[rollei_list] Re: Economics Are Not Always Practiced (Thank God) (was:"I prefer simplicity and ease of use...")
- From: "Peter K." <peterk727@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: rollei_list@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 14 Apr 2005 09:27:03 -0700
True, and in some cases the manufacturers failed in doing this. One
camera comes to mind, the Konica IIIM (M=3DMeter). I own one of these
and IMO among the best made rangefinder cameras period. It has what
was a very accurate parallax compensating viewfinder where the entire
frame actually shifts and changes size over the range of the focus. It
also has a superb fixed Planar-type 50mm F1.8 (also had the option of
a 48mm F2) and had the option of half-frame.
This camera had retail price in 1957 of around $US300. Needless to say
they did not sell many. There is a IIIA sans meter that sold a bit
better, but just not as collectible as the IIIM. It was eventually
replaced with a lower cost model that yielded profits. If anyone can
find a IIIM with half frame adapter and working meter you have a real
fine and collectible.
Peter K
On 4/13/05, Marc James Small <msmall@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> At 07:40 PM 4/13/05 -0600, Douglas Shea wrote:
> >By all appearances the economists were not consulted by Alpa during its
> >heyday -- I have never detected any evidence of compromise.
>=20
> The fact that some concerns, most notably ALPA, Zeiss Ikon, and Leitz,
> ignored economic realities does not mean that they still didn't try to ke=
ep
> production costs down. All three of these concerns simply poured money o=
ut
> of every orifice over the last decades of their existence or, in the case
> of Leitz, until it managed to enter into a series of rather rocky prop-up=
s.
>=20
> Had ALPA really attempted to produce a camera without "compromise", they
> never would have cranked out their first production model. Swiss bankers
> are tighter than you can imagine and the coldness of their hearts would
> make even a long-term inmate of the Soviet Gulags shiver.
>=20
> Marc
>=20
> msmall@xxxxxxxxxxxx=3D20
> Cha robh b=3DE0s fir gun ghr=3DE0s fir!
>=20
>=20
--=20
Peter K
=D3=BF=D5=AC
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