It should come as no surprise to anyone that you can't obtain the latest M camera within anything resembling a "reasonable" timeframe, despite the fact that it's been out for months now. In a letter sent to Leica dealers this week, Leica Camera's COO Markus Limberger apologized for the delays, saying it was largely caused by the "elaborate manual process" and "enormous demand." He went on to say that demand has "far exceeded our expectations," resulting in unavoidable delays to deliveries... Leica's pending move to new facilities and the hiring of additional workers should help to alleviate this pressure, but not until next year!
An Amateur Photographer article elaborates:
Leica has warned photographers to expect delays when ordering the Leica M, telling dealers this has been triggered by ‘enormous demand’ for the camera.
In a letter sent to Leica dealers this week, the contents of which have since been confirmed by the firm's UK office, Leica Camera's chief operating officer Markus Limberger apologised for the delays, saying it was largely caused by the ‘elaborate manual process' used to make the Leica M.
He told dealers that demand has ‘far exceeded our expectations', resulting in unavoidable delays to deliveries.
Limberger wrote: ‘Please rest assured that we are investing an enormous amount of time and effort in the sustainable expansion of our production capacities, naturally in full compliance with our commitment to absolute quality.'
In the 10 June letter, he added: ‘Despite the very high demand, particularly of the Leica M, the quality of our products and the high-precision in our production maintains our high standard.' The German company plans to open an ‘ultra-modern' factory in Wetzlar next year to ‘satisfy production demand'.
Leica says it is also recruiting more specialists and trainees.
Limberger continued: ‘The sum total of these measures will relieve pressures in the production process and simultaneously lead to considerably shorter order-fulfilment times.'
David Bell, managing director of Leica Camera Ltd, said that ‘very limited supplies' have started to arrive in the UK, adding that the ‘picture is set to improve into the summer'.
He told Amateur Photographer: ‘The difficulty for us is that we are currently unable to match demand.
‘There will always be waiting times as we are a relatively small company.
'However, this new M is proving a longer wait.'
The Leica M was announced at last year's Photokina trade show in Cologne, Germany.
Update (June 18, 2013) Leica has now given a press release on the matter:
Since its presentation at the photokina 2012, the new Leica M has become extremely popular. The large number of orders we have received shows the outstanding acceptance of the new M-System on the market. The enormous demand has by far exceeded our expectations, with the consequence that delays in deliveries can unfortunately not be avoided.
In the words of Markus Limberger, COO at Leica Camera AG: ‘We are very sorry about these delays and hope you will understand the current situation. Please rest assured that we are investing an enormous amount of time and effort in the sustainable expansion of our production capacities, naturally in full compliance with our commitment to absolute quality. Despite the very high demand, particularly of the Leica M, the quality of our products and the high-precision in our production maintains our high standard. '
A significant cause for the longer waiting times is Leica's uncompromising manufacturing process in accordance with the ‘factory' principle. Just like all other Leica products, the Leica M is manufactured and assembled in an elaborate manual process that must satisfy the most stringent demands on precision engineering, painstaking care and quality. Each Leica M is a handcrafted product in every detail and may only leave the factory after being tested, checked and adjusted for so long until its flawless finish and performance are guaranteed and fulfil the exhaustive quality demands on which the worldwide reputation of Leica is founded. This commitment to precision and quality has been the the core principle of Leica manufacturing for almost a century. The endurance, reliability and perceived value of Leica products have been instrumental in the creation of the Leica legend.
To ensure that we can continue to maintain these uncompromising quality standards and simultaneously reduce order-fulfilment times, Leica Camera AG is currently significantly expanding production capacities, creating job opportunities for additional specialists and trainees, and is building a completely new, ultra-modern factory that will open in Wetzlar in 2014 with facilities to satisfy production demand. The sum total of these measures will relieve pressures in the production process and simultaneously lead to considerably shorter order-fulfilment times.
Update (July 24, 2013) In a recent Interview with Dr. Kaufmann he expands on the matter:
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Digital Focus: It's been a few months since the new Leica M is on the market, what are the early returns?
The launch was made at the Photokina 2012. The production was a bit long and we started shipping in March. The early returns are the same as those we received following the announcement. This comes up most often is: "I want this device". The Leica M is set between a device referred telemetry with the possibility, thanks to Live View, use more M lenses produced since 1954, SLR lenses (Leica R, Canon or Nikon) with adapters picture or video! This is an extremely versatile tool for historical users M cameras and newcomers.
We talk to some customers in Asia that does not validate the color rendering of the device but we, Asian see colors slightly differently than Europeans. This is why some silver films or some sensors are not calibrated the same way in Europe and Asia.
Finally, at present, we can not produce enough to fulfill orders, we have a waiting list of one year.
Digital Focus: Is that the new plant will reduce the waiting time?
We opened a new factory in Portugal in March this year and the new plant in Germany will be completed by the end of the year. We will use as and when the various services until the production lines will be operational. This is a delicate operation to the extent that can not abruptly stop production for the move. Anyway, the delivery of the new Leica M will be shorter at the end of the year. We hope to reduce the waiting period to three months.
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Comments
Actually Great News!
Glen
Not Good
Negative comment...
Delays
Let's be honest and clear
Understandable
....
Well...
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Thanks!
Leica M delivered