Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1997/07/28
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]In einer eMail vom 27.07.97 05:39:18, schreiben Sie: << Why is it so difficult to develop a reasonable compromise between a classic camera design, and contemporary technology, and to keep it "affordable"? >> I assume it is pure marketing. I noticed quite a while ago, that lots of US photo amateurs were absolutely amazed by the Rollei Prego camera family (made by Samsung in Korea). They did not realize that they had an average korean camera in their hands. As Rollei does not excell ttoo much in lens design (their best lenses are either designed or made or both by Zeiss) their only chance to remain interesting for a certain group of buyers is: become expensive and offer things to boast about. I am sure that they watched Leica very closely. When the company changed from E. Leitz to Leica Camera, they raised the price of a M6 from approx. 1500 US$ to 2500 US$ without changing anything at the camera. It did not harm the sales figures, I believe. Some two years ago I visited Rollei in Braunschweig (just short after the Samsung turnover). They showed me ugly golden Rollei 35's with little diamonds in the front of the body. They were offering this tasteless cameras at an outrageous price - and told me that the asians really got wild about these cameras and paid every amount of money which was asked. Go figure. Frank