RE: [APML] OT: New 35mm Astro CCD camera

["Thom Iwancio" <tiwancio@sc.rr.com>]

Tony, I have to wonder if SBIG isn't missing the boat by providing more
low end gear to generate greater revenue and maintain a base level of
sales.  This should help to reduce the cost/price of the higher end
equipment.

I think the Meade XT series, Genesis and even modified webcam markets
prove that there is much money to be made with beginner cameras.  The
ST-4 is a case in point.  Instead of simply finding a way to replace the
parts that are no longer available and create a comparable product they
opted for a more advanced version in the STV.  I would hazard to wonder
the volume of ST-4s bought and sold every year as compared to number of
purchases of new STVs.  Volumes and margins are all intertwined.

If the chip truly is the driving factor, find a way to make one housing,
one board, one interface that works with a wide range of CCDs.  You now
get the hard parts cheaper because of volume, streamline your
manufacturing process because the chip and it's adapter/jumpers/whatever
is the only thing you have to change from one order to the next.
Finally you give people an upgrade path to start small and grow with the
equipment. Point of reference; I had an old computer that started life
as a 386-25 and was buried as a P200-MMX.  Can I get my ST-5 up to a
ST-7 by visiting a ham fest?

BTW, forget the film/CCD controversy.  What are you feeling on acoustic
versus electric? Tube versus transistors? 

Thom Iwancio
ST-5C
Ovation Custom Balladeer
Ibanez RG-550A
Glowing 6L6GCs :-)

Long Live Rock 'n Roll


-----Original Message-----
From: astro-photo-bounces@seds.org [mailto:astro-photo-bounces@seds.org]
On Behalf Of Tony Hallas
Sent: Wednesday, July 16, 2003 6:15 PM
To: Discussion of Film Astrophotography
Subject: Re: [APML] OT: New 35mm Astro CCD camera

Dave,
 
    Thanks ... I never implied that SBIG was ripping us off ... I simply
wondered at the cost of a CCD camera compared to these guitars ... my
luthier had commented that if he was being paid by the hour he would be
making sub-minimum wages... lucky for the world he has a passion for his
art.
 
      You don't need to tell me about the cost of running a business...
it's staggering these days to run any business in California ...I would
be willing to bet that a good 50% of the cost of that CCD is a ROI
simply to BREAK EVEN after paying wages to employees, rents/leases,
insurance (getting ridiculous), workman's comp, manufacturing equipment
turnover, taxes to the county, taxes to the state, taxes to the
Feds... etc etc etc... it's admirable that they have the will to keep
going... 
 
    And finally, so that I don't seem like a total hypochrite, I do have
an order in for the smaller interline camera... but now I've probably
been moved to last in line...
 
       Tony
 
       



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