Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2008/09/25
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Reality check On Sep 25, 2008, at 1:45 AM, Philip Forrest wrote: > Because there is no logical reason that a manual focus 50mm lens > should > cost $5000. I suspect that if you saw the balance sheets for: amortizing R&D, materials and labor in production, reasonable profit, marketing costs, dealer markups et al - the logical reality would become clear to you. > Most other Leica lenses cost upwards of $3k as well for > modern optics. False: 90 Macro Elmar, 50 Summicron, 24 Elmarit R all $2,000; 28 Elmarit, asph $1,800; Summarit line $1,300 - $1500 > This is why they continue to be able to play on the > world market with companies like Canon and Nikon. So something's working - your point? > Leica's M8 may be > nice but it's only 1/3 the camera that an EOS 5D is, As an owner of both; in my subjective opinion - the M8 "is" 3 times better than the 5D - because it delivers more fine detail, dynamic range and useable shadow detail. > and for the price > of the M8, you can get the EOS with a lens. or 4 Canon Rebels; or 250 Holgas; or a used car; or a fine watch; or a hundred good watches; or a terrific bicycle; or 4 really nice bicycles; or or or > I can go on & on. I love > the film bodies, love the old lenses, will never afford the new ones > and probably have no reason to anyways. Leica, new in sealed box, has always cost the most, because they've always been a small company making terrific, high quality products in small quantities (with some exceptions). Nothing new about that. Why diss them for what they have always been and continue to be? > As long as Leica continues to cater to its core constituency with > making innovations for the next generation, they will always be on the > rocks. On the rocks? This week they seem to be afloat, cruising beautifully around a very large harbor; welcoming stunned guests aboard. Fond regards, George george@imagist.com http://www.imagist.com http://www.imagist.com/blog http://www.linkedin.com/in/imagist