View Full Version : LEICA visit to Wetzlar Germany: Last Call
Hi,
The Global Outreach person at Leica who is coordinating our brief visit with Leica in Wetzlar asked me once to send her in May a list with information on each visitor from our RFF group. I suggest that if you think that there is a good chance that you will join us in Wetzlar on May 31/June 1 to send me a message at RFF with this information:
* Full Name
* From where you will be arriving or some information that can be shared with Leica
* Number of people in your group.
This information will be used to make the appropriate arrangements for our welcome in Wetzlar.
It is April 23 today ......
Raid
analoged
04-23-2016, 11:47
Sounds exciting! Cheers Raid for giving this opportunity to RFF members!!!
robert blu
04-23-2016, 13:25
PM sent!
robert
Sounds exciting! Cheers Raid for giving this opportunity to RFF members!!!
Thanks. I was a crazy idea out of the blue, but it made it to a solid plan in the end.
PM sent!
robert
I have read your PM, Robert. See you in Wetzlar.
So far, only Robert and his wife are definitely visiting Leica AG in Wetzlar on May 31-June 1, in addition to me and my family.
I will email Leica in one week the list of attendees.
LeicaFoReVer
04-26-2016, 12:22
Pm sent!!! I didnt know family could come so number of people would be 3 in that case. Am I coming??????
Thank you. I understand your situation.
dave lackey
04-26-2016, 12:49
Obviously I cannot go... But what is the purpose of this trip?:angel:
I am sorry for your health situation, Johan. I hope that you get well soon.
robert blu
04-27-2016, 06:00
Obviously I cannot go... But what is the purpose of this trip?:angel:
Buying "toys" at a special price for RFF members :D
Not sure Dave but from my side is simply an opportunity to visit the factory and to have some speak with Leica People...not planning to buy anything...
robert
Obviously I cannot go... But what is the purpose of this trip?:angel:
Hi Dave,
For me, it is about a chance for a meeting with the Leica CEO to better understand where Leica is going with it all. Wetzlar happens to be on the way between Nuremberg and Bonn which is my set driving route, so stopping there is no extra effort or cost. Oliver Kaltner is now my Linkedin connection, and so is the past Leica CEO. This may help one day and maybe it will not help. Again, there was no cost associated with it. Life is short, and I want to explore life as much as I can.
Earlier on I was considering to join but I had a strange episode which vaguely resembled a migraine attack four weeks ago and I haven't been able to work since. Terrible fatigue and lack of concentration. Won't get better anytime soon either AFAICT.
I won't join. Have fun guys.
Take care of yourself, Johan. This is most important. I am sure that we will have some thread about the visit to Wetzlar in the end. Thanks.
f16sunshine
04-27-2016, 06:21
I just arrived in Switzerland yesterday.
Looks like Germany is not on the docket for this year.
Will be back home on May 15th
Sorry to miss meeting you all there. Say hi to Wetlar for me. :)
So we have two families going to Wetzlar so far.I recall "Kent" lives close by in Marburg, and he wanted to join us there.
Kent ... can you see this thread?
I just arrived in Switzerland yesterday.
Looks like Germany is not on the docket for this year.
Will be back home on May 15th
Sorry to miss meeting you all there. Say hi to Wetlar for me. :)
No problem, Andy. I would not make a special trip just to visit Wetzlar. There are more important things to do in life. Enjoy Switzeeland.
Buying "toys" at a special price for RFF members :D
Not sure Dave but from my side is simply an opportunity to visit the factory and to have some speak with Leica People...not planning to buy anything...
robert
Same as you, Robert. No money or plan for buying yet another Leica "toy". I hope that we can see/hold/use a new Leica product a little while we are there. Who knows ...
Vincent.G
04-27-2016, 06:51
I am so envious of you guys. I last set foot on Europe 10 years ago.
mcfingon
04-27-2016, 07:16
You may glimpse the new M-D 262 Leica, Raid. If so, we all want to know about it...
I'd love to have a tour, but that's about it. I bought my share of new Leica gear in the past, but will only buy used from now on. So I'm not a real customer. But I'm looking forward to a report on the visit.
John
Thank you for your support, John. I am sure that Robert and I will have something to report about.
I am so envious of you guys. I last set foot on Europe 10 years ago.
It is costly, Vincent, and it is time consuming.
You may glimpse the new M-D 262 Leica, Raid. If so, we all want to know about it...
Thanks for the thought! I would love to try out a new Leica for a few hours.
robert blu
04-27-2016, 09:57
Try out a couple of "toys" would be very interesting...
robert
I am also considering taking with me only Leica products, in case they offer us to check/clean/adjust the equipment there.
robert blu
04-27-2016, 10:35
I'll bring for this journey the M7 + x1 and the Polaroid Land Camera...
robert
Kent is also onboard! Confirmed via pm at RFF.
I will bring along M9 and the Summilux as my main set. I will also bring with me the Rigid Summicron. I am torn between bringing also the M8 and/or the SWC. The Land 250 has to stay here in Florida for now.
tom.w.bn also is joining us in Wetzlar.
1. Robert and spouse
2. Kent
3. Tom
4. Raid and spouse
The most fun for me is to meet people. I am looking forward to the Wetzlar meeting.
robert blu
04-27-2016, 14:36
So now we have a transcontinental RFF meeting :)
robert
David Hughes
04-28-2016, 03:03
It is costly, Vincent, and it is time consuming.
Hi,
I often read comments like this and wonder why. Living in England on a pension I see mainland Europe as a place for cheap holidays with opportunities to get some of my money back by bringing supplies home...
Regards, David
Vincent.G
04-28-2016, 05:17
Hi David, you are fortunate. For me, a trip to Europe is costly too. One Singapore dollar exchanges for €0.65 only. I remember the last time I went for a round Europe trip, most things cost almost numerically similar to what it cost at home but in Euro.
Hi,
I often read comments like this and wonder why. Living in England on a pension I see mainland Europe as a place for cheap holidays with opportunities to get some of my money back by brining supplies home...
Regards, David
I live far away from Germany, as you know, David. I view travel to Europe and to Asia (when I can afford it) as a very important way for showing to my daughters that the world is big and that people while they appear to be very different, they in fact are very similar. We have the good, the bad, the ugly, and the beautiful (inside) all over the globe.
I have emailed Silke Bernhardt (at Leica) our short list for May 31.
I have just received an email from the Leica Global Outreach Director, followed by an email from the CEO (Oliver Kaltner). Mr. Kaltner has confirmed a meeting with him on May 31 from 2-3pm in Wetzlar. He will meet with the entire group.
user237428934
04-28-2016, 09:36
That's a bit earlier than I expected but I have some overtime hours to spend and no business meeting that day in my schedule :) Blocked the day already.
I have just received an email from the Leica Global Outreach Director, followed by an email from the CEO (Oliver Kaltner). Mr. Kaltner has confirmed a meeting with him on May 31 from 2-3pm in Wetzlar. He will meet with the entire group.
user237428934
04-28-2016, 10:00
My son and me met Thomas in Bonn a few years back, he is great company to have along. Enjoy the visit, people.
:) Thanks for your kind words.
DanskDynamit
04-28-2016, 10:06
I wish I could join you!
are you *only* going to meet with the CEO or also visit the production line etc?
David Hughes
04-28-2016, 10:11
Hi David, you are fortunate. For me, a trip to Europe is costly too. One Singapore dollar exchanges for €0.65 only. I remember the last time I went for a round Europe trip, most things cost almost numerically similar to what it cost at home but in Euro.
Hi,
Interesting answer and it set me thinking. I have almost always worked in The City (of London for our friends across the pond) and always felt sorry for tourists being fleeced, imo. So I ate a normal office worker lunch and they paid through the nose for it.
Now, taking RFF as the model, it seems to me that we are all willing to help each other out and so I wonder if there's a forum somewhere that swaps ideas and facts for overseas visitors to avoid the tourist traps but still see the sights.
Regards, David
David Hughes
04-28-2016, 10:13
I live far away from Germany, as you know, David. I view travel to Europe and to Asia (when I can afford it) as a very important way for showing to my daughters that the world is big and that people while they appear to be very different, they in fact are very similar. We have the good, the bad, the ugly, and the beautiful (inside) all over the globe.
Thanks, I guess the travel costs for several of you eats into the budget. And, of course, youngsters can empty a 'fridge of food in seconds and refilling it costs a fortune...
Anyway, I'll wish you all 'bon voyage'.
Regards, David
I wish I could join you!
are you *only* going to meet with the CEO or also visit the production line etc?
We get VIP tours at Leica too.
Modified to meet our needs:
May 31st:
1:00-2:00 Private tour through Leica building, museum, gallery, manufactory / production (approx. 60 min)
02:00 – 02.30 pm: Meet with Oliver Kaltner (CEO Leica Camera) or if not available at that day with another Board Member (Markus Limberger, COO or Ruud Peters, CFO)
02.30 – 03.00 pm: Meet with Mr. Stefan Daniel (Global Director Product Management): Discussion about Leica M
03:00 – open end: Coffee & cake in our wonderful “Café Leitz”
As I have stated before in another thread, please do not make your travel plans based on the one day (May 31). I wish that I could stay for more days than just for May 31, but I have many other obigations and I need to move on. I am sure that the (few) people making the visit can/want to stay longer in Wetzlar. It looks like a beautiful town, and then you have Leica there too, of course.
Hi Raid,
I saw the dates: 31 May/1st June. Unfortunatly I cannot join because I will be included in one important meeting at work...
I much regret it since I would love to go and meet with you guys.
I any case, I'm not far from Wetzlar. If you ever wanted to meet for example in Luxembourg over the previous or following week ends just let me know.
Cheers
I am sorry to miss you then. Thank you very much for your offer.
We now have another participant.
Ernst K.
We now have another participant.
Ernst K.
Looking forward to meeting you all in Wetzlar.
Ernst
Rasha and the two girls want to tour Leica too. Our group is growing in numbers.
Modified to meet our needs:
May 31st:
1:00-2:00 Private tour through Leica building, museum, gallery, manufactory / production (approx. 60 min)
02:00 – 02.30 pm: Meet with Oliver Kaltner (CEO Leica Camera) or if not available at that day with another Board Member (Markus Limberger, COO or Ruud Peters, CFO)
02.30 – 03.00 pm: Meet with Mr. Stefan Daniel (Global Director Product Management): Discussion about Leica M
03:00 – open end: Coffee & cake in our wonderful “Café Leitz”
That sounds great, Raid!
I have just asked to get the afternoon off on that Tuesday and hope I will be there at about 12:30h.
I wish if I could spend a week there! However, life is different from what we sometimes want ....
See you soon, Kent.
We have been invited for lunch! All of us, of course.
Guests: International members of “Rangefinder Forum”
Date: May 31st
Attendees:
Raid
Rasha
Lina
Dana
Robert
Ernst
Maria
Carsten
Thomas
Schedule:
May 31st:
12:15 am: Meet at Leica reception
12:20 – 01:00 pm: Group lunch in “Leica Casino” (table for group is reserved)
01:00 - 02:00 pm: Private tour (english) through Leica building (approx. 60 min) by Stefan Daniel (Global Director Product Management)
02:00 – 02.30 pm: Meet with Mr. Oliver Kaltner (CEO Leica Camera)
02:30 – 03:00 pm: Visit Leica Store, gallery etc (no guidance required)
03:00 – open end: Coffee & cake at “Café Leitz” (no guidance required, the Café is open until 06:00 pm)
Mackinaw
05-17-2016, 14:17
Nice job Raid. Wish I could go. Take good notes and a lot of pics.
Jim B.
Thank you Jim. I am surprised that Rasha and the girls want to attend the tour and the meeting with the CEO.
Too bad that not more RFF members can make it. The trip is long, and it is works out best if you already are there anyways, and Wetzlar happens to be "around the corner". I will use my iPhone to document the visit.
robert blu
05-17-2016, 23:41
great ! thanks you Raid for organizing this event!
robert
No problem, Robert. I am looking forward to a day filled with good events for us there.
streetleitz
05-18-2016, 07:08
Wow this is an amazing thing that you're doing Raid. Thank you for sharing this experience with the RFF community. I won't be able to join you guys unfortunately due to my work schedule but I'm sure that you'll all have a great time there! Enjoy the trip and do let us know how it goes when you get back.
Cheers!
- Ian
Thank you Ian. There will be several photographers in our group, so we should get a good feedback thread eventually here.
BillBingham2
05-19-2016, 08:46
Safe travels all.
Please bring back some memories and some pictures!
B2 (;->
Safe travels all.
Please bring back some memories and some pictures!
B2 (;->
Thank you, Bill.
...
Guests: International members of “Rangefinder Forum”
Date: May 31st
Attendees:
Raid
Rasha
Lina
Dana
Robert
Ernst
Maria
Carsten
Thomas
Schedule:
May 31st:
12:15 am: Meet at Leica reception
12:20 – 01:00 pm: Group lunch in “Leica Casino” (table for group is reserved)
01:00 - 02:00 pm: Private tour (english) through Leica building (approx. 60 min) by Stefan Daniel (Global Director Product Management)
02:00 – 02.30 pm: Meet with Mr. Oliver Kaltner (CEO Leica Camera)
02:30 – 03:00 pm: Visit Leica Store, gallery etc (no guidance required)
03:00 – open end: Coffee & cake at “Café Leitz” (no guidance required, the Café is open until 06:00 pm)
May I join your group of visitors yet?
Although living along only a few hundred miles away from Wetzlar, I never found an opportunity for the most interesting factory visit.
And of course I'd like to meet some international friends of Leica.
Greetings mnutzer = Bernd
johannielscom
05-29-2016, 12:53
Enjoy the visit, folks. See if the nice people at Leica have a leftover box of pre-war KASAM film cassettes that they are willing to part with, so I can load my early Leica II with them?
;)
Information for the Leica visit:
the address is: Am Leitz-Park 5, 35578 Wetzlar.
There are parking lots for visitors directly in front of the building.
Enjoy the visit, folks. See if the nice people at Leica have a leftover box of pre-war KASAM film cassettes that they are willing to part with, so I can load my early Leica II with them?
;)
Stuff like that is meant for Customer Service, Johan :D
Ask them if they could try to reduce size of the digital M to what the M6 was like :D
The visit today to Leica went very well. We received VIP treatment for sure. Three high ranking Leica officials met with us. The visit started with lunch around 12:30. and it ended around 4:30 after a great presentation by the optics designer of Leica. Then we sat in Leica Coffee Shop and chatted. It was a very friendly reception by Leica to our small RFF group.
Oliver Kaltner talked about his vision for Leica, and he went over his employment past and his contributions to other companies before he came to Leica. I will post photos after we get back to the USA some time in June. Kaltner addressed Lina and Dana as the next generation of Leica users.
user237428934
05-31-2016, 10:46
Just returned home from this great visit. This was way better than I expected before. Thanks Raid for your part of organizing this. Nice group, a pitty that we didn't have more time together.
I gave my M9 in for an inspection / cleaning and was able to take it home again the same day. And they even exchanged the time selector wheel because some of the times on the old one were already black. Thank you Leica for that super service.
Excellent day!
Thanks to Raid for organising it. Great meetings with Stefan Daniel and Oliver Kaltner and as an extra bonus, we had an hour with lens meister Peter Karbe.
Highly enjoyable...
robert blu
05-31-2016, 13:15
It has really been a great day, thanks you all!
robert
pepeguitarra
05-31-2016, 15:26
The visit today to Leica went very well. We received VIP treatment for sure. Three high ranking Leica officials met with us. The visit started with lunch around 12:30. and it ended around 4:30 after a great presentation by the optics designer of Leica. Then we sat in Leica Coffee Shop and chatted. It was a very friendly reception by Leica to our small RFF group.
Oliver Kaltner talked about his vision for Leica, and he went over his employment past and his contributions to other companies before he came to Leica. I will post photos after we get back to the USA some time in June. Kaltner addressed Lina and Dana as the next generation of Leica users.
Did they show you the working room and the lady cleaning up the sensors with the Pentax rubber tip?
We saw through windows at several work rooms. While one or two RFF members had their cameras adjusted (give up camera before tour, pick it up afterwards), I did not do it.
Excellent day!
Thanks to Raid for organising it. Great meetings with Stefan Daniel and Oliver Kaltner and as an extra bonus, we had an hour with lens meister Peter Karbe.
Highly enjoyable...
Stefan Daniel spent one hour touring the history of Leica in the splendid new hall in the new Leica building. He addressed all questions put to him by us. This was a special treat.
Oliver Kaltner gave us about 45 minutes of his busy time, and he was very nice to all of us. Herr Kaltner shared with us his vision for Leica, explaining to us how optical engineering was the foundation and also the future . A treat indeed.
Silke Benrhardt did first class organizing and hosting of the events. Her role was crucial. Thank you!
Peter Karbe gave us a detailed slide presentation of Tradition and Innovation at Leica. It was a 75 minute presentation. Again, a real treat.
pepeguitarra
06-01-2016, 05:23
This is so cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@Raid and all participants,
many personal thanks for making possible this short term participation to your VIP visit at Leica.
The unexpected excellent lecture by Peter Karbe full of details of the Leica optics nowadays, in past and future was an unforgettable highlight in addition to the excellent factory tour by Stefan Daniel and the most interesting insights into the mind and philosophy of CEO Oliver Kaltner.
Also many thanks to the excellent organization by Silke Bernhardt and all other members of the staff who allowed us this great experience.
Never to forget those personally unknown COK (chief of kitchen:)) and the teams of canteen and café.
It was wonderful to meet new Leica friends.
Thanks again!
Bernd
Indeed! It was a very special experience. In what company would a CEO take so much time to talk to a rather small group of visitors? Oliver Kaltner also seems to be a very nice person, someone I really would like to drink a glass of good wine with. :)
It was also great to meet you guys. I really enjoyed that.
Thank you very much for the organization again, Raid!
Carsten
Hi Carsten,
I agree with you on what you have posted here above.
It was great to meet up with you again.
Just returned home from this great visit. This was way better than I expected before. Thanks Raid for your part of organizing this. Nice group, a pitty that we didn't have more time together.
I gave my M9 in for an inspection / cleaning and was able to take it home again the same day. And they even exchanged the time selector wheel because some of the times on the old one were already black. Thank you Leica for that super service.
It was nice to meet you Tom. Things worked out very well at the Leica visit.
BillBingham2
06-01-2016, 11:52
Congratulations Raid on an RFF First! Without your focus, professionalism, respect and knowledge it would never have been!
Very well done. I hope the rest of your travels go a well. Be safe, have fun, and keep setting the bar high!
B2 (;->
Thank you, Bill.
It was a nice feeling at the Leica visit.
I told them at Leica that this visit may trigger visits by other RFF groups in the future. They said that this would be fine. I believe that RFF has an amazing group of members, with a lot of knowledge about RF cameras and lenses and about RF photography overall.
You know, it was like "the head, the heart and the brain" of Leica who guided us through this day, wasn't it?
They explained why only Leica digital M cameras had the design capabilities to fully optimize the use of M lenses. The scientific explanations were really cool and very informative. There were no sales pitches, in my opinion. The language used was the language of science.
They explained why only Leica digital M cameras had the design capabilities to fully optimize the use of M lenses. The scientific explanations were really cool and very informative. There were no sales pitches, in my opinion. The language used was the language of science.
I agree Raid. There was no selling whatsoever.
Peter Karbe said (about the relationship between new digital innovation and the tradition of the 'M')
"We needed to fit digital technology to the M System (and lenses) and not the other way around". I thought that was very enlightening.
Ernst
You know, it was like "the head, the heart and the brain" of Leica who guided us through this day, wasn't it?
That's a very good way of describing it!
Ernst
Oliver Kaltner told us that "it was new to him" to be associating with a website (such as RFF), and that he will try it out. He also promised to be available to address questions about Leica. Which optical engineering company has its CEO make such statements?
robert blu
06-02-2016, 12:38
You know, it was like "the head, the heart and the brain" of Leica who guided us through this day, wasn't it?
Yes so it was, and I love this description!
robert
Head ==>
Heart ==>
Brain ==>
Fill in the names ..
----------------------------------
Edited: Of course, each of the three leaders who were kind enough to meet with us share ownership of Head-Hreat-Brain within their organization, but each having different specific responsibilities. What Carsten meant to say (I think) is that the collective input form these three gentlemen was to allow our small RFF group to experience a small portion of what {Head-Brain-Heart) of Leica to experience it all combined. Am I correct, Carsten?
Mackinaw
06-02-2016, 12:53
Raid, was there any mention of film cameras, i.e., the MP and M7? Just curious.
Jim B.
user237428934
06-02-2016, 12:54
Head ==>
Heart ==>
Brain ==>
Fill in the names ..
You surely will offend someone by doing this.
user237428934
06-02-2016, 12:56
Raid, was there any mention of film cameras, i.e., the MP and M7? Just curious.
Jim B.
Film? Nah! There was some talking about the role of the smartphone. :)
airfrogusmc
06-02-2016, 14:00
Raid you rock for doing this. Just wish I could have been in Germany to join in. Sounds like a great experience for everyone.
My view...
Head = Oliver Kaltner
Heart = Stefan Daniel
Brain = Peter Karbe
Tho in reality you could exchange any of those names and it would still be a positive answer...
Ernst
Duane Pandorf
06-02-2016, 15:03
Thanks for the updates and glad the field trip went well. Any mention at all on service/repair side of the business and length of time to get your gear back in a more timely fashion?
You surely will offend someone by doing this.
It is maybe that each of the three leaders who met with us share ownership of these three vital elements, Tom.
Raid, was there any mention of film cameras, i.e., the MP and M7? Just curious.
Jim B.
Hi Jim,
The tour of the Leica Museum was mainly about Leica film cameras, and there must have been some questions/answers on the M7 and the MP (was it by Ernst?).
Film? Nah! There was some talking about the role of the smartphone. :)
You are wrong. Leica film cameras are their pride and joy, as we could see in their discussions. They call is "tradition" ...
Thanks for the updates and glad the field trip went well. Any mention at all on service/repair side of the business and length of time to get your gear back in a more timely fashion?
I may be wrong here, but I did not hear anybody in our group ask any questions about customer service. Robert may have asked one question about this topic, and he was informed of the Leica service store in Italy.
In the end, when you get such a high level VIP tour and presentations, the coverage is usually about what these high ranking officials are best informed of. The CEO stated that he gladly will address questions (coming to him in the future) from RFF. There was no dodging of questions.
user237428934
06-03-2016, 01:09
Hi Jim,
The tour of the Leica Museum was mainly about Leica film cameras, and there must have been some questions/answers on the M7 and the MP (was it by Ernst?).
But I don't remember any question about the future of film M's.
Hi Jim,
The tour of the Leica Museum was mainly about Leica film cameras, and there must have been some questions/answers on the M7 and the MP (was it by Ernst?).
I didn't ask the MP question. We talked a bit about M2 v M3 and some of us said we preferred the M2...
But I don't remember any question about the future of film M's.
There were no such questions, and there were no comments made that suggested the end of Leica film cameras.
I didn't ask the MP question. We talked a bit about M2 v M3 and some of us said we preferred the M2...
I said that maybe I am wrong, Ernst. :D
Emile de Leon
06-03-2016, 08:24
Sounds like a great trip and a great company..!
Its actually amazing in this day and age..that they offer to host gatherings of this sort.
Kudos the Leica!
In addition to touring the Leica facilities, Wetzlar is a beautiful small town, with an Old Town portion with narrow lanes and old houses. We enjoyed our brief stay there.
Our group in Wetzlar.
https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-zscqkvX/0/L/i-zscqkvX-L.jpg
The optics master
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https://photos.smugmug.com/Germany-2016-iPhone-6/n-MXwsq3/i-dMZdZwV/0/L/i-dMZdZwV-L.jpg
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https://photos.smugmug.com/Germany-2016-iPhone-6/n-MXwsq3/i-v8Tw67s/0/L/i-v8Tw67s-L.jpg
Where it happened ...
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Robert
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https://photos.smugmug.com/Germany-2016-iPhone-6/n-MXwsq3/i-6md4gz2/0/L/i-6md4gz2-L.jpg
https://photos.smugmug.com/Germany-2016-iPhone-6/n-MXwsq3/i-k2xt4tr/0/L/i-k2xt4tr-L.jpg
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https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-VtsZj3n/0/L/i-VtsZj3n-L.jpg
https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-P9LmDvj/0/L/i-P9LmDvj-L.jpg
https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-MJ2c79L/0/L/i-MJ2c79L-L.jpg
https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-T8gJRrJ/0/L/i-T8gJRrJ-L.jpg
Oliver Kaltner, CEO
https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-RTPHq7x/0/L/i-RTPHq7x-L.jpg
https://photos.smugmug.com/Germany-2016-iPhone-6/n-MXwsq3/i-8Gs5D78/0/L/i-8Gs5D78-L.jpg
https://photos.smugmug.com/Germany-2016-iPhone-6/n-MXwsq3/i-d5pZcsX/0/L/i-d5pZcsX-L.jpg
For some reason..I cant see the pics...
I use the usual way for posting images here
These are all images from my iPhone. I have more photos in my M9.
analoged
06-17-2016, 22:49
I use the usual way for posting images here
Can't see um here either Raid! On a MacBook Air latest OS/Safari
user237428934
06-17-2016, 22:54
I copied the smugmug image url to the browser and nothing happens...a white browser window.
I will do it again tomorrow. Very strange. They showed up on my screen,Hey amin ill be buy tomorrow. Total bill is 300 if you are able to leave a check out for me. Full month of pool and full month of yard. and now they are gone.
The images were there but they are gone now.
Can you see the images now? I fixed the problem, I think.
https://photos.smugmug.com/Germany-2016-iPhone-6/n-MXwsq3/i-wpKbfwg/0/L/i-wpKbfwg-L.jpg
https://photos.smugmug.com/Germany-2016-iPhone-6/n-MXwsq3/i-DkhcsHS/0/L/i-DkhcsHS-L.jpg
https://photos.smugmug.com/Germany-2016-iPhone-6/n-MXwsq3/i-d8GxQfc/0/L/i-d8GxQfc-L.jpg
https://photos.smugmug.com/Germany-2016-iPhone-6/n-MXwsq3/i-zgRGXcC/0/L/i-zgRGXcC-L.jpg
https://photos.smugmug.com/Germany-2016-iPhone-6/n-MXwsq3/i-bgbpJQx/0/L/i-bgbpJQx-L.jpg
Yup, works fine now. thanks for the pics!
A selfie ...
https://photos.smugmug.com/Germany-2016-iPhone-6/n-MXwsq3/i-JPfsmXk/0/L/i-JPfsmXk-L.jpg
https://photos.smugmug.com/Germany-2016-iPhone-6/n-MXwsq3/i-Lhnn5nz/0/L/i-Lhnn5nz-L.jpg
https://photos.smugmug.com/Germany-2016-iPhone-6/n-MXwsq3/i-RNwxpML/0/L/i-RNwxpML-L.jpg
I will tomorrow (actually, it is already Sunday) upload images taken with the M9.
user237428934
06-18-2016, 03:32
Perfect. Thank you.
Feel free to upload to this thread photos from that visit. Everybody took photos then.
My view...
Head = Oliver Kaltner
Heart = Stefan Daniel
Brain = Peter Karbe
Tho in reality you could exchange any of those names and it would still be a positive answer...
Ernst
That's the way I see it as well.
Head ==>
Heart ==>
Brain ==>
Fill in the names ..
----------------------------------
Edited: Of course, each of the three leaders who were kind enough to meet with us share ownership of Head-Hreat-Brain within their organization, but each having different specific responsibilities. What Carsten meant to say (I think) is that the collective input form these three gentlemen was to allow our small RFF group to experience a small portion of what {Head-Brain-Heart) of Leica to experience it all combined. Am I correct, Carsten?
What I meant was that the "essential" parts of the "Leica body" sacrificed their time for us. And it was of course meant as a pun with their respective responsibilities. ;)
Emile de Leon
06-19-2016, 08:46
I can see this pics now...Thx!
Looks like a fine trip!
robert blu
06-19-2016, 09:54
Great photos from a great experience!
robert
I agree. It started with an idea, and it ended with reality in Wetzlar.
giganova
06-19-2016, 10:37
Looks like an amazing trip! How wonderful that they devoted such much time for you, and that you even got to see the "factory" -- which looks amazingly clean and organized! A Wetzlar visit is now on my bucket list.
There were no sales pitches, in my opinion.
I go to Leica stores quite a lot and are always amazed that most of the discussions are about photography, with almost zero attempts to pitch a product or sell me anything. They might give me an SL or a Monochrome just to play around with, but leave me to it while they talk about photography or photographers. They always walk with me through the gallery and we spend hours discussing the photos. What a great brand philosophy!
What I meant was that the "essential" parts of the "Leica body" sacrificed their time for us. And it was of course meant as a pun with their respective responsibilities. ;)
I knew what you meant by it, Kent.
These are very respectable people.
We were very lucky to get some of their times.
Some photos taken with the M9 and 35 pre-asph:
https://photos.smugmug.com/Germany-2016-M9/n-cpg7cM/i-w9wndtD/0/XL/i-w9wndtD-XL.jpg
https://photos.smugmug.com/Germany-2016-M9/n-cpg7cM/i-ZZCxgGD/0/XL/i-ZZCxgGD-XL.jpg
https://photos.smugmug.com/Germany-2016-M9/n-cpg7cM/i-WXRPrb8/0/XL/i-WXRPrb8-XL.jpg
https://photos.smugmug.com/Germany-2016-M9/n-cpg7cM/i-g2QzKH6/0/XL/i-g2QzKH6-XL.jpg
https://photos.smugmug.com/Germany-2016-M9/n-cpg7cM/i-TVFzpCz/0/XL/i-TVFzpCz-XL.jpg
https://photos.smugmug.com/Germany-2016-M9/n-cpg7cM/i-GGFLwx5/0/XL/i-GGFLwx5-XL.jpg
https://photos.smugmug.com/Germany-2016-M9/n-cpg7cM/i-Tz6sDgC/0/XL/i-Tz6sDgC-XL.jpg
street ad in Wetzlar
https://photos.smugmug.com/Germany-2016-M9/n-cpg7cM/i-8Q6Cdqs/0/XL/i-8Q6Cdqs-XL.jpg
David Hughes
06-19-2016, 13:45
Looks like an amazing trip! How wonderful that they devoted such much time for you, and that you even got to see the "factory" -- which looks amazingly clean and organized! A Wetzlar visit is now on my bucket list.
I go to Leica stores quite a lot and are always amazed that most of the discussions are about photography, with almost zero attempts to pitch a product or sell me anything. They might give me an SL or a Monochrome just to play around with, but leave me to it while they talk about photography or photographers. They always walk with me through the gallery and we spend hours discussing the photos. What a great brand philosophy!
Hi,
Difficult to fault Leica's staff here, too. Alas, they were once just down the road from me but now have moved back to London. So were Rollei but they have gone forever...
Regards, David
Leica is best found in major cities, I think.
The Dutch Leica Store is in Lisse, in the middle of the flower bulb fields...
This must be a beautiful view indeed.
robert blu
06-22-2016, 07:27
The visit in Wetzlar was great and both me and wife have been very happy to be part of this special event.
Of course an homage to Ernst Leitz is mandatory !
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/rffgallery/gallery/3692/med_U3692I1466604808.SEQ.2.jpg
My wife Simo even found a present for me in the shop, no it wasn't that new Leica but an interesting and beautiful book. Wow, Leica...
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/rffgallery/gallery/3692/med_U3692I1466604808.SEQ.1.jpg
Yes, I was in Wetzlar, yes me too :)
Photo taken by Simo with (my?) Leica x1
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/rffgallery/gallery/3692/med_U3692I1466604807.SEQ.0.jpg
Hello Simo and Robert! It was great meeting up with you in Germany.
Feel free to upload to this thread photos from that visit. Everybody took photos then.
Thanks Raid,
hopefully there will be something to recognize.
These are my first photos in Rangefinder Forum with its very restrictive and enormous data reduction.
Greetings
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/rffgallery/gallery/31858/med_U31858I1466607065.SEQ.0.jpg
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/rffgallery/gallery/31858/med_U31858I1466607066.SEQ.1.jpg
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/rffgallery/gallery/31858/med_U31858I1466604826.SEQ.0.jpg
Mnutzer, that's a great one of Raid and his family. It's really good to see them all in one shot, and in such an interesting pose.
Thank you for posting some images here from the visit.
giganova
06-22-2016, 19:07
Is it just me? I'm feeling a bit uneasy seeing all these luxurious buildings, rooms, furniture, exhibitions, statues, etc, realizing that we Leica customers finance all that.
Two perhaps somewhat surreal influenced photos from the Leitz Park named 'Lecture' and 'Question':
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/rffgallery/gallery/31858/U31858I1466678349.SEQ.0.jpg
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/rffgallery/gallery/31858/U31858I1466678350.SEQ.2.jpg
Greetings
robert blu
06-23-2016, 04:54
A few snaps taken with the Leica x1 during the visit at Leitz Park
Raid, who wonderfully organized the event and his family
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/rffgallery/gallery/3692/med_U3692I1466682169.SEQ.0.jpg
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/rffgallery/gallery/3692/med_U3692I1466682169.SEQ.1.jpg
A few cameras on display in front of the window to the assembly facility
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/rffgallery/gallery/3692/med_U3692I1466682171.SEQ.3.jpg
Assembly a lens
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/rffgallery/gallery/3692/med_U3692I1466682170.SEQ.2.jpg
Explaining lenses, a little bit of theory
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/rffgallery/gallery/3692/med_U3692I1466682171.SEQ.4.jpg
I am glad to see others post images from the visit here.
Rain clouds darken Café Leitz, where we enjoyed coffee and pastries inside.
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/rffgallery/gallery/31858/med_U31858I1466698477.SEQ.0.jpg
Greetings
Mnutzer, that's a great one of Raid and his family. It's really good to see them all in one shot, and in such an interesting pose.
I have very few photos with my family, so I am glad to see such photos here!
Peter Karbe refers on Max Berek's optical principles in context to Leica's history.
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/rffgallery/gallery/31858/U31858I1466772200.SEQ.1.jpg
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/rffgallery/gallery/31858/U31858I1466698478.SEQ.1.jpg
- All photos of the meeting at Leitz-Park have been taken by Leica M 8.2 and Summilux 35mm preasph. -
Greetings
alistair.o
06-24-2016, 06:29
Thanks for the thread and pictures.
PS: Raid, you strike quite a pose :D
I do what I manage to do! In the end, we had a fruitful visit that everybody in our small RFF group enjoyed.
Hello Helen,
It was "Grand" indeed. Having three Leica executives give use personal audiences, plus having a professional doing the arrangements for us with the three people who met with us was very special. I did not give Leica my M9 to check out. It works well and the sensor is clean. I wanted my M9 to take photos at Leica.
robert blu
06-24-2016, 07:14
It was a pleasure to meet other RFF photo enthusiast!
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/rffgallery/gallery/3692/med_U3692I1466777178.SEQ.3.jpg
the enthusiast photographer!
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/rffgallery/gallery/3692/med_U3692I1466777177.SEQ.1.jpg
Simo entertaining "the photographer's" daughters :)
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/rffgallery/gallery/3692/med_U3692I1466777177.SEQ.2.jpg
Production area
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/rffgallery/gallery/3692/med_U3692I1466777176.SEQ.0.jpg
This is a nice mini tour, Robert. Thank you. I seem to have been quite happy looking in one of your images!
robert blu
06-26-2016, 09:24
After the visit...clouds over Wetzlar :)
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/rffgallery/gallery/3692/U3692I1466581161.SEQ.0.jpg
M7, 50 cron, delta 100
Another three photos taken during our visit at Leitz-Park:
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/rffgallery/gallery/31858/U31858I1466967253.SEQ.1.jpg
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/rffgallery/gallery/31858/U31858I1466967252.SEQ.0.jpg
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/rffgallery/gallery/31858/U31858I1466970210.SEQ.0.jpg
Greetings
From Peter Karbe's lecture: For those who want to recalculate the optical values of their Elmars - of course without computers ...:)
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/rffgallery/gallery/31858/U31858I1466987343.SEQ.0.jpg
Greetings
Another photo taken in the showroom and one again from the production.
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/rffgallery/gallery/31858/U31858I1467018378.SEQ.0.jpg
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/rffgallery/gallery/31858/U31858I1467201083.SEQ.0.jpg
Greetings
Thanks for posting these additional photos from our visit to Leica.
mcfingon
07-17-2017, 23:54
I'm going to be in Leitz-Park Wetzlar on Monday 4 September 2017 Raid. Should I book a guided tour or just look for myself?
pechelman
07-18-2017, 07:28
i went this past april. I highly recommend you arrange a tour beforehand.
On occasion, especially when the tours get large, they dont take you very many places, but when the group is smaller, you get to see a good bit of the building and manufacturing areas. Our tour guide (Roland) was especially amazing and took us to places normally skipped since our group was about ~10 people.
sepiareverb
07-18-2017, 07:51
Any chance you might contact someone in Wetzlar about our terrible NJ service experiences?
I'm going to be in Leitz-Park Wetzlar on Monday 4 September 2017 Raid. Should I book a guided tour or just look for myself?
I have no idea what you will get with a guided tour, but most likely, it will be useful to start with it.
Gosh, this thread brings back some great memories. Feels good in times like these.
What an amazing day that was!
robert blu
04-24-2020, 03:23
Great to revisit this thread, good memories...it was an exciting experience...
Yes, great pics and insights into Leica.
It was a once in a lifetime arranged meeting at Leica in Wetzlar. To meet with the CEO, VP, and Optical Designer all on a half-day was very special. I am still in touch with Oliver Kaltner, who moved away from Leica AG. He is now CEO of ROOM.
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