Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2012/12/11
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Which is the point: with small-scale, high-tech manufacturing, it doesn't take much to make a profit. For instance, from what I understand Mr. K at Cosmia breaks even with one production run of any of his lenses. It's even been done (an M digital camera outside of Solms) with a Cosima body via Epson, with their 2x sensor of a decade or more ago. The technology to make a ff M sensor is now several years old and, from recent indications, no longer just proprietary to Kodak. In computer chip technology it's practically a methusulah. There's little cutting edge about it. Today's markets are now defined by tiny slices of tiny slices, particularly for a niche product like a camera. Even in Leica's film heyday I doubt their market share was more than 1%, if that--competing against legions of box Brownies and similar low-end products. Jim -----Original Message----- From: lug-bounces+jshulman=judgecrater.com at leica-users.org [mailto:lug-bounces+jshulman=judgecrater.com at leica-users.org] On Behalf Of Geoff Hopkinson Sent: Tuesday, December 11, 2012 4:24 PM To: Leica Users Group Subject: Re: [Leica] No more Zeiss Ikon Jim the Zeiss Ikon of course is a Cosina product. The M9 sensor (and now Max for the M) are unique due to the particular requirements to make M lenses work correctly on a 24x36 sensor. I think it just does not make economic sense for any other manufacturer to compete directly in that tiny niche. I think that Dr Kaufmann recently quoted that Leica Camera has doubled heir market share.... all the way to 0.2% now! Cheers, Geoff http://www.pbase.com/hoppyman On 12 December 2012 06:55, Jim Shulman <jshulman at judgecrater.com> wrote: > That's the point, exactly: it's almost 2013. FF M digital technology > is now several years old (otherwise known as several lifetimes in > computer chip development). Why ZI can't use 2009 sensor and > processing technology to make a camera at a drastically lower price > point than the folks in Solms is beyond me. > > Best, > Jim > > > -----Original Message----- > From: lug-bounces+jshulman=judgecrater.com at leica-users.org > [mailto:lug-bounces+jshulman=judgecrater.com at leica-users.org] On > Behalf Of Geoff Hopkinson > Sent: Tuesday, December 11, 2012 3:50 PM > To: Leica Users Group > Subject: Re: [Leica] No more Zeiss Ikon > > Frank I think that Jim was wishing for a new digital M at a lower > price point. > Recheck your quoted dates on that M8 though ;-) > > Cheers, > Geoff > http://www.pbase.com/hoppyman > > > > On 12 December 2012 06:31, Frank Filippone <red735i at verizon.net> wrote: > > > A realistic expectation.... > > > > M8, Introduced in Sept 2008 at $4800. In Sept 2012 is worth less > > than $2K ( worse than 50% in 4 years) > > M9 Introduced in Sept 2009 at $7000. In Sept 2012 is worth $4K. ( > > a bit better than 50% in 3 years) M-E Introduced in Sept 2012 at $5400. > > > > Using the algorithm suggested above...... > > > > Worth about 50% in 2 years??????? > > > > I don't think the move financially from Film to Digital was so hard > > for > me. > > I saved on film costs. Broke even quickly. > > > > But the second digital camera is a harder rationalization.... I am > > already saving the money. > > > > Why would I buy another? ( assuming my present digiM is still > > working to > > spec) > > > > (actually I bought a new M8 then a used M9, for the bigger > > sensor.....so I have passed that rationalization already) > > > > > > Frank Filippone > > Red735i at verizon.net > > > > > > In 2 years,a used M-E could be about $3K! > > > > > > On Tue, Dec 11, 2012 at 9:56 AM, jshulman at judgecrater.com < > > jshulman at judgecrater.com> wrote: > > > > > Now the real question--when does it become the full frame 18mp > > > digital m camera for $3k? > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Leica Users Group. > > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > _______________________________________________ Leica Users Group. See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information