[Leica] Re: Cosina Distribution in the US

[TTAbrahams@aol.com]

Jem, Voigtlander is imported to the US through THK (Tokina- Hoya- Kenko). It 
is not a very good fit as THK is rather ignorant about cameras. The 
Voigtlander lens line is not a difficult one to sell, there are enough users 
of M-mount and LTM mounts to provide a good market. The bodies (Bessa-R, 
Bessa-L and Bessa-?. I do know but I can't tell yet!) are a different case 
altogether. Mechanically they are quite remarkable, I have had my Bessa-R and 
Bessa-L most likely longer than anyone outside of Japan and neither one has 
given me a single instance of problem. I do not "baby" cameras - they have to 
take the use and abuse that shooting 2-3 rolls a day constitutes. So far I 
have replaced the batteries in the Bessa-L once and the Bessa R is still on 
its original set. Now, my M6 TTL's is different story! I agree, the Bessa 
bodies feel less solid than the M bodies but if they had brass top-plates and 
metal back-doord, they would cost close to what a Leica costs. The analogy 
with something like the Nikon FM/FM-2 is somewhat incorrect. It is very cost 
efficient to make 250 000 top-plates and design the camera to fit the supply. 
Both the Bessa-R and L were "new" designs and the fact that Cosina could use 
parts that they produce for other cameras, cut the cost dramatically. The 
shutter and chassi are Nikon FM-10/Olympos-2000 parts and I would assume that 
the production of Bessa cameras is considerably smaller than either of the 
Nikon or Olympos models. 
  I for one appreciate the cameras and lenses that Cosina/Voigtlander is 
putting out. It has allowed me to use stuff like ultra-wide angles 12/15 mm 
lenses at a price that i could not even get the finder for a Leica version. 
The 50/1,5 is sharper than the Summilux (and I do not mind the "bokeh"), the 
75/2,5 is a perfect pocketable long normal. The Cosina products have not 
stopped me from buying and using Leica products, but it has filled in some of 
the "blanks" in my lens cabinet. 
 An other aspect of the Voigtlander line is that in two years, they have 
produced a line of lenses and cameras that it took Leica 45 years to do and 
they are not through yet! 
Tom A