Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/08/21
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]At 03:59 AM 8/21/1999 -0500, Robert Monaghan wrote: >Nikon's profits are reportedly from its point and shoot sales, not Pro F5s! >Rollei makes more from one submarine periscope than its entire medium >format lines by other estimates. The German's recently shut down their >35mm pentacon/praktica factories, figuring it was cheaper to send workers >home on welfare than go on selling cameras that cost $650 but sold for $165 Three comments. First, all camera companies have always made more from the bottom-end "P&S" type cameras than from pro gear in a stable market. Zeiss Ikon made far more off the Contaflex SLR and Contessa lines than they ever did off their higher-end gear and, in fact, the Contax RF and Contarex SLR systems forced the company into effective bankruptcy. Similarly, Leica's prime market share has always been advanced amateurs, and their advertising (remember when Leica still advertised?) has always been aimed at the middle and upper-middle class weekend shooter. Second, Rollei nor its predecessor companies have never, to my fairly certain knowledge even made a submarine periscope. Zeiss does, though. Zeiss, from the 1860's to the present, has ALWAYS made far more from the sale of industrial, scientific, military, and medical gear than from camera lenses. It is a truism of the trade which also affects Nikon (who make relatively little of this gear, and, hence, must rely more on photographic optics) and Canon (who makes almost all of the photocopier and FAX machine optics and who, as a result, can treat the photographic end of the concern as a prestige leader whose profitability does little to affect the net profit of the company.) Third, I believe your information on the alleged ending of camera production in Dresden by Pentacon is incorrect. See the company's homepage for details: http://pentacon-dresden.de/indexeng.html They seem to still be happily cranking out Pentacon Six bodies for the Exakta MF system and Praktica BX20 cameras. They are badge-engineering Oriental P&S cameras as well but, on the Leica Users' Group, who are we to comment on this practice, given the various Leica Mini P&S's which have appeared over the past decade. Marc msmall@roanoke.infi.net FAX: +540/343-7315 Cha robh bas fir gun ghras fir!