They just don't make them like they used to..

Vintage Leica M3 set, originally uploaded by benny ng.

Despite the fact that some of these gear are made more than 50 years ago, they will outlast some of the recently produced cameras.

There was once a time when manufacturers will present products that represent their best efforts, made with the finest materials and was built to last. Whilst some of these items may seem bulky and heavy by today's standards, it does not change the fact that corporations then used to have a philosophy to produce products that last. And this extends beyond Leica, and beyond cameras.

These days, product life cycles are so short. In most industries, lower cost to maximise profit is the corporate axiom. "Acceptable" has become the defecto standard instead of "best". Nothing needs to last forever, or even ten years, customers would have junk it for something else by then.

It's such a bloody shame.....

Cheers,