[nikomat 9632] Fw: [Leica] LHSA 1999

["Ken Iisaka" <kiisaka@attglobal.net>]

LHSA(Leica Historical Society of America)????????????Cohn???????????????????

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M7??????????????M6???????????
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R??????????????????????????????????R8?????????????35-70/2.8????????

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> To Inquiring Minds:
> 
> The Leica Historical Society of America Meeting was a great success and
> I'm sure that our President, Bill Rosauer will or can comment further as
> to specifics.  I want to briefly give my opinion on comments made by
> Herr Cohn, CEO of Leica AG, Solms.  While I'm not privy to comments that
> he made to the LHSA Board he did address the general membership.  My
> first impression is that we are dealing with a sharp individual.  He
> hinted or directly said the following:
> 
> 1) Leica will refocus on its rich history and we should see more
> advertising with the historical perspective.
> 2) A new internet web site is planned with greatly expanded information
> including separate sections for users and collectors.
> 3) A new point and shoot will be coming shortly- the C1 with 38-105 Zoom
> lens.
> 4) There will be no M7 but a "family" of M6s.
> 5) He wants to fashion Leica like DELL Computer in which it will be
> possible to custom order cameras with individual touches i.e. red
> leather etc.  This is probably years away.
> 5) The layoffs in Solms were necessary as the water level was rising and
> by his own gesture was up to his eyes.
> 6) The R system will be retained but I don't sense any major new
> developments.  The R8 motor is finally ready to ship and the 35-70mm
> F2.8 zoom is also ready to ship.
> 
> Those that really took note perhaps can expand on the above points.
> 
> It was great making new friends and seeing many LUG/LEG members such as
> Richard Wasserman, Bill and Mary Caldwell, Bill Grimwood, Vahan
> Shahinian, John Karian, as well as Mark Rabiner and his wife Karen.
> 
> We were all devastated my Erwin's illness but thank God he seems to be
> fine and will recover.