Is R1 still flagship for non-SLR?

[chuxter]

3. They pick a price, then watch the way it sells. If it sells well,
they raise the price. In the case of the R1, the price got hiked to
$1200 within a month. That tells be it was selling well, perhaps
beyond their expectations.

If I'm not mistaken, Charlie, the R1 was originally priced at $1200
but that was dropped to $999 just before it hit the shelves, after a
bunch of entry-level dSLRs were introduced with lower price points.
Still, I think this suggests that there was a lot of profit margin in
this camera, even at $999 and later when it settled at around $900.

I'm not totally positive, but I think it was first $1000, then quickly went to $1200, then back to $1000. I became aware of the R1 after all this happened and it's hard to dig out the chronology now. But if you go back and look at some of the early reviews, they imply my chronology?

I think Sony just saw dollar signs and got greedy once they realized
how profitable lenses can be... no room for an R1 in that plan.

I think that is true in the US and much of Europe. But in Asia, different marketing sense led them to aggressively push the R1 and it was successful. It's a case of the US and EU marketeers got what they asked for...didn't advertise...didn't sell many. Duh!

Most "prestige" products have HIGHER margins than run-of-the-mill
products. For example, GM/Chebby has kept the Corvette for over 50
years as their "prestige" product. These sports cars are highly
profitable! Their customers BRAG about how much they spent! You have
to understand this reverse logic: products are often more desirable
if they are priced higher!!!

Don't quote me on this but an uncle of mine was an engineer for GM
from the late 60's to early 90's... apparently the cost to
manufacture a late 80's Vette was less than 50% more than a Chev
Celebrity wagon...

Yep. They used many of the same parts. The reason they used fibreglas is that it is suited perfectly for medium volume production. Believe me...Chebby makes a profit on it (friends inside).

I hate Sony. I love my R1... ;-)

No argument over that from me
--
( ! ) Martin ( http://www.jpgmag.com/people/mschf )

--
Charlie Davis
Nikon 5700 & Sony R1
HomePage: http://www.1derful.info
Bridge Blog: http://www.here-ugo.com/BridgeBlog/

 

[busch]

Did you get the Nikkormat???

Had a complete (and I mean complete) system and sold it (more like gave it away) when I went to VN the second time. Dumb. Very dumb!!

Loved that 55mm f/1.2.

--
Busch

Take the scenic route! Life is too short to do otherwise.

http://www.pbase.com/busch

 

[Midwest]

Did you get the Nikkormat???

Had a complete (and I mean complete) system and sold it (more like
gave it away) when I went to VN the second time. Dumb. Very dumb!!

In about 1988 I decided I needed a videocamera. At the time the best deal I could get was on a nice Hitachi which ran $700. To help raise the money I sold my utterly mint black 1974 Nikkormat EL with standard and zoom lenses and filters, to the salesman at the store with the videocameras. I let it go at the time for $200.

I imagine that Nikkormat EL is still someplace, and still works. I do have the video camera and I imagine it works. However, the EL is worth a decent piece of change now, while the video camera almost can't be given away.

 

[Claymore]

There are many of us who think Minolta had it all together in the A2 model. It
had many more features and settings than Sony's cameras --but like the R1,
it too will not be replaced.

Please--no flaming. This is just FYI. Sony took over these ideas from Minolta but
doesn't seem to plan on ever using them.
Here are just some of the A2 features;

Subject: A2 features

Your "wish list" already exist on the Minolta A2 -- 8 meg, f2.8, 28-200mm zoom. (plus 2x digital zoom)(With my add-on lenses, I cover from 12mm to 1200mm.)
Same sensor as CANON PRO 1.
ANTI-SHAKE IN CAMERA!
Flip-up LCD
Best EVF of any camera (Flip-up for waist level view)
DOF preview
RAW/JPG
6 color options (RGB, Vivid RGB, AdobeRGB, sRGB, B&W, Sepia) KM color!!!!
5 view options (grids, scales, settings, histogram, ect)

4 shutter sound options (music, silence or two different film camera shutter sounds!)

5 custom settings (can recall any of 5 preset situations, WB, color, settings, ISO, ect.)
4x review (10x playback)
Macro at tele or WA
CF cards
Large buffer
3 frame burst
Battery Grip option (2 batteries 450 shots per charge))
APO lens (NO CA!)
Manual zoom
flex focus/exposure, spot, matrix, center weight.
5 dial setups
Movie with sound clips
MUCH, MUCH MORE!
GOING FOR $350 AND UP ON EBAY, depending on kit.

I have two A2s and three D7ugs and pray
they last forever.

 

[chuxter]

Did you get the Nikkormat???

No, and I haven't heard if my friend did. I had an early Nikkormat (mid-60's). Sold it to get an F-body.

Had a complete (and I mean complete) system and sold it (more like
gave it away) when I went to VN the second time. Dumb. Very dumb!!

Loved that 55mm f/1.2.

I never had one of those. :-(

--
Charlie Davis
Nikon 5700 & Sony R1
HomePage: http://www.1derful.info
Bridge Blog: http://www.here-ugo.com/BridgeBlog/

 

[busch]

Nice machine but the IQ wasn't quite there. Check Phil's review and conclusions.

--
Busch

Take the scenic route! Life is too short to do otherwise.

http://www.pbase.com/busch