Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2012/12/02
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Apparently scavengers take really good photographs. Sent from my Verizon Wireless Phone ----- Reply message ----- From: "Richard Man" <richard at richardmanphoto.com> To: "Leica Users Group" <lug at leica-users.org> Subject: [Leica] I wonder if the price will increase Date: Sun, Dec 2, 2012 9:49 pm Geoff, my original statement was that the high premium lens helped to keep Leica afloat, and you replied that kind of statement is a "chestnut." I am simply pointing out that no matter how you slice it, since they WILL sell out all the lens they can make, whatever the profit margin is, they are still making a dandy profit on them. And as I said so many times before, I do not see a problem with this kind of business model. People like me are like the scavengers. The Collectors get premium stuff made, and something eventually trickle down to people like me, who can save and scrimp to purchase at prices while higher than N&C, is still within the realm of reasons. As an analogy, if you are not an alpha predator, you can either look for fresh insects or fleas to eat, or you can wait for discarded meat from the Big Guy's hunt. I guess I am just a scavenger waiting for my chance :-) On Sun, Dec 2, 2012 at 9:25 PM, Geoff Hopkinson <hopsternew at gmail.com>wrote: > Your accountant or business manager must love doing your books, Richard! > No middle men, no R&D, no manufacturing costs, no other business > expenditure whatsoever. It's all profit to spend on bratwurst and beer for > the 2013 Christmas party ;.) ;-) > But to be serious, for some of these exotics the rejection rate is very > high initially at least and reportedly the costs are so high that they may > not make as much margin. That is anecdotal of course. > Actually I was thinking they will be $7K which is horrendous enough but > your number is probably right. > Hey it will cost the same as a Monochrom to put it on! > Makes the M9 and summilux a bargain ;-) > > cheers > Geoff > > On 03/12/2012, at 11:23, Richard Man <richard at richardmanphoto.com> > wrote: > > > Geoff, $10,000 * 200, is, hey, 2 million dollars!! Why wouldn't that NOT > > help in the bottom lines? > > > > > > > > On Sun, Dec 2, 2012 at 5:10 PM, Geoff Hopkinson <hopsternew at gmail.com > >wrote: > > > >> The (now delayed longer) new APO Summicron-M ASPH will be very limited > hand > >> production according to the Solms folks. > >> It is not a replacement for the current Summicron-M at all. That one > >> continues in the range as does the Summilux-M 50 ASPH > >> Actually the design predates the Summilux. They never produced any > before > >> BECAUSE it is so expensive and difficult. > >> > >> It will cost about what the Newest Noctilux or the Summilux wides do > which > >> is to say it will be horrendously expensive. They are "statement" > lenses if > >> you like or reference lenses. If someone had the means and desire to > have > >> such a technical masterpiece then good luck to them. This is not an > ostrich > >> skin gold plated something. This one actually has I think the best > (quoted) > >> MTF characteristics that I have ever seen. Distilled essence of Peter > Karbe > >> if you like ;-) > >> > >> I bet they sell all that they can make to people that WANT one and can > find > >> the money. I only half fit that group myself ;-) > >> > >> None of these lenses have eliminated other lenses from their offerings. > The > >> alternatives are still available. What you have did not suddenly lose > >> quality or value with the addition of new options. Just don't buy one. > No > >> you or I don't need it nor does a Magnum photographer need it. Of course > >> you can take great photos with it or without it. > >> > >> However this chestnut about them keeping the company afloat is just > >> chatter. They would be lucky to be able to produce a few hundred a > year, if > >> that. In this case they would be going broke since it looks like being > up > >> to 12 months since the first announcement before there are any for sale > at > >> all. > >> > >> I never understand these emotive reactions to when a new more expensive > >> product is announced. Leica stuff costs a LOT. We all have our own > reasons > >> and priorities to use it/own it (or not!). > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> Cheers, > >> Geoff > >> http://www.pbase.com/hoppyman > >> > >> > >> > >> On 3 December 2012 10:22, Richard Man <richard at richardmanphoto.com> > wrote: > >> > >>> Mark is going to chew your arse off :-) > >>> > >>> This is exactly what I am talking about. I had a "last model" Summicron > >> and > >>> it only get replaced because I got a 50/1.4 ASPH which is better in > every > >>> way, and the price premium, in 2005, was "only" $1800. > >>> > >>> Now you can buy a used Summicron for $1000-$1500 or a new Summicron > ASPH > >>> for $7000+. Why would that make sense for anyone ESPECIALLY if you are > an > >>> working photojournalists etc.?! Magnum guys sell their stuff JUST fine > >>> without this obscenity. > >>> > >>> Of course they will most likely go to Chinese collectors and the like. > >>> Which is fine. It keeps the company afloat and may be eventually the > 50/2 > >>> ASPH would be about $4000 used... > >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> On Sun, Dec 2, 2012 at 4:09 PM, John McMaster <john at mcmaster.co.nz> > >> wrote: > >>> > >>>> To cover the extra R&D costs.... > >> > http://www.reddotforum.com/content.php/310-Leica-APO-Summicron-M-50mm-f-2-ASPH-Deliveries-Delayed > >>>> > >>>> john > >>>> > >>>> _______________________________________________ > >>>> 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 > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> 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 > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > -- // richard <http://www.richardmanphoto.com> _______________________________________________ Leica Users Group. 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