The quality German cameras were never cheap.
A person had to save a lot of money to get a good camera.
For many in 1950, $30-$50 was a half-week's pay!
And $30-$50 for an Ikonta or C3 (hypothetical items as I don't know their original
selling prices, but to make the point) gave you something very nice.
Today a nice camera also costs you a half-weeks pay.
$300 to $500.
Not much has changed in percentage of income spent.
In the 1950s, an inexpensive family camera as a Kodak Pony 135.
Good lens but very plastic body. No rangefinder. No meter.
Leica, Contax, & Rollei were never for the average consumer.
That was always Kodak and a few others on the low end.
Sincerely,
C. Brendemuehl
--------------------------------
'Politics is supposed to be the second oldest profession. I have come to realize that
it bears a very close resemblance to the first.' Ronald Reagan
---------- Original Message ----------------------------------
From: Keith Whaley <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Date: Tue, 19 Oct 2004 04:16:10 -0700
>
>
>William Robb wrote:
> >
> > ----- Original Message ----- From: "Peter J. Alling"
> > Subject: Re: FA 35mm f/2 European prices please
> >
> >
> >> I was making 75k (63 with bonuses), he was making about 38k (depending
> >> on how the exchange rate was going). Wages aren't the only cost of
> >> doing business. The cost of actually hiring an employee in Germany is
> >> immense, it takes approximately 6 months to a year to hire someone and
> >> longer to let someone go.
>
> > Perhaps this is why German stuff tends to be better engineered
> >
> > William Robb.
>
>Well, I know you said, "...tends" but, in practice it doesn't always
>work out that way.
>
>Granted, it takes a long time to make "jouneyman" in Germany. Their
>craftsmanship is not taken lightly, nor is their engineering.
>Of consumer goods, I know some cars and some cameras fairly well.
>The German cameras and cars used to be top of the line in packaging
>design (ergonomics) as well as being very well engineered (some used to
>say over-engineered...but they weren't engineers!) robust and long lasting.
>I've owned VWs, BMWs and Mercedes. The last Benz I could call top
>quality was built in the early 70s.
>Something about a 'Benz, I love the cars. Or used to. Now they don't
>hold up in comparison to Japanese, and even some American models.
>Consumer satisfaction ratings on most German cars is way down. Used to
>be top dog every year, year after year.
>There's something they're not doing right...
>Used to have an older 300 SE Benz as a family car. Reason for getting
>rid of it? Son totalled it ~ error in judgement. Isn't it always?
>Now we have a Toyota Avalon, and am very impressed with it in every respect.
>
>Old German cameras? Excellent stuff! But, most of those reached their
>zenith in the 1950s. Some into the '60s. The flurry lasted for
>approximately 20 years after WWII.
>No longer competitive for the average photographer. The Japanese moved
>into and are now the force to be reckoned with in the excellence in
>optics field (always an argument there) and in both consumer grade, as
>well as some pro grade, cameras.
>German cameras are no longer competing. The only people that can afford
>a top of the line German camera (or car) is a person of substantial
>means or a business operation.
>I think they prefer it that way, as they've always done.
>The 'people's wagon' was the only foray into acknowledging the person of
>average means even exists.
>
>I guess they're doing other things...
>Leica farms out camera design and manufacture to others in the field.
>They make distinctive red dots to put on other's efforts. Hey! I'd love
>to have a late model Leica rangefinder and a few of their lovely
>lenses...but who can afford to?
>Voightlander seems to be coming back. Who else is there? Kodak Germany
>(Retina) used to be a real force, now long defunct.
>Same can be said of F&H (Rollei) a couple of others ~ Zeiss (Contax.)
>But, those were the "old days."
>
>Again, all of this is just my most humble opinion, having been a car
>collector (a joke, folks!) and a camera amasser...
>I feel I've always loved and managed to use some absolutely top quality
>cars and cameras. That used to be predominately German, it's now Japanese.
>Yes, there are exceptions to all rules. I've missed naming some
>excellent examples of other countries manufacture. It wasn't an
>intentional exclusion. I've owned and used a few Volvos and a couple of
>Saabs, for example. They've priced themselves out of my class. Same for
>Porsche. Audi.
>
>Ooops! Sorry about that! Rant mode off.
>
>keith whaley
>
>
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