Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2002/02/20
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]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 > > -- > To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html > > -- > To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html - ------------ Dante Stella http://www.dantestella.com - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html