I wanted to make the same comment as above.
Originally posted by ghelary according to the lastest info from Leica, their factories are running at full capacity for both bodies and lenses, actualy they are saying that they haven't seen this level of production since the M3.
Recently, Leica is making so much money that within three years, they make enough
profit to actually buy Pentax (at the price Ricoh may have paid).
Originally posted by séamuis and such a product will be out of reach to most people who would love to use such a system. just the way Leica likes it.
It's not what Leica likes. After WW2 when the German camera industry lost their patents, that was the only way to survive against the then cheapo Japan competition.
But at their heart, they don't consider themselves a luxory good manufacturer. They consider themselves technophile and perfectionist wanting to deliver good products to photo enthusiasts.
Originally posted by ghelary IMO, Leica is not anymore comparable to any other camera companies. It's a bit like Ferrari for car, people don't buy them as a mean of transportation, it can do it, but that's not the point. They are status objects.
IMHO, Leica is actually more like Porsche, not like Ferrari or Rolls Royce. So, I disagree. After their turn around, Porsche earned so much money that they almost bought Volkswagen and became the biggest automitive corporation worldwide (they aquired some 70% of stock when requiring some 75% to own VW deep pockets; the financial crisis made it though that Volkswagen ended up buying Porsche -- but it doesn't matter because it is the same family anyway).
And Porsche always made cars with acceptable price performance, like the Boxster or Cayenne. A Porsche
is a status object, I agree. But not because they are meant to be. Just because they are meant to be technically superior. A bit like Apple for computers. BTW, in Germany, a Porsche isn't a status object in itself. Not more than a BMW M, Audi S or Mercedes SL. But a $100k+ car is a status object. OTOH, you normally get a car which is awesome to drive in return. If you buy it, it is for joy, not for status.
I see Leica going into that same direction:
Somewhat expensive cameras but not ridiculously so. Models with EVF and AF to compete with µFT and X100. With more modern production facilities (less hand making) to bring prices down and volume up. They already started doing this because they cannot satisfy the demand even at the current ridiculous level of pricing. This is exactly what Porsche did for their turn around 1993 led by Wiedeking. Personally, I see Leica on the same track now.
OTOH of course, they can make mistakes. But playing right, they may become to cameras what German makers became to cars. At least, I am happy that one German maker survived to this point in time.
Originally posted by glanglois This goes back to an earlier series of posts that I think you and I were involved in, Falk.
If we take this road, we should be looking at a completely different camera design for holding and aiming the camera,
I agree.
Personally, I see a purely mechanical grip (choice of side grip, pistol grip etc.) with embedded EVF looked at from a high eye point ocular. The data (live view, control data and image/movie data after the shot) are transmitted over a short-range wireless connection (as is being developed for flat screens). Some of the data is transmitted to the grip while other is transmitted to a data tank (possibly embedded into one of the grips).
Some may prefer to keep their grips attached permanently while others may prefer to carry less grips than lenses.
The movie "2001" contains a scene with such a camera in use (it contains another scene with an iPad in use -- but that's another story).
Originally posted by Aristophanes Has someone told Leica?
Beautiful video.
But what is the connection to the digital rear cap idea?