[rollei_list] The Cost of the Contarex
- From: Marc James Small <msmall@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: rollei_list@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 26 May 2005 22:50:32 -0400
Here are some price comparisons:
1959/1960:
Zeiss Ikon Contarex Cyclops body $499
Nikon F body $375
Canon Canonflex $300
1968/1971:
Zeiss Ikon Contarex SE body $775
Nikon F2 $550
Canon F1 $495
Sure, the Contarex offered a lot more, but the working pro went for the
dependable and less-expensive camera. In addition, Nikon offered
bullet-proof service for pros. If you had a shoot in Laramie, Wyoming, and
needed a certain lens for that shoot, well, Nikon would lend you one, and
all you had to do was to visit the nearest Nikon dealer and, voila!, your
lens would be on hand. If your camera was giving you fits, they would lend
you another to see you through. Zeiss Ikon -- and Rollei and Leitz --
regarded this as so much coddling but it is why the US professional market
shifted from Zeiss Ikon and Rolleiflex and Leica gear in the 1950's to
Nikon and Canon in the 1960's. =20
Leitz and Zeiss Ikon owned the scientific community and to a large degree,
Leica and Zeiss still do so today, as they will whump up any optical goody
you desire at a stiff premium which your grant provider pays. But, for the
general market, the Germans lost it when they quit serviicing the
professional photographer.
Marc
msmall@xxxxxxxxxxxx=20
Cha robh b=E0s fir gun ghr=E0s fir!
NEW FAX NUMBER: +540-343-8505
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