Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2002/02/20

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Subject: Re: [Leica] Bessa R2 New Features
From: Dante Stella <dstella1@ameritech.net>
Date: Wed, 20 Feb 2002 20:38:03 -0500

They are preying on equipment junkies, for starters.

As a side note, anyone care to speculate why the only engraving on a Bessa
is still "Made in Japan?"  Is some better name going to come along?
"Goertz, since AD 100," anyone?

Dante

> Why is it cynical to introduce a good competitive product aimed at taking a
> chunk of the market that Leica, or any other manufacturer for that matter,
> has ignored?
> 
> Clever? Yes. Immaginative? Yes. Good business sense? Yes. Marketing 101?
> Yes. But cynical? I don't think so. ;-)
> 
> B. D.
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
> [mailto:owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us]On Behalf Of Dante
> Stella
> Sent: Wednesday, February 20, 2002 8:09 AM
> To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
> Subject: Re: [Leica] Bessa R2 New Features
> 
> 
> Cynical of them.
> 
>> Thanks to John Collier for the pointer to the Bessa R2 intro
>> information.  A quick scan of the info & specs shows the following
>> changes over the R & T:
>> 
>> 1. M-mount body, with the body "throat" enlarged so there are fewer
>> M-mount lens restrictions.  M-mount lenses which cannot be mounted
>> are: Hologon 15/8.0, Super Angulon 21/4.0 and 21/3.4, first generation
>> Elmarit 28/2.8 and Summicon-DR 50/2.0.  In addition to these, the T
>> specs show that standard (non-ASPH) Summilux 35/1.4 won't mount, and
>> the R2 specs imply that the T has problems with some 35/2.0 Summicrons
>> (7-element, pre-Asph).
>> 
>> 2. Top cover, bottom cover and rear door are molded magnesium alloy to
>> increase strength with minimum weight penalty.  Body itself uses a
>> die-cast aluminum shell (as does R and T)  Body weight over R
>> increases 30g to 425g; length and width specs are the same but height
>> is listed as 3mm higher.
>> 
>> 3. Film advance crank is ratcheted (R is not, T is).
>> 
>> 4. Film rewind crank is smoother; implied smoother than R & T.
>> 
>> 5. Body fits trigger winder (as does T).
>> 
>> 6. Body covering is more "rubberized" for better grip.
>> 
>> All finder- and meter-related specs appear to be the same as for the
>> R.  The T meter specs show upper ISO limit as 1600; R & R2 go to 3200.
>> 
>> It looks to me like a handy blend of the R & T.  List price for black
>> R2 body is 78,000yen (US$586) and 85,000yen (US$639) for the olive
>> body.  R list price is 68,000yen (US$511), so the R2 lists for 15%
>> more than the R.  At B&W prices, currently $440 for the R, once
>> initial demand spikes smooth out the R2 might sell for just over $500.
>> 
>> I've always liked the idea of lower-priced entryways into Leica Land.
>> I'll be interested to hear what Tom A. and others say once the info
>> embargo is lifted.....
>> 
>> Cheers,
>> 
>> PB
>> 
>> 
>> Paul C. Brodek
>> Hillsdale, N.J. U.S.A.
>> E-mail: pcb@skyweb.net
>> --
>> To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html
> 
> ------------
> Dante Stella
> http://www.dantestella.com
> 
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> 
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- ------------
Dante Stella
http://www.dantestella.com

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