Hey Scoot,
I guess Pentax make [painted] black cameras because people want them. I'm
not sure your description of the processed used in manufacture is accurate,
in fact I am pretty sure it is considerably less labor intensive than you
cite.
The cost of a [painted] black camera was only ever $20 more than the chrome
version during the Spotmatic days. That they now command considerably more
is proof of what you say that they are hard to keep nice looking. Don't
like the price? Don't buy it.
I'm glad they made black cameras. I have hunted down mint black examples of
every Spotmatic-family camera save the SL, and a couple earlier ones,
passing on some rather beat looking, mechanically whipped ones.
I have two black cars, prefer my black suits, and don't own anything but
black shoes. It's a personal preference. It could just as easily be a
yellow thing, or a red thing. (I'd be in trouble if it was because there
were no red or yellow Pentax SLR's although I have heard tell of some red
ones for the Tokyo Fire Dept....)
If it's a collector thing, I think you might need to think a little about
what makes some things more collectible than others: rarity, condition,
design, function, et al. That black cameras are hard to find in good
condition makes them all that much more desirable to a "collector". Some
people collect black cameras without regard for the name on them. (Pentax
is not the only company who made/make black cameras.)
Don't worry too much about it if you don't want a black camera. There are
plenty of us out here that do, and it is our [problem] if we want to pay
extra for something that others do not think worth the extra cost.
The chrome ones are susceptible to a broad range of problems that cause them
to lose their newness. Bright marks are very hard to avoid, they too can
brass (admittedly it takes longer), they can get dull, stained, corroded,
and like anything made of sheet-metal stampings, dent. I have seen just as
many hateful looking chrome Spotmatics as I have black ones.
ppro
http://whitemetal/com/pentax/index.htm
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Scooterman
> Sent: Saturday, August 18, 2001 10:14 AM
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject: Re: painted Pentax
>
>
>
> I don't see why Pentax paints their bodys in the first place.
>
> It's not cheaper.
> There's three paintings & three bakings & being handled by humans
> at every step. Inspected at
> every step. Sorted at every step. Quality Control inspected at
> every step. Transported around
> the shop at every step.
>
> Every step done by a human costs MONEY & TIME (which is more money).
> Then after the first 10yrs, you see the heavy use ones looking
> like crapola because the paint
> has worn off. You'd have think they learned something after 50 yrs.
>
> The chrome ones last forever (almost).
>
> We all know no one wants to make anything that lasts forever.
> "Planned Obsolesence" & etc.
> BUT.....
>
> If ya make em all chrome (or plated), they will last longer
> because they look better than that
> "heavy brass" one at E-Bay or at the consignment shop. If they
> look better, the value stays up
> there (even higher than a pristine black H3) and you can keep
> product loyality longer. If
> everything is painted, sooner or later it looks like junk, even
> though it may be in PERFECT
> operating condition, and once it looks like junk it gets scrapped.
>
> If it never looks like junk the user/collector will keep their
> mind on Pentax & keep buying
> Pentax "stuff". Then, once they've spent $200-500 on that
> "perfect-looking" Spotmatic (and
> lenses, and accessories), chances are real high they'll want
> another "perfect-looking" old
> Pentax.... or even a new(er) one (since they're in the buying
> mood already).
>
> If they're in the buying mood but all that's available is junk,
> not only will they keep their
> money in their pocket (re: Pentax stuff) they MAY go buy another
> brand that doesn't look like
> junk. Once they play with that other brand for awhile, they may
> decide to stay with that other
> brand because they're still in that buying mood. Now Pentax runs
> the risk of loosing that
> customer all together... possibly forever.
>
> Now the "Planned Obsolesence" not only applies to that model, it
> applies to the entire company
> itself. People are turning away in droves due to the plastic...
> and paint.
> My next camera (that I'll use) will be chrome or I won't buy one
> at all. And I'm not alone.
> The point & shoot crowd is already getting sucked into the digital craze.
> Pentax had better wake up before they become harder to find than
> a Tower-26.
>
> Scoot
> -
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