Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2004/10/25
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Glass makes money, bodies do not. Keep in mind that Cosina is "licensed" to make the lenses in Japan. They are not German products. This is only significant because Zeiss can only make money on lenses it produces, and that means German production. The 15 and 85 will make them money, the others will add to the coffers, but to a much lesser degree. I think that if the Zeiss lenses ( German and Japanese) are good, there will be a negative hit on Leica as users try out these new optics, and forego Leica products. Could be yet another problem for Leica's survival. Frank Filippone red735i@earthlink.net I had the chance to handle the Ikon and lenses this weekend. I wasn't impressed with the body, seemed more like an R2 then a Leica, but the lenses were something to behold. Most noticeable were the aperture which were in thirds from f/2-f/22. The Hassy reps said they were going to be 40% Leica prices. I can't see the body being too much of a treat to leica, but the lenses are another story, they are likely to be the bread winners for the family. Chris Saganich