It doesn't really matter to me if any camera company sells though a value added dealer, direct, or through traditional camera stores. It's a world market and in most cases a free market so that is all of the companies private decision to do business the way they see fit.
I and others are just tossing thoughts out there to see if there is a way to lower costs. For me, value added doesn't add that much, for others it is a wise decision. To each his own.
Still I wonder. For all the people that defend the higher prices of the non Hasselblad products I'd be curious to know how many of them would not jump at a 5, or 10 thousand dollar discount on their next Phase, Leaf or Sinar back purchase.
Steve, there is nothing wrong with changing your mind or changing your position, I do it all the time, because situtations change, but as I am sure you remember, you felt in the past it was good that other makers were offering lower prices to get customers more involved with medium format.
I don't see much difference between the previous announcement about Leaf, from Hasselblad's recent price cuts.
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It is now official - Leaf is promoting the Aptus 65 now through July 31, 2008 for $13,995. As some remember, I had posted this earlier in the month, but had to pull it back as Leaf was not quite as ready to go as they thought. But it's now official.
What is behind it is hard to say - an answer to Hasselblad? A response to 35mm digital? Benevolence? Open for discussion. But one thing is for sure - it's a benefit to end users who are starting to see more affordable alternatives to 35mm than had previously been available.
Steve Hendrix
www.ppratlanta.com/digital.php________________________________________