This week Leica Mayfair is hosting members of the two main owners’ associations, the Leica Society and the Leica Fellowship, in the sort of public relations initiative that singles out the German marque as a leader in customer service. Today, as I write, Leica Fellowship members are gathering in the conference room at Bruton Place; yesterday it was the turn of the Leica Society and these photographs were taken at that event (using the Leica Q).
Society members were welcomed by Leica UK managing director, Jason Heward and then entertained to an in-depth assessment of the new S, model 007, from the company’s professional products sales manager Colin Johnston, followed by a fascinating insight into the latest interchangeable-lens entrant, the SL, from Leica Akademie “professor” Robin Sinha, a familiar face to many of the visitors. Robin also outlined Leica’s increasingly extensive range of cameras and systems. The past year has been one of the most prolific periods for new-camera announcements, including the wildly successful Q and the M246 Monochrom.
Liberally fed and watered with morning coffee, lunch and then afternoon tea, the Leica enthusiasts went away with a warm feeling that here is one manufacturer that really cares for its customers.
In 2014 I wrote about David Suchet’s Leica MP which he sold to R.G.Lewis when purchasing his current Monochrom. This interesting “Hercule Poirot” camera was bought by my friend John Cartwright but is now in the collection of Ivor Cooper at Red Dot Cameras
Dear Mike
Your photos and article make me even more regretful that I was not able to reach Mayfair yesterday. The fact that they are now cancelling flights before storms arrive must be the result of low margins and passenger compensation as well as global warming. It looks like that everyone had a good time. Was there any word about when the next M might be expected? This is the model that most interests me and, I am sure, a lot of other Leica users. M lenses are, in my experience, at their best on an M body. I remain to be convinced that they will work as well on the SL, but I could be wrong.
William
Yes, a great pity you couldn’t make it. You were missed. I don’t have any inside knowledge on the M range but my gut feeling is that we will see the next generation M at Photokina in 2016, not before. I do, however, expect one or two variations on the present theme (of which the M262 is one of them).
I am told that M lenses perform exceptionally well on the SL. I’ve had a quick play (but seen no results). Robin Sinha reckons that focus magnification (which isn’t automatic as it is on the M or the Q) is not necessary because of the superb viewfinder. I have my doubts and, if I found I had to rely on magnification it would be necessary to press a button before every focus operation (as on the T, for instance).
I am promised an SL for test in the near future.
Mike
Indeed, Ivor now has his hands on the ‘Poirot’ MP. I think
meter was off anyway……😄
John
Nice to see some familiar faces there!