Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2004/01/31
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]All this discussion from Larry, Joseph, et al about obsolete technology, from Leicas to McIntosh, brings me to an interesting point: Today I visited a small shop in Philadelphia that specialized in two things: vintage and exotic motorcycle repair (including parts), and new and vintage vacuum tube audio. The shop was certainly nothing pretentious--the sort of place you'd expect for auto parts circa 1965, with a counter area, storage, and plain wooden floors. However, in the front of the store were an impressive collection of brand-new high-end vacuum tube amplifiers, pre-amps, and esoteric speakers. Evidently the fellow is doing quite well with his products; he apologized for a lack of merchandise, and noted that lately he's been barraged with sales. Ten years ago you'd have found this sort of merchandise in a high-end audio store exclusively, the sort of place with plush carpets, foo-foo listening rooms, and solicitous salespeople. Today those stores have largely given way to surround sound extravaganzas, all based on some gargantuan plasma high definition television image. People interested in premium quality two-channel sound are largely left as a fringe market. The manufacturers of high-end equipment are left looking for anyone who wants to dedicate time and floor space to their wares. I know of a high-end esoteric loudspeaker manufacturer who uses one retail representative for Philadelphia--a fellow who sells the speakers out of his living room! The film-based photo shop of the future (defined roughly as 2010) will be something along the lines of this Philadelphia establishment. It will become an oasis for people only interested in something truly esoteric. The regular camera stores will have long since abandoned film and the requisite equipment, since the profit returns would not justify either the footprint or trained staff. I can well imagine buying the M9 across a coffee table in some living room. Leica: the new face of Tupperware. Jim Shulman Bryn Mawr, PA - -----Original Message----- From: owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us [mailto:owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us] On Behalf Of Joseph Low Sent: Saturday, January 31, 2004 8:15 PM To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us Subject: RE: [Leica] Re: Preservation of value Larry Do not fret - I still drive my electrostatic speakers with vacumn tube amps and the music is glorius. If your McIntosh amps are 2750s and you want to sell them - let me know - contact me offlist Joseph Low Singapore Email joelct@singnet.com.sg - -----Original Message----- From: owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us [mailto:owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us]On Behalf Of LRZeitlin@aol.com Sent: Sunday, February 01, 2004 1:27 AM To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us Subject: [Leica] Re: Preservation of value In a message dated 1/31/04 11:52:30 AM, owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us writes: << I would be pretty fed up if any of my camera equipment failed within 5 years - electronic or mechanical, digital or film. DSLR values will not drop disastrously until a good inexpensive alternative is available, which it isn't yet. Digicams become valueless within days, but so do film P&S cameras. It is IMHO a mistake to compare proper film cameras with P&S digital, it is an apples and oranges comparison. Quality for quality digital is still many times more expensive than film - it is up to individuals to decide if it is worth it for themselves. >> I have closets full of old premium photographic and audio equipment that are now almost worthless beccause something technologically better came along. These include top of the line Bolex 8 and 16 mm movie cameras, Bell and Howell sound projectors, turntables, Fisher and McIntosh audio amplifiers, and several analog camcorders. It's a fact of life that the old order vanishes. The only thing which will ultimately preserve the value of Leica equipment for anyone but collectors is the development of electronic bodies which can use the old optics. I'm tired of hearing that it can't be done. It HAS to be done or the old equipment is history. Larry Z - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html