Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/09/26
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]At 01:50 PM 1998-09-26 -0500, Bud Cook wrote: >If you say that Kyocera can manufacture an >identical lens for half the price, so be it. > Bud I suspect you have analyzed the Zeiss-Kyocera connection backwards. Zeiss had first been approached by Pentax, but Pentax insisted that Zeiss continue to manufacture all lenses for their joint camera project. At this time, Zeiss was most anxious to leave the photographic lens business -- after all, then make a minuscule portion of their profit (5% to 10%) from camera lenses, the rest being from these rifle scopes you deride (sport optics), industrial, scientific, technical, and military applications. Yashica grudgingly agreed to produce Zeiss lenses, but only if Zeiss agreed to stringent quality controls: Yashica was quite concerned that "made in Japan" Zeiss lenses would not sell well in Japan otherwise. It has been a marriage of great success to both parties. Marc msmall@roanoke.infi.net FAX: +540/343-7315 Cha robh bas fir gun ghras fir!