Leica Leica - somebodys buying them.

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In a year thats seen lots of camera companies and camera divisions struggling, Leica has seen its sales of cameras rise 57.3% and annual profits go from €3.2M to €30.4M in the year up to 31/March/2011.

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So its not just me that likes overpriced, overated, old-fashioned male jewellery then.
 
they obviously need more help.
where's my credit card?

Mate while you've got the plastic out, can you spot us an M9 (just standard black thanks bud) and get them to throw in a Lux 35/2 ASPH. Cheers, I'll pay ya back in a jiffy....

Gold, together we just boosted their profits by another 0.132%

P.S., you just got me thinking, if you chose not to buy into a Japanese system then Leica is now your only choice. Isn't it?
 
if you chose not to buy into a Japanese system then Leica is now your only choice. Isn't it?
Samsung are Korean. Hassleblad are Swedish. Zeiss are German. Some of the specialist medium format, digital back and film camera companies are non-japanese. And of course Kodak, who apparently sell huge numbers of compact cameras are U.S.
 
OK chuck, the M9's on its way to you, and Oscar Barnack has kindly consented to return from the dead to deliver my Titanium personally ...
 
Would be interesting to see how business growth developed in different parts of the world. The Asia Pacific markets might be among the key drivers for Leica's success.
 
the asia pacific markets might be among the key drivers for leica's success.

bingo!

Incidentally, the asia pacific market also seems to like M43 cameras much more so than in the Americas.


btw... Leica (camera) is owned by a very wealthy business aristocrat and Leica fanatic. Almost seems like running/ownership of Leica is an extreme hobby of sorts... a very good thing. Its nice to see the owner of a business with passion rather than eyes on profit margins.
 
P.S., you just got me thinking, if you chose not to buy into a Japanese system then Leica is now your only choice. Isn't it?

As pointed out, there are some others... but way dwarfed by the Japanese in terms of marketshare (Leica included).

With that... Japan is smaller than California and the fraction of resources yet they are the 4th (US is 3rd, China is 1) largest exporter of goods. Some of these goods are complex electronics and fairly difficult to make. WOW! just WOW! I find it amazing and I hope they quickly recover.
 
btw... Leica (camera) is owned by a very wealthy business aristocrat and Leica fanatic. Almost seems like running/ownership of Leica is an extreme hobby of sorts... a very good thing. Its nice to see the owner of a business with passion rather than eyes on profit margins.

Indeed. Andreas Kauffman apparently put €100 million into the company to save them from going under. He was also allegedly the driving force behind their new product line, M9, X1, S2 etc. Though expensive items, they seem to be attracting a lot of people.

I've heard that the components of the rangefinder system cost €1500 per camera.

Apparently they have also spent the last year making cameras to fulfill back orders and haven't been making any lenses. Certainly they are in very short supply in the UK.

A bit different from how most of the rest of camera manufacturing operates, but I suspect his investment is covered. They have an awful lot of assets to sell, including the name. How much that would fetch alone, I wouldn't like to guess.
 
There is supposedly a huge market for the Leicas in China thanks to the continued growth in numbers of people with disposable income there. Many are supposedly buying luxury items just for the sake of status and prestige. The red dot certainly fits in that category.
 
Leica branding is not owned by Leica Camera AG. It is leased from Leica Geosystems. Three Leica companies operate independently. Leica Camera got into a little trouble a while back when they released a limited run ca,era with the so called black dot. Someone was able to acquire a stock of the black dots and selling them on ebay for a a ripoff price of $80usd.

Stephan daniel should also be accredited with much of the work behind the M9 and x1.


Theres a short supply in lenses so what you say sounds accurate. The local shop here had a 100 person waiting list from all over the country when M9 first released.
 
Slightly off topic, but I have been looking at used film Leica bodies, and prices have certainly risen from about a year ago. Judging by eBay completed sales and KEH listings, it seems you now have to pay at least $1,500 for a decent M6!

Regards,

Antonio
 
. Many are supposedly buying luxury items just for the sake of status and prestige. The red dot certainly fits in that category.

Yes your typical Leica owner. An airhead with too much money. Funny how people who buy expensive Nikons or Canons don't get described as " buying luxury items just for the sake of status and prestige"
 
Most people do not know Leica is a manufacturer of cameras, let alone a "status symbol".

People know Nikon, Canon, Jaguar, Lexus and other high-end brand names. I rarely get any comments on the Leica's. People viewing them don't know they are expensive, only know they are funny looking. Thus, they are not status symbols- just funny looking cameras.
 
Yes your typical Leica owner. An airhead with too much money. Funny how people who buy expensive Nikons or Canons don't get described as " buying luxury items just for the sake of status and prestige"

would disagree - and just picking up on what Brian has said - "most people do not know Leica" and I would say that the majority of their cameras, (and lens) are certainly bought by photo enthusiasts, (whether they be expert or not), you have to be keen on photography to spend that kind of money

PS: an airhead is an air cooled BMW, (pre 1996 - the last BMW airhead was made in 1996, being the R80GS Basic)

Here is the last true "airhead" - one of my Bikes, (now sold to a guy in Spain who made me an offer that I could not refuse)

basic.jpg
 
Slightly off topic, but I have been looking at used film Leica bodies, and prices have certainly risen from about a year ago. Judging by eBay completed sales and KEH listings, it seems you now have to pay at least $1,500 for a decent M6!

Regards,

Antonio


Its across the board.... USD is not holding well against the Euro.
 
well.. theres one in every group.


I usually laugh because I am no where close to wealthy. I have one rule of personal finance

Buy many cheap things or Buy a few expensive things.. but never many expensive things.

I drive 10 year old car, have 5 year old computer, no gaming consoles, 2 bed room 100 year old home, still have 1 tv which is a sony wega CRT. Friends of mine ask me about my cameras and I usual ask about their new cars, new TV, expensive phones... usually shuts them up when they quickly realize their in debt and I am not.

Yes I buy with cash.



Last Time I checked an M9 is also here to be pbotographed with. lol



PS, Outside of photography world, I met one person who knew the brand Leica. Most people think i have a point and shoot which is fine by me. jealousy is an internal problem.
 
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