Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2012/04/01
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Not as much as you might think if they had the original prints. Just a die cast tool for the frame. The rest is either machined or stamped. Dante On Apr 1, 2012, at 3:18, Richard Man <richard at richardmanphoto.com> wrote: > I wonder how much Nikon spent on their 200X SP and S3 reissue projects. >> From the web documents, it must have cost a small fortune. Labor of love > indeed. > > I wonder if they could have developed a digital SP for similar amount of > investment. > > p.s. the RD-1 and RD-1s are the same, as you said. However, they did come > out with RD-1x which actually has cosmetic differences (i.e. a > non-flippable LCD) so it's not quite the same camera. > > On Sun, Apr 1, 2012 at 1:05 AM, Frank Dernie <Frank.Dernie at > btinternet.com>wrote: > >> I could be wrong but the 2 versions of the RD-1 ie the RD-1 and RD-1s >> looked like Epson re-announcing the same camera to sell existing unsold >> in >> stock parts. My RD-1 is the same as a RD-1s which simply has the latest >> software and an extra "s" engraved on the top plate. >> My point is that it is extremely unlikely that anybody could possibly >> manufacture a lower price digital rangefinder at the volume of sales >> likely >> for a non-autofocus camera with expensive lenses. Lets not forget that the >> CV and ZM lenses, whilst less expensive than Leica lenses are still very >> expensive compared to mass produced autofocus equivalents from the big >> makers. >> Production volume has a m-a-s-s-i-v-e influence on production cost. The >> R8/9 lost Leica a fortune. It would not surprise me to learn that the >> development and tooling costs for the S2 were similar to those for the R8, >> and since it is MF and AF it can sell at a higher price, and may even >> eventually sell in bigger numbers. >> If Nikon and Canon can not sell the 100,000s of premium models at a profit >> there is no chance at all that a FF manual focus rangefinder selling >> probably less than 1% as many can be made cheaper. >> IMHO. >> As an engineering consultant I have costed quite a few ambitious projects >> from enthusiasts, all have worked out spectacularly too expensive because >> of amortising tooling and development cost over tiny volume. >> >> FD >> >> On 1 Apr, 2012, at 06:08, Tim Gray wrote: >> >>> I'd have to disagree. How many versions of the RD-1 did they put out? >> Three? I know they were all very similar, but there was clearly some >> incentive to keep offering it. >>> >>> Regardless, I bet if there was a reasonably price (> $4000) digital >> rangefinder, they'd have good sales. Assuming of course they could turn a >> profit at that price point. I'd buy one for sure. I bet most people who >> had an M9 would buy one too as a backup. >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Leica Users Group. >> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >> > > > > -- > // richard <http://www.richardmanphoto.com> > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information