Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/09/15
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Hello, Dante, and all..... I've NOT worked in machining or manufacturing, but as a photo lab supervisor, I've had some machine work done....and I agree with you---on all counts...... I am 100% convinced that all Leica-mount gear (and most RF gear, for that matter) is priced at the TOP of what the customer is willing to pay---and has virtually NOTHING to do with the "cost" of manufacturing. Let's give Leica the benefit of the doubt, as their gear is hand/ bench assembled in Germany.....but what about lenses like the Adorama lenses???----$400-600 for a lens BECAUSE IT FITS and "expensive" camera!!!...or what about the Cosina RF body?.....the same little body is sold, heavily discounted, as an Olympus and a Nikon......for UNDER $200 in some cases....A mirror box MAY be simpler than a rangefinder, so tack on $100....for the added complexity.....the camera should have a street price of $3-400.....but it sells for $700... BECAUSE FOLKS WILL PAY IT!!!..... We STILL need a rangefinder system.....Cosina's lenses are priced >RIGHT<!!!.....and in a "real world" situation, the body prices would fall with time.....as did ALL the Nikons..... WE need mass merchandisers stocking and selling the cameras.... including the Hexar (now talk about OVERPRICED!!!----I'll take an M6 ANY day, and I don't particularly like M-6s!!) Remember, a home stereo system was a playtoy of the rich, just 40 years ago!!!.....We need similar distribution and competition in RFDR cameras.....but I ain't holding my breath.....until then, we'll continue to pay artificially inflated prices, as high as the wealthy will bear.....IF we want to shoot RFDRs..... Oh well, damn glad I'm rich!!! (got an increase in my welfare check this year...hehehhe) CU later, Walt n Fri, 15 Sep 2000, Dante A Stella wrote: > Just a thought > > Why are LTM versions of other lenses so expensive? Do the Summicrons require > rengineering of the barrel body due to some problem with the difference in > film-flange distance that wouldn't allow you to switch the mount plates (I've never > disassmbled an M lens, so I can't tell)? (Why couldn't you just adjust the focus > on the lens cells if that were the case)? Is this why the Pentax is so expensive, > too (to say nothing of the Ricoh GR-1 lens and the Hexanon 60/1.2L)? Or is it > milking the LTM user/collector / maven / afficionado / admirer? > > The actual lens mount in LTM is a pretty simple threaded piece of metal that's > chrome plated, certainly something that seems like it could be made cheaply by a > competent machine shop (LTM ffd is 28mm +/2 0.2mm). Actually, with modern CNC > equipment it doesn't seem like it should be that hard to make the "more > complicated" M mount, either. It would seem that to produce a short run of LTM > wouldn't justfy the massive price increase like $400-500. > > By the way, has anyone ever converted an M lens to SM? > > It would be nice if you could specify LTM or M mount as an option. Think of how > much new life could be breathed into so many old IIIgs and IIIfs. > > Dante > > P.S. If someone manages to turn this into a flame war, I will be very surprised. > But now I'm off to New York for some (fun). F/8 and be there. > > Dennis Painter wrote: > > > Lucien wrote: > > > > > > Mikiro wrote: > > > > > > > Lucien- > > > > I am surprised that Pentax people dare to make an LTM version of a lens that > > > > is designed for SLR. With this price they should design a new lens > > > > specifically designed for non-SLR bodies! > > > > > > Mikiro, > > > > > > 1.400$ is maybe normal for a limited edition of 2.000 pieces. > > > > > > Lucien > > > > "NORMAL" !! for a SLR lens stuck on a LTM mount? I am sure somebody will > > buy it but I doubt it will be me. I'd get the LTM Leica Summicron 50 if > > I had $1400 to spend, and have $$$ left over. > > > > Why would a Leica collector want this lens? Only if trying to have one > > of ever LTM thing in the world is what I see. > > > > Would be interesting to know how many Pentax sells. > > > > Dennis > > -- > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Dante Stella > http://www-personal.umich.edu/~dante > >