Led by HCB, a large contingent of Leica Owners have recently made their presence know as they've moved from film or digital to pencil and paper. As of this writing, rumors abound that Leica is designing the ultimate pencil sharper (to be hand built at the Wetzler Factory!) Expected release date: Summer, 2003. Expected price:$2500 (US). The first release will offer either a chrome or black model, with a black paint model to be offered the following year. The sharper is sans blade, and three sizes are to be initially offered: the wide angle or blunt blade, the normal or pointy blade, and the telephoto or sharp blade. Expected price of the blades is to be under $2000 (US). Edwin Puts has tested a pre-design sharpener with several prototype blades, and confirms that this is the finest pencil sharpener ever conceived. Fuji and Kodak are rumored to be hard at work on pencils and paper for the New Leica Pencil Sharpener. More info to follow!

-- Glenn Travis (leicaddict@hotmail.com), March 16, 2002

Answers

manual or battery operated?

-- daniel taylor (lightsmythe@agalis.net), March 16, 2002.

When its out in Titanium, let me know, I'll take one

-- Charles (cbarcellona@telocity.com), March 16, 2002.

Does it require a viewfinder? Will the new 1.25x magnifier allow one to examine the pencil points in greater detail?

-- Patrick (pg@patrickgarner.com), March 16, 2002.

Glenn, over the years I have built up a sizeable collection of pencil sharpeners, but now I am wondering if I should trade some of them in for the new Leica model? I have an excellent all-metal Staedtler sharpener, made in Germany, still with the price on it ($2.95). Even though it is a manual model, its blades are still very sharp. I also have a blue plastic model made in China, and another blue plastic model of unknown origin with dual pencil mounts, but its blades have gone slightly rusty. Should I invest in the new Leica sharpener, or wait till a digital model comes out? Do you think graphite will remain in production, or will laser-pens replace it? Remember they said the same thing about felt-tip and biro

-- David Killick (dalex@inet.net.nz), March 16, 2002.

I went in a photo shop to buy some film.He showed me a digital photograph and said ,if you hold it from a distance it is as good as film.Great i said,how much is the camera.Only 5 times as much as a film camera.Is that all i said.After some thought i decided on a skylight filter it seemed a lot cheaper option downgrade my prints.

Lets face it folks,if digital can take the p***,why should Leica not get in on the act.At least their camera will be worth a few bob in the future.Digital nothing.....your money.

-- allen herbert (allen1@btinternet.coma), March 16, 2002.

Hell folks. Leica isn't going to make pencil sharpeners!

We all know the real money will be in Leica pencils with their rare earth and high refraction ASPH graphite.

Don'tcha think they weren't paying attention to Mr. Land who manufactured and sold his cameras at a loss and got rich on the film?

Jerry

-- Jerome R. Pfile, Jr. (JerryPfile@msn.com), March 16, 2002.

They've been talking about this for months at the Pencil Users Group.

-- Chris Henry (henryjc@concentric.net), March 17, 2002.

Glen, Will my TICONDEROGA #2 screwmont fit in this sharpener? ;0) Scott

-- Scott Evans (scottevans@attbi.com), March 17, 2002.

Seriously there is a company called Leitz that makes sharpeners as well as other office equipment. Any relations?

-- ray tai (razerx@netvigator.com), March 17, 2002.