Leica Q series cameras sell twice as much, than the entire M system

[dirk]

There is an article at digitalcameraworld about the success of the Leica Q-series. "The Leica Q series cameras sell twice as much, or even more, than the entire M system" according to Andrea Pacella, Global Marketing Director, Leica Camera.

"The camera (Q3) is expensive, and we prefer to maintain its premium price point instead of overproducing and being forced to lower the price".

An interesting article:

What is Leica's best-selling camera? I found out the answer and was completely shocked

Forget rangefinders! Leica's most successful camera range isn't the one you'd ever expect

www.digitalcameraworld.com

But this is bad news for us. If the Leica Q is such a success for Leica and therefore so important for their profits, it is very unlikely, that they will allow Panasonic to produce something similar at a lower price point. So, no Lumix Q for us. This is frustrating.

After the introduction of the Leica EV1, probably the same bad news for a RF-style L-Mount Panasonic body model with interchangeable lenses.

Life is unfair...

 

[Jonathan-Mac]

Personally I couldn't care less what Leica do as all of their products are so over-priced I never expect to own any. None of them draw me anyway, except for the curiosity of trying a film rangefinder one day.

I don't think that Leica have the power to stop Panasonic from making a FF "compact" camera if they want to. Lots of cameras, including all interchangeable lens mirrorless, compete with the Q3 if you stick an appropriate lens on them, but apparently it still sells. Leice remains Leica and people who want that name on their gear will largely not consider a similar, cheaper option because it's not a Leica.

 

[dirk]

Leica owns the L-Mount copyright. Panasonic is using only a licence. Same as Sigma. Both will not do anything, which could get Leica angry for obvious reasons.

For what I understood, the Q is a Panasonic cooperation or product within their technological partnership outside of L-Mount. Even the patent of the lens of the Q3 43 seems to be from Panasonic.

I do not think that the Q series is sold to the typical Leica customer. The concept and the quantity do not look like normal "Leica fan territory". They sell too many of the Q for this. Just bear in mind: 2x-3x the numbers of all different M models and the M was always the best selling product in the past. That is really a lot!

That is for Leica a game changer. It is not anymore the tiny niche as it used to be in the past.

Therefore it is very likely, that a significant part of the Q target group is not the typical Leica buyer. They buy it, because there is no alternative in features combined with such a lens quality. Many of them would buy a cheaper, but almost as good Lumix Q.

Even I would do this and I own already a Q3 43.

 

[CharlesH]

It is amazing how well the Q3 sells. When it first came out I was tempted, but it was impossible to get one. So fortunately by the time they were generally available the temptation had simmered down. But with the new Metal Gray it is such an attractive camera. There could come a day.