This is not an early April Fools joke. The German trade
publication “Manager Magazin” reported today that Leica is entering the
smartphone market in a joint venture with the Chinese telecommunication giant
Huawei. Few details are known at this
point other than that the name of the phone will be P9 with an anticipated
price of 600 euros. That would bring
the cost right in line with the Apple iPhone.
Huawai P9 Phone
While many comments claim
surprise, it should be viewed as an extension of the Leica camera market to a younger
audience. It is a known fact that the
amateur camera market is quickly disappearing.
It is taken over by smart phones with camera capabilities. While these were of relatively poor quality
in the past, top models have progressed into rather capable cameras. With this phone/camera Leica is definitely getting
a jump on the competition. The Phone
reportedly will be available this spring.
This venture harks back to
the very early days of the company founder of Ernst Leitz. In a book by W. Erb about the Leitz (Leica)
company is a short paragraph with a transcript from a newspapaer article that
translates as follows:
“On September 1864, the 39th meeting of the German
Naturalists and Physicians took place in Giessen. (Giessen is a town very close
to Wetzlar) Particular efforts were made
to remain competitive during the subsequent exhibition of microscopes. For the young mechanic (Ernst Leitz) there
was a special task. Phillip Reis planned
to demonstrate his invention, the telephone, since his first try in Frankfurt
on October 16, 1861, had failed. Ernst
Leitz successfully completed the preliminary work with the help of his
technical knowledge, so that on September 21, 1864, the final recognition was
not denied the inventor.”
Phillip Reis phone, demonstrated wityh the help of Ernst Leitz in 1864
________________________________________________________________________________________
To comment or to read comments please scroll past the ads below.
All ads present items of interest to Leica owners.
To comment or to read comments please scroll past the ads below.
All ads present items of interest to Leica owners.
For more information on KOMARU and for orders go to: www.taos-photographic.com
NEW Komaru Colors
For more information and pre orders go to: www.lenstab.com
For more information on KOMARU and for orders go to: www.taos-photographic.com
NEW Komaru Colors
For more information and pre orders go to: www.lenstab.com
Click on image to enlarge
Order: info@gmpphoto.com
Click on image to enlarge
Order: info@gmpphoto.com
Click on image to enlarge
Order: info@gmpphoto.com
Click on image to enlarge
Order: info@gmpphoto.com
Please make payment via PayPal to GMP Photography
Click on image to enlarge
Order: info@gmpphoto.com
Please make payment via PayPal to GMP Photography
Click on image to enlarge
Order: info@gmpphoto.com
Please make payment via PayPal to GMP Photography
Will it have a rangefinder?
ReplyDeleteNo, it doesn't need one. The short focal lengths of cell phone lenses have enough depth of field to make focusing unnecessary.
DeleteSince Leica is short for LEItz CAmera, will this be a Leitel (LEItz TELephone)?
ReplyDeleteThat would stand for LEIca TELephone, however.
DeleteHoly Moley! This is sensational news. I am going to have to look into this.
ReplyDeleteI believe a lot of Leica owners will. A cell phone with Leica quality bulit in camera capabilities is a natural addition to ones Leica camera equipment.
DeleteEric Chan wrote on Facebook:
ReplyDeleteIt will definitely have a place in the brand-conscious Chinese market. Just look at how the M9 have been shopped up by the mainland Chinese shoppers even though many don't even know how to operate a manual rangefinder camera. It's the prestige of owning one that counts.
I am sure Leica will take the additional revenue wherever it comes from. As far as not knowing how to operate a rangefinder, you could also add not liking it. That's why Leica makes cameras other than rangefinders as well. A rangefinder is just not for everyone. As for the prestige; that is a worn out argument which certainly does not belong to all Leica owners.
DeleteEdward Baronia wrote on Facebook:
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, unless you are a part of one of the two major ecosystems, you immediately become an "also-ran"; see Blackberry, Nokia, Microsoft, et al.
I could see some members of my demographic become interested in this. Those who do carry a better camera in addition to their cell phone tend to favor larger sensor size and high ISO capabilities. So the main way to do this right wouldn't be the thin model shown, it would be something more akin to the Nokia or Samsung models that are cameras that happen to have phones built in.
You can't cheat physics, so focal length and sensor size have to be up to par.
I am sure Leica is not trying to take over the cell phone market. But this will open a market for them for individuals who are looking for a good camera in a cell phone. This, however, should not be misconstrued as a replacement for any of the other Leica cameras.
DeleteDavid Shriqui commented on Facebook:
ReplyDeleteLeica together with a chinese company... This is the end of Leicas mojo
You are allowing your prejudices to get the best of you. They said the same when Leica opened their factory in Midland, Ontario or the facility in Portugal
DeleteLeica definitely is getting the jump on the competition, just as they did with the first professional mirrorless camera.
ReplyDeleteYou are right. The market for small, digital cameras is quickly disappearing and the DSLR market has gone down considerably as well.
Delete