I wonder how did leica survive before internet then?
I think I can answer this
I\'ve been looking at leica\'s financial reports for the last 10 years and guess what, their photography business was making losses 10 years straight, until they finally made a profit in 2011. And the shareholders kept covering these losses out of their own pockets to keep the business going. Why? Beats me, but I\'m kinda glad they did.
Not pre-internet data, but gives you an idea what kind of company we\'re talking about. So, when leica charges you $5k for a lens, it is because it cost them something like $4.5k to make and distribute, which is largely because they paid a skilled person on a German salary to design, test, and assemble it by hand. And by the looks of their financials, they would do the same regardless of what the market thinks is reasonable. Take it or leave it. (and eventually they took it)
Fuji is a different story, it\'s no Leica. The X1pro is an x100 with a mount, a newer sensor, an additional lens in the viewfinder and some extra R&D mainly for the sensor and materials for a bigger body. So it\'s understandable why it costs more than the x100 did on launch. But why was the x100 so expensive in the first place? It\'s a carefully put together, but nonetheless cheap camera. I know that from experience, my whole shutter button assembly came apart because I had a soft release on and it got cought somewhere in the bag. Springs and washers everywhere. Had a look inside, the base of the shutter button assembly was plastic, and it gave way. And yet it is expensive, profit is definitely one reason but I suspect the main one is that Fuji reinvented the wheel with this camera, it created a technology and a camera segment that didnt exist before. And they did a reasonably good job at it too. Thats no easy or cheap business, I\'d hate to see the R&D bill for that.
Feb 01, 2012 at 06:00 AM
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