----- Original Message ----- From: "Herb Chong" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <pentax-discuss@pdml.net> Sent: Thursday, June 02, 2005 1:36 AM Subject: Re: Rumors About Pentax's Future
> the Leica with a 10MP sensor and less components lists for $9K. since Kodak > also makes the 645D sensor, there no chance that the 645D sensor will cost > substantially less than the one used in the Leica. the sensor makes up > easily half the OEM cost of the camera. Lots of assumptions here. 1. Leica isn't known for selling anything cheap. 2. As I understand it the digital solution for Leica was designed fully out of house. However did the work want to make a profit on it. 3. The volume for this product is minuscule. It cost millons of dollars to develop and a huge part of the 9K is due to this. 4. As I understod the press releas from Pentax a few years back the Kodak chip in question is not a commodity bought off the shelf but the fruit of a cooperation between Kodak and Pentax. Pentax probably have had a signifcant input in the design. 5. Developing cost for the 645D is probably not astronomical. It uses the chassis and finder of the current 645's long ago paid for. Based on the interface and the AF selector pad on the back it almost certainly use *istD electronics and SAFOX VIII AF system, also paid for long ago. Leica must get the revenue back from a single product while Pentax use building blocks from lots of products. Pål
