I'm sure they were right about other things

Well... at the time.

Nobody would buy Japanese products for a long time for various reasons. Even when it was marked "Made in occupied Japan"

Very interesting.

1946 until Nikon took over the professional market in the early 60s was not a lot of time. Kodak dominated the amateur market for a while longer but not much longer.

IMO, the Korean war was the turning point for War photographers to use German Cameras (Leica or Contax) with faster speed Japanese (Nikon or Canon)lens.

For quite some time, Nikon made breach mount or screwmount lens for Leica and Contax/Nikon.

In the early 50's and during the Korean War the hot camera/ lens combination was a Leica III with a Nikon 50mm 1.1 or 1.4.

Unfortunately on GI pay I could afford neither one.

Per a college classmate of mine(late 1950s)whose father did such for a living, the going compensation for succeeding in getting a photo used for the cover of the most widely viewed and prominent weekly magazine "Life" was $2000. But it didn't happen all that often. I'm sure there was plenty of competition. At the time a month's wages for my beginning career in EE was typically $800.
I might note that I yet have a pair of those f1.4 Nikor lenses!

Poplar Photography

quote:

Originally posted by jhe888:
Poplar Photography

I see what you did there! (Took a moment, though.)

flashguy

Good one! You didn't think a respected magazine like 'Popular Photography' would ever print such a statement, do you?