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
