It's odd that a mass producer (used in a loose sense) would need a Kickstarter for a lens like this...I wonder if they are going to make it in limited quantities based on the Kickstarter totals.
This all seems so very odd. They already announced the Apo in February and NOW they set up a kickstarter campaign? One would assume that Brightin Star had things sorted out and was starting to produce a lens that they previously announced.
So this is either a scam by some third party (unlikely) or Brightin Star shying away from really committing. This can be due to the high risk of the endeavour - and/or not enough funds. Either way it leaves me less than excited.
In the end, if they have something exciting to show, they better get going. Curious to see if those review samples get sent out soon or Light Lens Lab will beat them to it.
Assuming everything is legit, this could be a way for them to better tune production to actual demand while benefiting from faster direct payment well ahead of delivery to put towards production costs. It would seem, at least from their perspective, an approach to mitigate some risks.
I know there are Kickstarter skeptics and it may somewhat adversely affect interest in the lens if it's only available, at least initially, this way. There are certainly pros and cons to this approach.
I'll be interested to see the early bird offers if only to know how much they later plan to sell it for in the regular retail market.
Given my recent experience with a Chinese made lens which had lofty performance claims, it might be to avoid the ability to return the lens if it doesn't measure up to expectations.
RoamingScott wrote:
It's odd that a mass producer (used in a loose sense) would need a Kickstarter for a lens like this...I wonder if they are going to make it in limited quantities based on the Kickstarter totals.
^ Good point. It basically secures the revenue whether or not the lens meets customer expectations. One would hope that they will endeavor to release a great product and build a strong brand reputation...
Definitely interested in what early reviewers will have to say about the lens. My current travel lens is a Voigtlander 35mm 1.5 nokton primarily due to size. Losing 1/3(?) stop at 1.7 while keeping a compact size, but gaining the APO would be nice, the Voigtlander has so much purple fringing when wide open, but otherwise such an amazing lens.
Apochromatic correction is nice to have. What I hope for is a slightly better field curvature, but the main selling point for me is 30 cm MFD. That will really increase usability - given it performs acceptably at this distance.
Richardh54 wrote:
Definitely interested in what early reviewers will have to say about the lens. My current travel lens is a Voigtlander 35mm 1.5 nokton primarily due to size. Losing 1/3(?) stop at 1.7 while keeping a compact size, but gaining the APO would be nice, the Voigtlander has so much purple fringing when wide open, but otherwise such an amazing lens.
