Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/07/03
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I am sure the limited edition status of the black paint is, at least initially, to spur additional sales. How many Millenium or LHSA cameras have been sold to people who would not otherwise have bought an M body this year? Probably the vast majority. I think it is a really smart marketing move. These special editions are a lot more interesting than just a standard camera with an engraving on top and a different cover material. As long as they keep coming out with new limited editions that can peak interest, they will probably keep sales higher. Maybe when they complete the LHSA edition production, they will have a black paint option. Personally, I'd like to see a silver chrome version of the Millenium, with the M3 advance lever and rewind knob, and maybe even a .95 finder! Something for Noctilux owners to drool over! Tom - ----- Original Message ----- From: "Martin Howard" <howard.390@osu.edu> To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us> Sent: Monday, July 03, 2000 12:37 PM Subject: [Leica] Why not black paint (was: a 28 Summicron-M at photokina) > Steve Unsworth jotted down the following: > > > Seriously though, since the black paint models are so popular, why doesn't > > Leica have this as a standard finish in addition to the existing ones? > > Black paint/enamel wears much easier than black chrome. Worn black paint > only looks good over brass. Brass dents and deforms easier than the alloy > that Leica currently uses for the top plate of the M6. I don't know for > sure, but it's possible that brass is more expensive too. > > So, while worn black paint/enamel over brass looks better to many eyes, > Leica is probably justified in thinking that its wear-characteristics are > not good enough, given the overall quality and longevity of the camera. > > Given that cosmetic condition affects secondhand value of camera equipment > (at least with Leicas), it is reasonable to expect that sales of black > paint/enamel models would drop rather rapidly once people realize that they > will depreciate more quickly (eh, make that appreciate more slowly ;) than > the black or silver chrome models. > > Thus, from this we can deduce that Leica doesn't introduce black paint or > black enamel as a standard option, either for manufacturing reasons (two > different sets of top plates) or, more likely, for economic reasons (low > long-term projected sales). > > M. > > -- > Martin Howard | > Visiting Scholar, CSEL, OSU | It's not who you are, it's who > email: howard.390@osu.edu | you know that counts. > www: http://mvhoward.i.am/ +--------------------------------------- > >