Tariq Gibran
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 p.6 #2 · Leica X1 preview samples gallery | |
Lotusm50 wrote:
Tariq Gibran wrote:
Leica: so good they put themselves out of business! If that were to happen, they certainly would not be the first company to fail believing in the mousetrap fallacy.
Now, now. The digital transition was disruptive to nearly all companies and the industry. Surviving it had little to do with size or how good they were at what they were doing. It takes management -- vision, recognizing disruptive change when it happens, accepting, responding to it, and owning it. Leica's corporate head at the time was not on it right way to allow them to succeed in this environment. It's taking them longer, it's taken new ownership and restructuring, but they are getting there. More work needs to be done to fully re-orient themselves to the realities of the new marketplace. I think they can get where they need to be (but it is not yet guaranteed).
I think they have done well in their ability to innovate with regard to the digital transition - taking full advantage of a unique sensor with offset micro-lenses in the M8 and now M9 thus allowing for the smallest FF and what looks to be a superior middle format system - but that is not the point. The question was and will continue to be if the market is demanding these products and is willing to pay for them at the prices that must be charged in sufficient quantities to make Leica profitable. If the question turns out to be no, then Leica has become victim to the proverbial mousetrap fallacy ie. build a better product and the consumer will beat a path to your door. I'm rooting for Leica myself.
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