Not only is the economic model I described a valid concept, it even has a name. See, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loss_leader
This one is also applicable, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Razor_and_blades_business_model You are perfectly correct to state that a competitive free market won't sustain subsidised pricing of a standalone product. A DSLR in a legacy mount would be just such a standalone product, so would need to be sold at its full value. It would seem overpriced compared to a similar camera with a modern lens mount, whose lens sales combined with the camera sales create the marketing models referred to in the articles above. As well, the fact that there is a zero supply of m42 DSLRs could be indicative of the demand for them. A question for you. If there was to be an m42 DSLR, what iteration of the "universal" screw mount should it follow? Pentax ES and ES-II mounts were not the universal variation, nor was the version by Fujica among others. The final "electric" mount by Praktica was perhaps the technically superior system and would be a better basis for an on-going system. The 42mm thread and the aperture actuating plate were just about the only universal aspect of the mount, while many manufacturers had different approaches to aperture indexing and sensing. I'm not saying there shouldn't be an m42 DSLR. I'm saying that one is not likely to happen. Even if it did happen there is no certainty that it would function any better than a k-mount DSLR with an m42 adapter. It may be quicker to have Cotty make you a Frankencam out of a spare Spotmatic and something modern, digital and expendable. Regards, Anthony Farr -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of J. C. O'Connell Sent: Friday, 23 February 2007 2:52 AM To: 'Pentax-Discuss Mail List' Subject: RE: 85mm f1.8 SMCT on ebay : $400+ hi, I dont agree with your economic model of DSLR pricing even on todays available models so I certainly dont agree that the M42 DSLR cannot be economically unfeasable forever becuase there would be no lenses sold to subsidize the price of the body. That is not even the case now, pricing of anything in the long run is always driven by the market, i.e. supply and demand, ( right now there is zero supply of m42 DSLRS), and I dont believe subsidized pricing of stand alone items can be sustained in a competitive free market. jco -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
