p.2 #1 · A Safe Place to Harass I mean Ask Cosina for a Digital Bessa Rangefinder Camera
flash wrote:
Even then, the cost of making a reliable, accurate rangefinder mechanism was the most challenging part. And likely more expensive than the sensor. That’s the real issue. And each new camera body needs the RF mechanism to be rejigged to suit. Not a trivial task.
I think the issue is that the desire to have another alternative is for it to be cheaper. And that’s actually difficult for a product that sells in small quantities like an M. Even the Pixii isn’t cheap. There’ll alway be a group that’ll say it should have been $500 cheaper or it’s not close enough to the Leica variant.
Since we can’t even get Fujifilm to make an XPro4, I think an actual rangefinder alternative is unlikely. Pixii does exist though and maybe they need your support.
That’s the thing though, the Bessa R series were rangefinder cameras and were quite cheap and they were produced by the bucket, that’s why I think that part can be sorted out by Cosina.
p.2 #2 · A Safe Place to Harass I mean Ask Cosina for a Digital Bessa Rangefinder Camera
flash wrote:
Even then, the cost of making a reliable, accurate rangefinder mechanism was the most challenging part. And likely more expensive than the sensor. That’s the real issue. And each new camera body needs the RF mechanism to be rejigged to suit. Not a trivial task.
I think the issue is that the desire to have another alternative is for it to be cheaper. And that’s actually difficult for a product that sells in small quantities like an M. Even the Pixii isn’t cheap. There’ll alway be a group that’ll say it should have been $500 cheaper or it’s not close enough to the Leica variant.
Since we can’t even get Fujifilm to make an XPro4, I think an actual rangefinder alternative is unlikely. Pixii does exist though and maybe they need your support.
I certainly give a Chinese-made EVF-based M camera a go if priced below $1500. Looking on how the Chinese manufacturers build their M lenses all in well made metal housing, I expect the camera would be made of some kind of alloy, too and not just plastic. Hammer in a 24 MP sensor to keep the price down - okay with this and by having a very good but not super high end EVF either. I am almost certain the camera will have some video capability included like the M 240 series did. It doesn't take much to include video especially if it is just 4K or below. Not that I need video, but it is nice to have as option.
p.2 #4 · A Safe Place to Harass I mean Ask Cosina for a Digital Bessa Rangefinder Camera
catacore wrote:
As Huss has said above, I am not sure what such a new camera could bring above that we already have in the Leica M typ240 camera @ 2500-3000 EUR. Given we can still find batteries for it.
An updated sensor that can do reasonable ISO 12000-25000, warranty, batteries that don't cost £120. Otherwise I agree, not much more.
Personally I'd rather have a Fuji X100 type camera with a better finder and a 40/1.4 (equivalent) lens.
p.2 #5 · A Safe Place to Harass I mean Ask Cosina for a Digital Bessa Rangefinder Camera
flash wrote:
Even then, the cost of making a reliable, accurate rangefinder mechanism was the most challenging part. And likely more expensive than the sensor. That’s the real issue. And each new camera body needs the RF mechanism to be rejigged to suit. Not a trivial task.
I think the issue is that the desire to have another alternative is for it to be cheaper. And that’s actually difficult for a product that sells in small quantities like an M. Even the Pixii isn’t cheap. There’ll alway be a group that’ll say it should have been $500 cheaper or it’s not close enough to the Leica variant.
Since we can’t even get Fujifilm to make an XPro4, I think an actual rangefinder alternative is unlikely. Pixii does exist though and maybe they need your support.
I was reading this thread and thinking, "Why not an Xpro?" Sure it's APSC X-mount, but it fits much of what is discussed here. It has both the Optical and EVF, is photo centric, the Xpro3 three even 'hides' the LCD. And it's well-built with a metal frame. Sure it isn't a true rangefinder, but I doubt any large manufacturer outside of Leica will ever produce one of those again. It's just too limiting for the user and the market is not big enough.
Xpro3s have held their value, too. They are selling used for around the MSRP at launch in 2019. So there is a demand for the camera to keep the used prices so high.
p.2 #7 · A Safe Place to Harass I mean Ask Cosina for a Digital Bessa Rangefinder Camera
TNCasual wrote:
I was reading this thread and thinking, "Why not an Xpro?" Sure it's APSC X-mount, but it fits much of what is discussed here. It has both the Optical and EVF, is photo centric, the Xpro3 three even 'hides' the LCD. And it's well-built with a metal frame. Sure it isn't a true rangefinder, but I doubt any large manufacturer outside of Leica will ever produce one of those again. It's just too limiting for the user and the market is not big enough.
Xpro3s have held their value, too. They are selling used for around the MSRP at launch in 2019. So there is a demand for the camera to keep the used prices so high....Show more →
I had an Xpro3 - very nice - and briefly adapted Leica M lenses just to see how it would work.
The fact that it cropped them and you had to use the EVF made me lose interest very quickly.
If you are just going to use a mirrorless camera w an adapter, why not use a full frame one so the lenses are not cropped? I find the idea of the Sony A7Cr thing far more appealing than my old Xpro3 for that very reason.
p.2 #8 · A Safe Place to Harass I mean Ask Cosina for a Digital Bessa Rangefinder Camera
I’d be interested in an updated R-D1, which was already based on the Voigtlander rangefinder. Some of the key discriminators vs. Leica:
* Large viewfinder with 1:1 magnification
* Seiko analog dials (like a classic timepiece)
* Winder lever to cock the shutter
* Jog dial where film rewind knob would be
I think they have a lot price runway behind Leica to make this a fairly premium offering worthy of their excellent lenses.
p.2 #9 · A Safe Place to Harass I mean Ask Cosina for a Digital Bessa Rangefinder Camera
An updated R-D1 with a full frame sensor would be amazing, especially if they could also increase the rangefinder base length to make it easier to focus.
p.2 #10 · A Safe Place to Harass I mean Ask Cosina for a Digital Bessa Rangefinder Camera
Erich6_ wrote:
I’d be interested in an updated R-D1, which was already based on the Voigtlander rangefinder. Some of the key discriminators vs. Leica:
* Large viewfinder with 1:1 magnification
* Seiko analog dials (like a classic timepiece)
* Winder lever to cock the shutter
* Jog dial where film rewind knob would be
I think they have a lot price runway behind Leica to make this a fairly premium offering worthy of their excellent lenses.
That 1:1 viewfinder would mean you would need separate finders for lenses wider than 50mm.
I would like a VF to natively be able to accept lenses down to 28mm. Which is why I prefer .72 (and.58) finders over ones like in my M3 or Nikon S2.
