PHOTO JOHN how about the other one (Leica digital)

[Fat Boy]

Hello PJ,
You seem to love the Leica digital. But what about the other simular camera made(?) by Pamasonic? You know that these 2 companies are in joint effort so they will make the same camera w/ different name plates. It appears that the Panasonic model has the same lens and has a price ~ $350 LESS!

Just wondering.

Also just want to know your opinon on why the "digital" lenses made by major camera makers are not that less $ than the film counter parts? Shouldn't they be about 1/2 less glass since the sensor is .5x? The Nikon 17~55mm DX lens is ~ $1300. This equals to about 25~85mm w/ an f2.8 opening. For THAT amount!!!! Nikon used to make a 50~135mm 3.5 in MF. If they made it AF w/ f2.8 that would be a great 75~200mm digital lens in really a smaller package. Only a 1/2 f stop larger too. My D70 should be here in a day or two. Got the "kit" lens as I could not decide on any other. I just may do as you said before and get a 50mm 1.4 sinc ethe kit lens is a little slow. I dont like slower than 2.8.

Thanks

Fat Boy

[Photo-John]

As far as I know, they're exactly the same camera, aside from the color and the bundled software. So the red, "Leica," dot, costs $350. If you don't have money to burn and you're interested in that camera, I'd say to buy the Panasonic.

The price of digital lenses probably has more to do with marketing than the actual cost of making the lenses. They're new lenses, they fit a particular niche, and they're what people want to buy. Therefore, they can demand more money from them. And as long as people are willing to pay more, they'll cost more.