Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2023/04/28
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Richard, Doctor, lawyer and Indian Chief comes from the lyrics of a Betty Hutton Song. It was also part of a popular jump rope chant. https://youtu.be/zZYYqQInrDg On Fri, Apr 28, 2023 at 7:01 PM Richard Man <richard at imagecraft.com> wrote: > Not sure if "Indian Chiefs" should be used, just saying. > > My M9 got destroyed by fire, and I bought an M10, the original, for a > reasonable for Leica price. Love it. No wish to upgrade even if I could > afford it. The M10 embodies the best of the original Leica philosophy. > > On Fri, Apr 28, 2023 at 12:44?PM jnelon <jnelon at nelonassociates.com> > wrote: > > > Well said. > > > > James R. Nelon > > Partner > > WNDA Studios > > O: +1.207.389.4676 > > C: +1.508.308.6525 > > Email: JNelon at WNDAStudios.com > > Website: https://WNDAStudios.com > > LinkedIn: https://LinkedIn.com/in/JamesNelon > > Highlight Reel: https://Vimeo.com/252904552 > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: LUG <lug-bounces+jnelon=nelonassociates.com at leica-users.org> On > > Behalf Of Frank Filippone via LUG > > Sent: Friday, April 28, 2023 1:57 PM > > To: Leica Users Group <lug at leica-users.org> > > Cc: Frank Filippone <bmwred735i at gmail.com> > > Subject: Re: [Leica] Leica lens quality as a forerunner to another "lens" > > race. > > > > I am really interested in what you have said.....especially in light of > > what Dr. Kauffman has said about computational photography. > > > > There is a major and basic decision you must reach as a company... do you > > want to cheapen your costs to the minimum or do you want to create THE > BEST. > > > > For Nikon, Canon and other mainstream photo brands, obviously it is more > > profitable to reduce costs. > > > > And by corollary, to allow THE BEST to be made by others. ( ignore this > > segment of the market). It suits their economies of scale. It suits the > > pure number of employees they have. It suits their heritage and it suits > > their Management. Said simply, it suits their profit motives. > > > > The move from a mechanical camera to the almost totally digital > > digi-cameras was a major move for them. ( and genius of the old Minolta > > folk at Sony.... ) > > > > But back to the main story, Kauffman has talked a lot about computational > > photography. The use of computers to fix stuff in an image. But HIS > > engineers are busy making $10,000 lenses that are close to perfection as > is > > currently possible. The computational photography side of the business > is > > relegated to developing "stuff" on contract for other companies.... > > Including Huawei. > > > > Why speak out of both sides of your mouth? It could be misdirection of > > strategy, or simply a way to remain in business. Leica can not compete > on > > volume or price. It's main market must be a niche. > > > > That Leica niche is not computational photography, it is optical > > superiority. > > > > The market they play in is one of rich Doctors, Lawyers and Indian > > Chiefs. It is NOT Mr. Joe Average. It is NOT Mr Pro Photographer. > > > > A few photographers make their livelihoods using Leica cameras and > > lenses. But the vast majority do not. Pros just can not afford the > costs, > > initial or updating. It makes no business sense. > > > > And thus it is....... that we as amateurs (rich Doctors, Lawyers and > > Indian Chiefs) and retirees are Leica's market segment. > > > > Can we actually see the difference compared to CaNikon? Does it matter? > > We want to know we are using THE BEST. > > > > And we can afford ( main word there!) to buy THE BEST. > > > > And as long as we or our kids want the same, Leica will produce THE BEST > > for us. > > > > Because they have no other choice. > > > > Frank Filippone > > BMWRed735i at Gmail.com > > > > On 4/28/2023 3:55 AM, Don Dory via LUG wrote: > > > Greetings to all. As many know I was at the LSI Spring meeting at the > > > Leica headquarters in NJ. As usual Leica provides their latest gear > > > on loan for a day. I had the opportunity to use the M11 Monochrome > > > with my ASPH Summilux(s) and the 28 APO Summicron. I have to say that > > > the sensor is way ahead of the lenses and your budget should include > > > several of the APO lenses if you go to the M11 M. > > > > > > Another point, the existing plug in software doesn't properly > > > recognize the M11M files so you are reliant on the built in Adobe > > > features or possibly the Capture One that is offered with the > > > M11M(James H.) would have more information on that. > > > > > > As an aside, I believe that the Japanese camera makers are proceeding > > > in a different direction with software enabled lens correction. I > > > know that the lenses I mount on high res Sony cameras all seem to > > > deliver more detail than I could get out of the M11M with existing > > > software. The information is there in the files so it is no fault of > > > the camera but more that the files are currently not well supported. > > > > > > I had the chance to talk to a high ranking individual within the Leica > > > organization at breakfast. The gist was that Leica was proceeding on > > > an optical solution rather than a software enabled solution. Probably > > > the better solution as if the information is there software can take > > > it to an even higher level. However, it puts Leica on a cost > > > effective curve that makes their products even more exclusive: also, > > > it hurts production volume as some of their designs have very high > > defect rates by Leica standards. > > > Obviously this drives an even higher price point. > > > > > > Last, one of the participants received a survey from Leica with one > > > question about Japanese production of lenses at a (much) lower price > > > point. So, Leica is aware of the pricing problem and is trying to > > > work on it. > > > > > > Last, this Leica representative clarified the classic stool of any > > product: > > > price, size, performance. You could have any two. I am currently > > > weighing this as I own several of Sigma's most excellent lenses for the > > FE mount. > > > Their performance is magnificent however the average weight is in the > > > neighborhood of 1.5 kilograms compared to my 35 ASPH Summilux in the > > > high > > > 300 grams. The Sigma is a better lens but my shoulder and hand don't > > > appreciate the weight as much as my eyes appreciate the image quality. > > > > > > On the positive side, Leica lenses still retain a significant resale > > > advantage. > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Leica Users Group. > > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Leica Users Group. > > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > > > > > -- > // richard http://imagecraft.com > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information -- Regards, Sonny http://sonc.com <http://sonc.com/look/> Natchitoches, Louisiana 1714 Oldest Permanent Settlement in the Louisiana Purchase USA