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Originally Posted by stephan_w
To reduce prices to get a bigger part of the market is a typical american reaction, that leads directly to bancrupthy. If someone doesn't know this economic rule, he may study the history of american car builders, and where they are today with this strategy. The market leader on this planet is the company who raised the quality of the products instead of giving discounts: Toyota.
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No, one is talking about producing the cheapest possible piece of crap that can be pawned off on the public.
Take your example of Toyota. Not the cheapest cars on the road but a lot of value for your money. People are happy to buy a Toyota, because they deliver the value perceived, for the cost. That's what Leica needs.
Pricing yourself out of the market is suicide. $6000 for a Noctilux? $3600 for a 35 Lux ASPH? Get real. Unless you are rolling in cash, these prices are not realistic for 90% of the buying public. I could afford to go out and drop the $3500 for a 50 Lux ASPH today, but you know what? I'm not doing it, because although it may be the best 50 on the planet, it offers a poor price/performance ratio.
I've purchased plenty of Leica gear new, so I'm willing to put my money where my mouth is, but I'm also no sucker. The Noct is good, but it's not worth $6000 dollars.
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Of course, this is not exactly the best comparison, but imagine a M8 + 35 lens for about 3000 us$. It is still inferior from a technologial point of view (pixels, AF, live-view etc.) compared to a Niko D300. So why should there be a reason to buy it?
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Because at $3000 that bundle would deliver a price / performance ratio that is acceptable to most people. But make the same comparison with real prices, between an M8/35mm and a D3/with the new 24-70 zoom and it's a whole different story. The Leica is actually more expensive and suddenly in comparison the bang for your buck doesn't look so good anymore.
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The Leicas are bought for their unique and valuable technical concept and first class customer support, not for the results in photographic reproduction. And this has always been so.
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I'm a photographer and buy Leica, because they have the best lenses money can buy, are built to last and are the best tool for what I do. I have no idea what you are talking about.