My advice to Leica from 10 years ago.

2023, Inspiration, Q&A, Teaching point

Back in 2013, I wrote an Open Letter to Leica.

The letter was primarily aimed at trying to get them to keep a CCD sensor in M cameras.  However, Leica had already introduced the CMOS-based M240, which was larger in girth and features (hello video?).  In retrospect, it’s clear they were never going to go back to an M9-type camera.

And now in 2023, even I have to concede that I’m using a CMOS-sensor camera (though I’m no longer shooting with a Leica).

Despite the dominance of CMOS, all these years later the M9 commands a premium on the used market.  The M240, not so much.

And as I consider the current M11, and the QA troubles it seems to be facing, and — perhaps more importantly — the hints it provides with respect to where Leica is going with future M cameras, I feel compelled to repeat some of what I wrote 10 years ago (with some commentary):

 

“We place an emphasis on high quality still image photography, and therefore have little interest in video.”

They seem to have learned this.

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We value the intuitive, quick, and precise rangefinder focusing mechanism, and therefore have little interest in Live View.”

This is the interesting part (about where the M line may be going).  Not sure that the M12 will have a mechanical rangefinder and OVF, for example.

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“…would welcome…improvements in processor speed, shutter quietness, LCD quality…”

Always welcomed.

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“Whatever Leica does with the next M, I would humbly suggest that they focus on… superior image quality and reliability…”

IQ has been improved with the (presumed) adoption of a Sony sensor.  The reliability part seems to be currently lacking however.  Leica is charging exceptional prices for a premium product that appears to be experiencing more than its fair share of issues.

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“Leica has always done things a little differently, by placing simplicity and quality above all other considerations.  As a consequence, Leica has traditionally wisely avoided making decisions based on a “focus group” philosophy.

We are requesting for this fierce independence in thinking and product differentiation to continue.”

I still stand by those words.

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—Peter.