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New MINT 35MM film camera getting closer to production!

Desmolicious
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · New MINT 35MM film camera getting closer to production!

I tried to post this in the film forum, but for some reason couldn't locate it.

Just got this info via email from them today. $650-$800. Hopefully in production 2024.
Basically they are making a modern version of the Rollei 35 - with AF and built in AE.

Seeing that the near death fancy P&S cameras like the Contax T2/3, Leica Minilux/CM, Nikon 28/35 ti, Fuji Klasse (damn you for dieing on me!) are anything from $700-$3000, if this has a decent lens etc it will be worth it. Oh, and works.

Nov 09, 2023 at 09:58 AM

Sonnar-7
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · New MINT 35MM film camera getting closer to production!

Desmolicious wrote:
I tried to post this in the film forum, but for some reason couldn't locate it.

Just got this info via email from them today. $650-$800. Hopefully in production 2024.
Basically they are making a modern version of the Rollei 35 - with AF and built in AE.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53320735933_fcd613a53c_b.jpg

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53320496416_518247e8b1_b.jpg

Seeing that the near death fancy P&S cameras like the Contax T2/3, Leica Minilux/CM, Nikon 28/35 ti, Fuji Klasse (damn you for dieing on me!) are anything from $700-$3000, if this has a decent lens etc it will be worth it. Oh, and works.

That’s quite interesting, it will go through some fund raising system platform or will it be released widely?

Nov 09, 2023 at 10:07 AM

SlowDriver
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · New MINT 35MM film camera getting closer to production!

Sonnar-7 wrote:
That’s quite interesting, it will go through some fund raising system platform or will it be released widely?

The latter it seems, the project is apparently nearing its completion, you can financially contribute on Airwallex:
https://pay.airwallex.com/hkgqeacr8vi8

Nov 09, 2023 at 10:32 AM

ottokbre
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · New MINT 35MM film camera getting closer to production!

I loved the feel of my Rollei 35 but good god I never got anything in focus. Like, ever.
So AF would be nice. Any focus acquisition system would be nice, really.

Nov 09, 2023 at 11:16 AM

Desmolicious
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · New MINT 35MM film camera getting closer to production!

ottokbre wrote:
I loved the feel of my Rollei 35 but good god I never got anything in focus. Like, ever.
So AF would be nice. Any focus acquisition system would be nice, really.

Yeah, zone focusing a 40mm 2.8 lens is not ideal. The only decent pics tend to be at infinity/f8-f11 types.
Which is a shame as the lens is so good. 2.8 is basically wasted if it is needed for anything remotely close. As chances of decently focused are remote.

Nov 09, 2023 at 12:59 PM

Desmolicious
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · New MINT 35MM film camera getting closer to production!

@Fred Miranda please move to the new film forum!

Nov 09, 2023 at 01:05 PM

wolfloid
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · New MINT 35MM film camera getting closer to production!

but good god I never got anything in focus. Like, ever.

Yes, The Olympus XA was so much better - rangefinder, which was very easy to use and get accurate focusing, better lens -35/2.8, plus that excellent clam shell case. The real weakness, though was the really crappy shutter release, which broke on mine.

Nov 09, 2023 at 01:07 PM

Desmolicious
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · New MINT 35MM film camera getting closer to production!

wolfloid wrote:
Yes, The Olympus XA was so much better - rangefinder, which was very easy to use and get accurate focusing, better lens -35/2.8, plus that excellent clam shell case. The real weakness, though was the really crappy shutter release, which broke on mine.

I think you mean the lens was better because you could actually focus it via rangefinder, and 35mm being easier to use vs 40mm.

Because I have that 40mm Rollei Sonnar lens in the LTM/M mount that Rollei offered for their 35RF camera (Bessa rebadge), and it is spectacular.

Nov 09, 2023 at 01:25 PM

retrofocus
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · New MINT 35MM film camera getting closer to production!

I have the original Rollei 35 in mint condition with fixed Zeiss Tessar 40/3.5 lens. Manual focusing with this lens works very well - AF would only help IMO for closer focus distances where the focus can be sometimes a bit off. Biggest debit of the Rollei 35 is from my own experience with the film insertion - there is no control if the film was inserted correctly. Meaning there is no button rotating when the film winder is used like e. g. in Leica cameras. I love the Rollei 35 though as compact travel film camera - fits into a pocket easily.

Nov 09, 2023 at 02:00 PM

Fred Miranda
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · New MINT 35MM film camera getting closer to production!

Desmolicious wrote:
@Fred Miranda@ please move to the new film forum!

It's already cross-posted there.

Nov 09, 2023 at 02:52 PM

d.s.
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · New MINT 35MM film camera getting closer to production!

I didn’t see any links to it on site. What are the chances of a mechanical shutter speed (a la M7), and some sort of provision for manual (scale?) focusing?

Nov 09, 2023 at 08:35 PM

Desmolicious
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · New MINT 35MM film camera getting closer to production!

We don’t know any of the specs yet apart from it looks very similar to a Rollei 35 and will have AE and AF.

If this is a solid product I will definitely buy. A high end p&s will be in demand if you look at the prices Contaxes etc go for. I was hoping that the new film Leica would be the CM re-released. Instead they just rebadged the MP and called it an M6.

For me the question mark about the Mint camera is functionality - will the AF and AE actually be decent? - and reliability/longevity. They don’t even have a fully functional unit yet so to get it to production in 2024 without being able to stress test it properly is quite a risk. Especially seeing this is a ground up design from people who have never made a 35mm camera before.
But maybe their QA process and testing will be adequate. It certainly can’t be worse than with Leica and their current M film camera production.

Nov 09, 2023 at 09:42 PM

d.s.
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · New MINT 35MM film camera getting closer to production!

Those two windows on each end sure would make for a nice, chintzily baselined rf. But with a 40/2.8, probably not too much of an issue.

Right. Sorry. AF.

Nov 09, 2023 at 10:28 PM

Desmolicious
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · New MINT 35MM film camera getting closer to production!

Hmmm, looks like the AF windows are in that section on the left

Nov 10, 2023 at 01:01 AM

fjablo
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · New MINT 35MM film camera getting closer to production!

Curious how it will compare to the new Pentax P&S. I think that one is also scheduled for 2024?

Nov 10, 2023 at 01:19 AM

Desmolicious
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · New MINT 35MM film camera getting closer to production!

fjablo wrote:
Curious how it will compare to the new Pentax P&S. I think that one is also scheduled for 2024?

Has anyone actually heard anything about the Pentax? All I saw was a hipster Japanese dood wearing a flat cap waxing lyrical about the idea of it.
MINT is actually showing the camera being developed, with some sample pics taken w it demonstrating the issues they are finding (basically light leaks).

What is cool is both are manual lever wind. Just like the Ricoh FF-1 that is being used in the FM one shot project.

Nov 10, 2023 at 10:20 AM

Desmolicious
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · New MINT 35MM film camera getting closer to production!

ahh, I found a comment that 4 new Pentax film cameras are coming in 2024...

Nov 10, 2023 at 10:49 AM

andrewd01
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · New MINT 35MM film camera getting closer to production!

$650 to $800 is a lot for a new camera from a new manufacturer with no previous camera manufacturing experience. Where are the cameras being made? It will be interesting to see if there is enough demand for products like this. You can get a VERY nice used film camera for that money.

I am not that keen on the brand name, did they get inspiration from japanese ebay sellers where the most banged up used cameras are described as Mint++++? Hopefully the branding is non existent or very subtle (eg 6-point font on the top plate).

Nov 11, 2023 at 04:52 PM

Desmolicious
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · New MINT 35MM film camera getting closer to production!

They are a Hong Kong company so I would assume HK/China.
Mint was their name way before this camera was even imagined!

I wish them success with it, because what a great idea - a modern Rollei 35 that can actually nail focus and exposure every time!

Nov 11, 2023 at 08:02 PM

Desmolicious
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · New MINT 35MM film camera getting closer to production!

The one thing… the OG Rollei 35 had fantastic lenses. Perhaps the hardest thing for Mint is to be able to match that.

Nov 12, 2023 at 12:32 PM


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