Mister E
Well-known
It used to be that just Leica lenses were over price, it looks like Voigtlander decided to get in on the game.
tbarker13
shooter of stuff
Without even seeing what this lens can do, I'm going to consider it overpriced - if it does, indeed, come out at $1,700.
I've bought a ton of CV glass over the past few years. Much of it is quite good. So I'm certainly a fan of the company.
But this just strikes me as a company trying to take advantage of a market that's driven up the cost of RF lenses. Maybe it'll sell like crazy. And then again, maybe they'll end up having to do some deep discounting once they realize they've overreached.
But if Hyundai can enter the luxury car market, I guess CV can enter the luxury lens market.
But in the end, it will be the market that decides whether CV gets to stay.
I've bought a ton of CV glass over the past few years. Much of it is quite good. So I'm certainly a fan of the company.
But this just strikes me as a company trying to take advantage of a market that's driven up the cost of RF lenses. Maybe it'll sell like crazy. And then again, maybe they'll end up having to do some deep discounting once they realize they've overreached.
But if Hyundai can enter the luxury car market, I guess CV can enter the luxury lens market.
But in the end, it will be the market that decides whether CV gets to stay.
Mister E
Well-known
So much for getting good prices over here. I just took a look at the last lens Cosina released and compared the exchange rate with what Mr. Gandy charges.
CV 25/0.95 95,000 JPY Suggested Retail (Retails for 71,800)
Mr. Gandy's Price is $1199
Suggested Retail Price at the current JPY to USD rate is $1187.59
Price at the current JPY to USD rate is $897.50
So at the Mr. Gandy rate this lens will sell for about $1662.50 and will be about $300 cheaper on the ground in Japan, a situation that has never been the case before. The old CV 35/1.2 for example was about $3-400 cheaper from Mr. Gandy than from anywhere in Japan. The lens even was more expensive used than new from Mr. Gandy.
CV 25/0.95 95,000 JPY Suggested Retail (Retails for 71,800)
Mr. Gandy's Price is $1199
Suggested Retail Price at the current JPY to USD rate is $1187.59
Price at the current JPY to USD rate is $897.50
So at the Mr. Gandy rate this lens will sell for about $1662.50 and will be about $300 cheaper on the ground in Japan, a situation that has never been the case before. The old CV 35/1.2 for example was about $3-400 cheaper from Mr. Gandy than from anywhere in Japan. The lens even was more expensive used than new from Mr. Gandy.
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
I blame the M9!
PatrickONeill
Well-known
Its still priced really well, Yeah, it's expensive, but if it's anything like the v.1, it will be a dang good lens and a very good value over the lux asph.
if Leica ever decided to come out with a 35mm Noctilux...
help us all.
if Leica ever decided to come out with a 35mm Noctilux...
help us all.
back alley
IMAGES
wow...same crap different day...we have the hopefuls and the doubters and then the downers...
happens with ever new lens cosina releases and especially the new versions of fan favourites.
mister e...no need to contribute further...i think we all got your messege...
happens with ever new lens cosina releases and especially the new versions of fan favourites.
mister e...no need to contribute further...i think we all got your messege...
Luna
Well-known
The V2 has focus shift.
ferider
Veteran
It is funny though that some of the strong "over-priced" opinions are coming from M9 users. Correlation, maybe ?
Still don't understand how a lens that is unique in specs, without having data on performance or fabrication costs, etc., can be considered over-priced in the first place.
Seriously, prices of anything that can be mounted on M8/M9 are going through the roof. I tried to find a 35/2.5 Skopar the other day, the one that used to cost US 190 and was discontinued very recently. Almost impossible below US 400 now. Checkout Leica pre-asphericals. A Summaron can fetch near a grand now. Even collapsible Summicrons go over US 500 easily. And there are rarely any lenses available at the usual sources. Been a long time that KEH had a Nikkor 50/1.4, for instance. A 75/1.4 going for over US 5k. Etc.
Don't get me wrong: no complaints from me, it is what it is, and it's not like we have a "right" to lower prices .... I'm just glad I got my Mandler lens set together
Roland.
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huntjump
Well-known
haha keith, i concur!
Combining imaginary non-existent future prices with imaginary present day Japan prices is just wrong on so many levels.
Today the yen was 80 to the dollar, when the original 35/1.2 price was set the Yen averaged 115 to 120, sometimes more.
Today the US price of the 25/.95 is $1199. The average Japanese home market 25/.95 price is NOT $897.50. Check for yourself.
This Japanese ebay seller has the 25/.95 at $1499
http://cgi.ebay.com/Voigtlander-Nok...40319576?pt=Camera_Lenses&hash=item1c1caf1158
This Japanese ebay seller has the 25/.95 at $1499
http://cgi.ebay.com/Voigtlander-Nok...03967624?pt=Camera_Lenses&hash=item3cb920ba88
This Japanese ebay seller has the 25/.95 at $1209
http://cgi.ebay.com/Voigtlander-Nok...03967624?pt=Camera_Lenses&hash=item3cb920ba88
This Hong Kong ebay seller has the 25/.95 at $1332
http://cgi.ebay.com/Voigtlander-NOK...370505730677?pt=AU_Lenses&hash=item5643dcca75
This Hong Kong ebay seller has the 25/.95 at $1459
http://cgi.ebay.com/Voigtlander-NOK...71281198?pt=Camera_Lenses&hash=item3cb72df92e
So much for Mr. E's battle with accuracy.
Stephen
Luna
Well-known
Japanese ebay sellers isn't Japanese home market.
Plane tickets to Japan are expensive.
Add that to the cost if you live in the US and want to buy in Japan.
I'm always annoyed that J-3's cost more than $60 and Nikkor 5cm F1.4's and wartime Sonnars in LTM cost more than $100. That's what I'm used to paying for them.
Add that to the cost if you live in the US and want to buy in Japan.
I'm always annoyed that J-3's cost more than $60 and Nikkor 5cm F1.4's and wartime Sonnars in LTM cost more than $100. That's what I'm used to paying for them.
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Luna
Well-known
Correct. Oddly enough, my comment on TheOnlinePhotographer was removed because I made a comment about how B&H set their price for the GRDIII high compared to the Japanese market when the case is usually reversed.
In Japan a 24/1.4LII cost about $500-800 more then the US market.
Just for reference about the 25/.095 prices in Japan:
BICCamera - ￥79,800 = $994
Kitamura - ￥88,350 = $1100
Fujiya Cam - ￥71,800 = $894
The mean is about $996 in the Japanese market.
But enough about markets and prices.
Let me state again, the V2 has focus shift.
tbarker13
shooter of stuff
Personally, I'm not complaining about it being overpriced. I think it is, but that's simply an opinion. I think the M9 is overpriced. I think beers at sporting events are overpriced. Again, just an opinion, not a complaint.
They can price it at $1 million for all I care. If the market supports it, then it does. If it won't, they'll lower the price or discontinue it.
But I do think this is the sort of reaction CV should expect. This is a company that has made its name (in many circles) by offering modestly-priced (by rangefinder standards) lenses. If this one does come out at $1,700, it's a departure from what the company's customer base has come to expect.
They can price it at $1 million for all I care. If the market supports it, then it does. If it won't, they'll lower the price or discontinue it.
But I do think this is the sort of reaction CV should expect. This is a company that has made its name (in many circles) by offering modestly-priced (by rangefinder standards) lenses. If this one does come out at $1,700, it's a departure from what the company's customer base has come to expect.
ferider
Veteran
Also, the v2 has swirly bokeh. And, it's not really 1.2.
I'm looking at equipment bought over the last 8 years, $125 5cm F1.5 Summarit-M, $140 Summarit LTM, $67 Canon 50/1.5, $70 Summicron 5cm F2, I've got at least 60 lenses in Leica mount bought at great prices over the last 10 years. I'm guessing most people would be satisfied to get them at a 50% increase. Of course the Leica III with Elmar, IIIa with Summar, and Nikon M with 5cm f1.4 all for $60 were luck.
Prices are up, the dollar is down. Aspheric surfaces are more expensive to make than traditional lenses, and this new one has three of them.
Prices are up, the dollar is down. Aspheric surfaces are more expensive to make than traditional lenses, and this new one has three of them.
SimonSawSunlight
Simon Fabel
yes, but will it blend?
rxmd
May contain traces of nut
That, and practically all new Cosina/Voigtländer releases were significantly more expensive than those they replaced. This includes lenses whose optical formula didn't change at all. So this is just continuing the trend. Part of the increase can be attributed to new mounts, added rangefinder coupling etc., but Cosina can do this only because the market *will* bear much more than it did eight years ago - thanks to M8/M9s, and maybe also adapters to NEXes and Micro 4/3 cameras.
The times of $67 Canon 50/f1.5s and $60 Jupiter-3s won't come back soon, I guess.
mooge
Well-known
just because the site says the price is whatever doesn't necessarily mean that it'll actually retail for that much. the 35/1,4 doesn't (usually) sell for ~$935 USD, for example...
Chriscrawfordphoto
Real Men Shoot Film.
Roland, Its overpriced because they essentially DOUBLED THE PRICE overnight. Let me repeat, for those who are too busy bending over and asking for a harder screwing to have read what I just typed. THEY DOUBLED THE PRICE!!
Actually you do have a right to lower prices. Thats how free markets are supposed to work, and how they work when customers are smart. Enough people complain and refuse to be screwed over, and they have no choice but to lower the price. Of course, with all these guys all screaming how good it feels to be raped, Cosina is absolutely justified in doubling the price. That's also how free markets work. The choice is yours, guys. Are you going to beg for more, or say NO?