wag the dog and that the engineering team at Leica get a product portfolio put together quickly which keeps Leica in a financially stable position. If I were CEO (and thank God that I am not) I would:
1. Assure a service organization that can provide the service we need at reasonable costs
a. Lens Coding
b. Lens and body focus issues
c. Rangefinder adjustments
d. Actually fix what the customer required in the first place
e. More local service so everything doesn't end up in Solms
2. Get a FF or better R10 on the market by Photokina 2008
3. Continue to develop relevent lenses for the M system, notably a fast wide, and a new 75 Lux incorporating the latest technologies. The Summarit series is nice but both CV and Zeiss have equivalent offerings at even better prices. Concentrate on the great primes which is where the Leica optical technology is superior to all
4. Fix the current issues with the M
a. Support for high capacity SDHC cards
b. Elimation of the battery issues (Internal and normal)
c. Menu support for other lenses with no implication of support from Leica
for the performance of others!
d. No changes to the basic mechanics of the M8. This would be very
expensive and require perhaps large modifications in Solms.
d. etc etc. You all know the drill by now
I guess my bottom line is that until the community which bought the M8 gets the M8 they deserve, Leica's credibility willl remain suspect. And until the company brings out an R which is in the modern era the product portfolio is too small to be taken seriously and the company will suffer as a result.
I truly want leica to win. I love the products with all of their flaws and will buy an R10 when it comes out. But I love my M's and want them brought up to speed. Forget for a moment about FF and M9........just fix the M8
JMHO
Woody