Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/02/17
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]> Jim Brick wrote: > >> These things have a market. Albeit very specialized. I suspect that the >> money that they would have to charge for the 35-70/2.8 in order to just >> break over the life of the lens, would be astronomical, hence, no > lens.<<<<< > > Hi Jim, > I'm sure you've hit it on the nail, cost. > > The cost of production and selling any lens can become astronomical and no > one other than a few who are well endowed at the bank or a big company > buying the gear can afford them. But the general Leica user can't afford > them other than seeing pictures of the lens and dreaming. > > Right here on the LUG I'd venture to say there aren't too many who can pop > right out of their pocket $5000 without blinking an eye for a 70 - 180 or a > 280mm - 400mm combination at $8 to $10 grand, if not higher. > > But it's just plain economic sense to produce a lens that people can afford, > it's all well and good to turnout the finest lens in the world but heck if > only a few can afford them, what's the point of building them? Isn't profit > supposed to be in selling many? > > Apropos my report to Leica in 1988 after using the 400mm 2.8 prototype lens. > I had nothing but praise for it other than a couple of physical changes for > ease of handling. But my main question was the cost, at that time to be sold > for approximately $20,000 or higher, oh yeah that included a case! ;-) > > Otherwise you have the 35mm - 70mm 2.8 dilemma ! > ted > Lets face it, unless you are in the upper strata of professionals NOBODY (I have yet to see, in more than 30 years, a pro newsman carrying a Leica SLR) is going to pay that much money for a lens. And Pro photographers (with a few oddball exceptions like Ted, Jim and Sal, and they probably get special deals because of close Leica association) do NOT use SLR Leicas. Even the M is not widely used by true professionals. Oh sure a lot of them have a token M6 lurking in their bag. That leaves the very wealthy to buy a $10 or $20,000 lens. So Leica is not stupid why would they make a costly lens where they can only sell a few hundred of them, if that. I know that I will get tons of flames, but, my Nikor SLR lens are at least 95% as good as the best Leica SLR lens. And for $2000 I can fill my camera bag full of Nikor lenses. Leica's SLR and M future is solidly with the well heeled hobbyist. With the M being their only reason for being in the camera business. Steve Annapolis