Re: [Leica] Were Leicas always so expensive?

[Ben <longjohn@netvigator.com>]

Being a cheap guy, given the same product, the cheaper the better.

Regards,
Ben



Mark Walberg wrote:

> The Leica pricing discussion has me wondering.
>
> So, has Leica always been as expensive as it is now, or is the high price
> relative to other widely used cameras new over the last few decades or so?
>
> How expensive were Leica cameras and lenses relative to other widely used
> cameras in 1950?  How about 1940?  How about 1930?
>
> I guess I'm wondering whether Leicas were so relatively expensive during
> the time that they established their big market and made their name a
> standard in the camera industry.
>
> I think it would be pretty tough to start a business today making cameras
> and lenses of today's Leica quality and sell them at today's Leica prices.
> Look at the ridicule Mr. Yasuhara's camera has gotten here even before any
> LUGger has ever even seen one.
>
> Lets take a poll:
> Would LUGgers me ______more interested, or ______X___less interested if Mr.
> Yasuhara was asking $1900 for his new camera instead of somewhere around
> $400?
>       (check one)
>
> I'm not really trying to make a particular point.  I'm just interested in
> the history of Leica relative pricing and in what LUGers think about it.
> -Mark Walberg