Welp! Metz files for insolvency

rawr · 11-20-2014, 12:50 AM

Not good news for an old, established company like Metz:

Metz files for insolvency

From the Reuters coverage:

Quote:

Joachim Exner, who co-managed the insolvency of German peer Loewe, has been appointed as insolvency administrator, the spokesman said, adding that the company's production and customer services would continue for the time being.

Last edited by rawr; 11-20-2014 at 12:55 AM.

LensBeginner · 11-20-2014, 01:11 AM

Ouch! not a good news for Pentax lovers...
They (Pentax) really need to change something in the way flash works... like getting TTL back (without the "P-"), or the rear-curtain thing with manual flashes...
It's gonna be all the more relevant if Metz actually goes under and shuts down...

rawr · 11-20-2014, 01:39 AM

Originally posted by LensBeginner

if Metz actually goes under and shuts down

In the short term, it not a good scenario, for either Pentax or Metz. Maybe in the long term it will encourage more third-parties to enter the market, however.

JimC1101 · 11-20-2014, 02:18 AM

Well Metz have been around for 75 years so I am thinking they are going chapter 11 due to their TV sales problems. I think, and I hope, that the flash division will continue. It noted that production and customer service will continue so hopefully they will work it all out.

LensBeginner · 11-20-2014, 02:33 AM

Originally posted by rawr

In the short term, it not a good scenario, for either Pentax or Metz. Maybe in the long term it will encourage more third-parties to enter the market, however.

There already are good third party options... but not many offer P-TTL...
I hoped it would have come with the Yongnuo YN560 mkIV but it wasn't the case...

danielblues · 11-20-2014, 02:58 AM

... that could mean the end of firmware upgrade service that served my k-30 so well

Every thing should be open source

Class A · 11-20-2014, 03:16 AM

Seems like there is still a slim chance that an investor may save them.

Also, it remains to be seen whether the flash business might be able to continue. I'm pretty sure it was the TV sales that brought Metz down.

p38arover · 11-20-2014, 03:40 AM

Originally posted by JimC1101

Well Metz have been around for 75 years so I am thinking they are going chapter 11

Isn't Chapter 11 a US thing?

rawr · 11-20-2014, 03:47 AM

Originally posted by danielblues

that could mean the end of firmware upgrade service

Yes, firmware upgrades will be vulnerable I think. There's no money in it (unless they charge for the service in future, but even then it would only be a trickle of income).

When you have to fire 600 workers, the workers who make stuff which you can can sell today are probably the ones you keep. The workers who provide support for free for products that you have already sold (sometimes long ago) seem most at risk.

danielblues · 11-20-2014, 04:19 AM

Originally posted by rawr

Yes, firmware upgrades will be vulnerable I think. There's no money in it (unless they charge for the service in future, but even then it would only be a trickle of income).

No direct money earn now, but It was one of items on the "Pro:" list when choosing a flash.
But you are right, when money is short, you tend to make sort term decisions.

Volker76 · 11-20-2014, 05:33 AM

well, german insolvency laws are so that the survival of the company is the most important point of the agenda. Keeping that in mind, I assume that the flash and plastics divisions will march on.

bdery · 11-20-2014, 06:33 AM

I really hope they get through this, their products are among the best I've used.

**demondata** · 11-20-2014, 07:38 AM

Originally posted by bdery

I really hope they get through this, their products are among the best I've used.

Hope so, too. Diversity is good for competition and innovation.

**ivanvernon** · 11-20-2014, 07:43 AM

I suspect it is Yongneu that is doing them in. Hard to beat their price on a fantastic, robust flash unit.

**eonb** · 11-20-2014, 09:02 AM

As I've currently got three of their flash guns, I hope they're around for lots more years. I've used Metz guns for years and they're great. The hammerhead CT60's (pre-digital) were amazing.

11-20-2014, 12:50 AM	#1
rawr Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,913	Welp! Metz files for insolvency Not good news for an old, established company like Metz: Metz files for insolvency From the Reuters coverage: Quote: Joachim Exner, who co-managed the insolvency of German peer Loewe, has been appointed as insolvency administrator, the spokesman said, adding that the company's production and customer services would continue for the time being. Last edited by rawr; 11-20-2014 at 12:55 AM.

11-20-2014, 02:58 AM	#6
danielblues Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Cascais, Portugal Posts: 173	... that could mean the end of firmware upgrade service that served my k-30 so well Every thing should be open source Last edited by danielblues; 11-20-2014 at 07:01 AM. Reason: typo

11-20-2014, 07:43 AM	#14
ivanvernon Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Medina, OH Photos: Albums Posts: 7,224	Metz I suspect it is Yongneu that is doing them in. Hard to beat their price on a fantastic, robust flash unit.

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11-20-2014, 01:11 AM	#2
LensBeginner Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Photos: Albums Posts: 4,696	Ouch! not a good news for Pentax lovers... They (Pentax) really need to change something in the way flash works... like getting TTL back (without the "P-"), or the rear-curtain thing with manual flashes... It's gonna be all the more relevant if Metz actually goes under and shuts down...

11-20-2014, 01:39 AM	#3
rawr Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,913 Original Poster	Originally posted by LensBeginner if Metz actually goes under and shuts down In the short term, it not a good scenario, for either Pentax or Metz. Maybe in the long term it will encourage more third-parties to enter the market, however.

11-20-2014, 02:18 AM	#4
JimC1101 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Fremont, Ca Photos: Albums Posts: 395	Well Metz have been around for 75 years so I am thinking they are going chapter 11 due to their TV sales problems. I think, and I hope, that the flash division will continue. It noted that production and customer service will continue so hopefully they will work it all out.

11-20-2014, 02:33 AM	#5
LensBeginner Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Photos: Albums Posts: 4,696	Originally posted by rawr In the short term, it not a good scenario, for either Pentax or Metz. Maybe in the long term it will encourage more third-parties to enter the market, however. There already are good third party options... but not many offer P-TTL... I hoped it would have come with the Yongnuo YN560 mkIV but it wasn't the case...

11-20-2014, 03:16 AM	#7
Class A Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Wellington, New Zealand Posts: 11,251	Seems like there is still a slim chance that an investor may save them. Also, it remains to be seen whether the flash business might be able to continue. I'm pretty sure it was the TV sales that brought Metz down.

11-20-2014, 03:40 AM	#8
p38arover Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Western Sydney, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,084	Originally posted by JimC1101 Well Metz have been around for 75 years so I am thinking they are going chapter 11 Isn't Chapter 11 a US thing?

11-20-2014, 03:47 AM	#9
rawr Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,913 Original Poster	Originally posted by danielblues that could mean the end of firmware upgrade service Yes, firmware upgrades will be vulnerable I think. There's no money in it (unless they charge for the service in future, but even then it would only be a trickle of income). When you have to fire 600 workers, the workers who make stuff which you can can sell today are probably the ones you keep. The workers who provide support for free for products that you have already sold (sometimes long ago) seem most at risk.

11-20-2014, 04:19 AM	#10
danielblues Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Cascais, Portugal Posts: 173	Originally posted by rawr Yes, firmware upgrades will be vulnerable I think. There's no money in it (unless they charge for the service in future, but even then it would only be a trickle of income). No direct money earn now, but It was one of items on the "Pro:" list when choosing a flash. But you are right, when money is short, you tend to make sort term decisions.

11-20-2014, 05:33 AM	#11
Volker76 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Posts: 211	well, german insolvency laws are so that the survival of the company is the most important point of the agenda. Keeping that in mind, I assume that the flash and plastics divisions will march on.

11-20-2014, 06:33 AM	#12
bdery Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Quebec city, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,357	I really hope they get through this, their products are among the best I've used.

11-20-2014, 07:38 AM	#13
demondata Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Aurora, Ontario, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 632	Originally posted by bdery I really hope they get through this, their products are among the best I've used. Hope so, too. Diversity is good for competition and innovation.

11-20-2014, 09:02 AM	#15
eonb Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: North-East England Posts: 73	As I've currently got three of their flash guns, I hope they're around for lots more years. I've used Metz guns for years and they're great. The hammerhead CT60's (pre-digital) were amazing.