Jan,
That is what I said. As I pointed out they took Nikon's flat field and tweaked it a bit and then produced a campaign designed to sell it to the public.
Swarovski didn't have to invite you on one of those tours to help sell their binoculars. After the binocular buying public found out about the Swarovsion binoculars through it's campaign using the ubiquitous social media it came to you and said "I want one of those great Swarovisions!"
This policy filters down to all their binoculars. I ordered a Swarovski 8x30 Companion from Camera Land, NY. CL called SONA and had one sent to me billed to Camera Land. Instructions in it when it arrived said that if there was any problem with it to return it directly to SONA.
As for what Leica has to do, you state "We need more," which raises the question: "More of what?"
CloseFocus commented on that in his post after mine and noted that "There are many who think Ultravids are still the best binoculars available, no matter what the sales numbers. Of course a new Leica binocular line would be nice, but most of the optical improvements of all the premium brands have been merely incremental for quite some time."
Leica has not been standing still. It did come out with a lower cost Trinovid. It seems to be a version of the older Ultravid with a similar exterior covering and without HD glass which I believe Leica put into the Ultravid in 2011.
Bob
Bob, Mac, David.
Enter my real world.
Taking the fact in consideration that the Birdlife Protection Society of Holland is only 15 minutes away from us, it is logical that we do not have many birders as customers.
80% of our customers go on safari in Africa.
They have never heard of birding trips to Extremadura and most of them react on the brand Swarovski: "Don't these guys make crystal?".
Here goes the advertisement/marketing theory.
After comparing the Leica HD with ('till spring 2013) the FL and the EL/SV/SLC range, most of them choose green.
They are NOT influenced by marketing or others.
Here goes the sheep theory.
In our shop there is a billboard of 3 by 4 meters, showing the Great Migration in Kenia, sponsored by Leica, which name is prominent on that billboard. We have 3 showing cabins from Leica with their names on it which take 4 wall meters. Only one of 50 cm with a Swarovski name on it.
Here goes the pro bias Swarovski theory.
And still, in the A-segment we almost only sell green. Not red!!
Before 2011 the HD was sold as well as the FL, but the EL excelled both in sales.
Since the outcoming of the SV it is almost only SV and now it is SV - SLC - Trinovid (and only because of the price drop of 200 euro).
Meanwhile, Leica's competition moved forwards. We have seen the HT, Terra, Conquest HD, new Zeiss scope, Zeiss range, SLC, SV, CL 25 and 30, EL range, ATX.
What have we seen from Leica?
An upgrade of the Geovid to HD by putting fluorite ions in the focussing lens.
An upgrade of the Geovid HD to R by updating its software.
A beautifull Geovid Perger. A masterpiece, which nobody called a gimmick BTW. The use is only for a very small targetgroup. I would have put my money in a other targetgroup line.
The Trinovid, which advertisement says it is made from the best materials, of the latest technology by Leica enigineers, which turns out to be cheap copy of the Ultravid without HD.
A lot of flashy coloured bins.
The supremecy of Swarovski was not denied by Leica, but justified as a logical result of the fact that the R&D budget of Swarovski was bigger than the budget of Zeiss and leica together.
Than David came out of the blue stating Leica is superior in products as in warranty, blaming the competition (read Swarovski) of outsourcing Far East without any shown proof for such a bold statement.
Yes, once owning a Ultravid you are good for Life!!! Nobody says otherwise!!!
The current level of A-fabric bins is so high, that the little improvements are not in line with the costs. Correct!!!
But, when you are in need of a binocular and you have the opportunity to pick between an HT, HD, SLC and SV, people do NOT go for the HD.
This is the reality Leica is facing. No manipulation by marketing mambo jambo, no free trips, no sheep behaviour. Just the endresult of examin the brands!
Leica and Zeiss have such a BIG name as a brand. They are the ICONS from the past!!
I am not a Swaro lover. I am a optic geek pur sang who loves David for stating that Leica will never outsource Far East. OK, Meopta is East and not Far east
(and I love Swaro for not outsourcing also.)
So we do need more from Leica then cosmetic changes.
But, a 7 and 8x32 in Ultravid leather like the current 42 line would be just fine.
And the same goes for the Trinovid line.
No upgrade of the HD model but a complete new setting.
Stop with the flashing colors and if Leica wants to make a limited edition, listen to Tillman Taube and bring a Icon model post WW2 in limited edition with state of the art glass.
This should cover it for this year.....
Jan