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Monochrom to cease?
- Thread starter wattsie
- Start date
StephenPatterson
New member
Cease production after less than one year? I seriously doubt that.
Unless there is some disruption in the supply chain (i.e. Leica can no longer get sensors) it would make no sense to cease production when demand is still there, and with the limited number of units in the field it's impossible to imagine that engineering costs have been recovered on this project.
Unless there is some disruption in the supply chain (i.e. Leica can no longer get sensors) it would make no sense to cease production when demand is still there, and with the limited number of units in the field it's impossible to imagine that engineering costs have been recovered on this project.
If Leica are in any way consistant they will drop the Monochrom, and introduce the Monochrom-P, or called some something similar. It could be black paint (or whatever) and everybody will want one because they always wanted black paint just as they did a chrome option. This is how Leica work, they start out giving you less than they could, improve it to what it should have been like in the first place, and then discontinue it.
Steve
Steve
V
Vivek
Guest
Wait! The current monochrome is less than what people want?
GMB
Well-known member
Wait! The current monochrome is less than what people want?
I cannot do color, for a starter :ROTFL:
iiiNelson
Well-known member
The externals of the Monochrom are already spec with the "upgrades" offered in the M9-P and M8.2 (sapphire lcd screen, unmarked top plate, etc.)
edwardkaraa
New member
Why not? Leica produces cameras and lenses in batches. Probably they will produce enough MM cameras in the last batch to cover the market requirements for a couple of years. Nothing unusual about that.
StephenPatterson
New member
Oh I seriously doubt that. The inventory carrying costs and tax burden alone would have the bean counters turning white. I expect batch manufacturing at a level below demand, with as little component inventory as possible in house, to remain SOP, especially now that there are new investors looking over the financials.
Shashin
Well-known member
That would be a loss. I am not sure about Leica, but Japanese manufacturers would produce a run of about a projected six-month stock. It is better to run out faster than six month and start up another run, than to have stock sitting in a warehouse losing money. A product that sits for a year or more is really expensive. Generally you are talking about very expensive and exotic items like a 600mm f/4 lens retailing at $10,000+.
edwardkaraa
New member
Stephen and Shashin, what you say makes sense and I won't argue with that. I just wonder what kind of MM quantities Leica expects to sell until the next model, and whether it would be feasible economically to produce these quantities in several small batches. I think there is always a balance between the cost of keeping stock and the cost saving by producing larger batches. I don't claim to know much about Leica strategy, but Zeiss for instance seems to prefer larger batches more spaced in time for its lenses, but cameras may require different strategies.
As others have said, sounds doubtful. Was he trying to get you to buy an MM?:toocool:
I'd consider Black Paint to be a down grade. I was thrilled that the MM came in Black Chrome with a sapphire LCD screen since I plan on keeping this camera for some time and I'm sick of babying black paint cameras ... which is why my M9 is now the Chrome M9P version with sapphire LCD, not black or grey paint.
-Marc
Why would ceasing production of the MM surprise everyone?
Even though demand has been good, it is still a limited appeal camera and those interested in it, and have the money, are probably front loading that demand.
Leica are a small company, and they have a brand new camera coming that has a broader appeal even beyond traditional M users ... including higher ISO M performance that is part of the MM's appeal compared to the M9 ... a new offering for which I'm sure they are comparatively forecasting enormous sales. People are lining up for the new M like kids in sleeping bags at a rock concert
The real driver for Leica is the M, and nothing can get in the way of it, and all the diverse do-dad accessories that will swell Leica's coffers with cash. I pre-orded mine and the new base and EVF the minute it was announced.
Plus, correct me if I'm wrong, but I do not think their new production facilities will be fully up and running by the launch date of the new M, so it seems something will have to give.
However, it wouldn't surprise me if they kept the MM in production either. Leica is Leica ... rumor ridden and inscrutable.
-Marc
Even though demand has been good, it is still a limited appeal camera and those interested in it, and have the money, are probably front loading that demand.
Leica are a small company, and they have a brand new camera coming that has a broader appeal even beyond traditional M users ... including higher ISO M performance that is part of the MM's appeal compared to the M9 ... a new offering for which I'm sure they are comparatively forecasting enormous sales. People are lining up for the new M like kids in sleeping bags at a rock concert
The real driver for Leica is the M, and nothing can get in the way of it, and all the diverse do-dad accessories that will swell Leica's coffers with cash. I pre-orded mine and the new base and EVF the minute it was announced.
Plus, correct me if I'm wrong, but I do not think their new production facilities will be fully up and running by the launch date of the new M, so it seems something will have to give.
However, it wouldn't surprise me if they kept the MM in production either. Leica is Leica ... rumor ridden and inscrutable.
-Marc
V
Vivek
Guest
If it gets discontinued after a very short run, it is a big win for Leica and those who have bought the camera.
If there is enough demand they can always bring a better version with live view and all. Just imagine if the old Kodak CCD can do so well in high ISOs what the new CMOS can do.
That would be superb! :thumbs:
If there is enough demand they can always bring a better version with live view and all. Just imagine if the old Kodak CCD can do so well in high ISOs what the new CMOS can do.
That would be superb! :thumbs:
wentbackward
Member
As Marc says above, we do know a new facility will come online to increase capacity, and we also know that Leica set up a production line for a run of products (not sure if we know what products can go in parallel). Clearly they've done a run of M-E's delivered since Photokina, so presumably it's time to get cracking on the M.
Anyhow, isn't this thread refreshing, I remember after getting my order in on May 10, sitting anticipating the camera arriving, reading the various forums of people claiming it was crazy, why do it, it'll be a financial disaster for Leica, etc.
Anyhow, isn't this thread refreshing, I remember after getting my order in on May 10, sitting anticipating the camera arriving, reading the various forums of people claiming it was crazy, why do it, it'll be a financial disaster for Leica, etc.
Shashin
Well-known member
Anyhow, isn't this thread refreshing, I remember after getting my order in on May 10, sitting anticipating the camera arriving, reading the various forums of people claiming it was crazy, why do it, it'll be a financial disaster for Leica, etc.
What? People were wrong??? I am just not going to believe anyone anymore.
:ROTFL: