Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/11/11

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Subject: RE: [Leica] Hexar RF...Cosina RF..Good News...Bad News
From: "Andrew S Jordan" <andrewsjordan@worldnet.att.net>
Date: Thu, 11 Nov 1999 17:40:11 -0500

Folks: Where is the market for all these suddenly emerging rangefinder
cameras? The world is saturated with P&S, SLR, 21/4, and electronic cameras.
If you look at the gigantic B&H ads their $ volume is most likely coming
from the expensive video recorders, professional scanners, etc. and not from
selling $100  camera bags. I can see the justification for Cosina in view of
its relatively inexpensive line of lenses offered. But as for as Konica is
concerned: Have they studied the Leica and Contax G2 sales to conclude that
there is a need for an additional rangefinder system at G2 prices?

Even if every illustrious photographer and collector on the LUG buys a
Hexar, a market that does not make. Perhaps, Konica wants to appeal to the
"instant collectible" fever in Europe, America, and the Orient. The
luxurious presentation case in the ad definitely suggests this  motivation.
Afterall, Leica itself has handsomely profited from the sundry special M6
models.

Regards, Andrew Jordan