Originally posted by TomB_tx I think the concept is good - the pricing is ridiculous.
The pricing is actually quite good, lower than I expected.
Basically Leica sells in relatively low volumes - they have to amortise their R&D over a small production run which in itself will jack up the price.
There is also an element of them pricing at a level that they think the market will bear. They know their market is relatively price insensitive so they just need to price relative to their other products.
But then everyone does this - look at Sony - the series II bodies are noticeably more expensive but probably doesn't cost that much more to make. Sony has now established a market and reputation, they can start value based pricing. Gone are the days when Sony was so desperate to get influential people to buy and use their products, they sold the RX100 when it was first released to me at half price (I didn't complain - I wouldn't have bought it at full price - and now I am lusting after Mark IV).