Originally posted by LeDave Yeah I don't think it's small enough, although size has never been in the question for them but all Limiteds are small so. For the pricing though yes it is kind of rapeage, I have high doubts that this lens would keep it's 849 MSRP for 4 months. I am going to play a guessing and game that it will drop to 689 not so long after it's release due to lack of sales. Now that they moved their factories to Vietnam, I am guessing they are paying them more than their Japanese workers?
I highly doubt it. the reason that most well-established companies move their manufacturing plant to the south-east asian regions is to minimize cost of labor while maintaining a high premium of exported goods. some maintain the quality standards as that of the original processing plant, but some don't. I had my terrible experience of Nike shoes in particular that were made in Vietnam. they don't have the same materials, clean finish , etc... as compared to the other manufacturing plants like China, Taiwan and others, but still being sold at the same price range. I call it travesty since those shoes were no good cosmetically speaking nor comfort.
eventhough let's say that a well-known company must protect it's name and establishments, I don't see that they follow a stricter quality control policy nowadays. to each his own how their local supervisors allow these things inorder to save costs and increase productivity and profit. long gone are the days that even a simple scratch or a tiny spilled glue on a product would be deemed as a factory reject immediately. no wonder big companies nowadays tend to crash and burn.