Want a new digital RF--UNITE and be heard!

[Bill58]

There has been so much speculation here about who/ when a new "wunderkind" (how do you say this in Japanese?) digital RF would come on the market, that I had the idea that we (here at RFF) could all get together and literally bombard the manufacturers with emails requesting same.

If you don't think this is a lame idea, then someone more techie (sp?) than me could draw up our desired specs, find email addresses for the hapless mfgs. (Sony, VC/ CV, Nikon, Canon, Oly, etc.) and we could unload a ton of emails on the poor *******s. We do have a lot of members now.

We'll find out if democracy works in the corporate world (probably about as well as it works in Iran, N. Korea, etc.), but who knows unless we try it?

 

[Trius]

<sarcasm>If we could only get democracy to work in the Excited States...</sarcasm>

I for one would participate in such a campaign. I have a suspicion that the only way it would be successful is if a manufacturer decided to re-design purpose-made (i.e., made for digital) lenses for such a camera, to get around the wide-angle problem. But the key for me would be that it be a "real" rangefinder in terms of simplicity, handling, etc.

 

[Welsh_Italian]

It might be worthwhile mentioning that Epson sold all the RD-1's they made (10,000 was it?) - there is a market for these things! 😀

 

[Didier]

It might be worthwhile mentioning that Epson sold all the RD-1's they made (10,000 was it?) - there is a market for these things! 😀

Neither the exact amounts of produced nor sold R-D1/R-D1s bodies have ever been confirmed officially. Was it 10'000 per model or 10'000 for all - no one here knows. It's the usual forum rumourware. As there are still new and refurbished bodies for sale (from time to time, at different places) I doubt they've all been sold out.

There is a market, but the question is, is it big enough? Compared to the DSLR sales, 10-25'000 units, the approx. amount of all sold DRF bodies of Epson and M8, are peanuts. I doubt a third competitor will actually take too many risks.

From Zeiss we know their new rangefinder camera and ZM/ZF lenses are more a prestige thing than the result of a profit oriented strategy. I will not expect them entering the DRF market before the next generation sensors (bigger, more resolution, more dynamic range, less vignetting) are available. This can change in the next 1-2 yrs. Cosina is known not to be interested in producing digital cameras theirself. Their president Mr. Kobayashi is said to be a hardcore film nut. And Canon, Nikon, Pentax or Olympus should not be expected to produce RF in the future, too. Canon not because they would not support a system with a bayonet that is not their patent (and creating a new RF bayonet system would not make sense as the M-mount has becone the quasi standard), the 3 others not because they wouldn't have the spare money for it.

Didier

 

[JonR]

I think one need to be cyncial when it comes to those discussions - the manufacturers like Cosina, Sony, Nikon and others will launch a digital RF type of camera either when they think there is a good and profitable market to go for or to protect their market share if some other player moves.

We also have to understand that all those companies have their Business Development teams and Market Intelligence teams constantly looking at trends, figures, facts - and I am sure, surfing places like this! One or two or even a couple of thousand emails will not change that (but cannot hurt either!).

Will it happen ? I for one feel absolutely sure there will be something like a digital RF in the future (just look at the huge number of POS models being launched where there is a need to differentiate....) but it may not necessarily look exactly like we want it to look like and the target group may not be exactly the average person here at RFF....

/Jon

 

[ZeissFan]

Exactly, catering to a small, yet vocal, group of users doesn't ensure you can make a profit on a small-volume product. And just because you want one doesn't mean you need it or will be willing to pay for it once you see the price.

Can the major manufacturers make a digital rangefinder? Of course.

Will they? Probably not.

Canon has shown few signs that it's ever been interested in turning back the clock in any of its products. Don't hold your breath.

Nikon might be the most likely, as it might have lenses, bodies and toolings from its re-released rangefinder.

Olympus has been out of the rangefinder business for decades. Did Pentax ever make a film rangefinder? I can't remember one (but I'm not a Pentax historian).

Yashica -- gone. Konica -- gone. Minolta -- gone. Chinon - gone. Petri -- gone. Kowa -- gone. Ricoh -- doubtful but they're always good for a surprise.

Rollei? Doubtful.

Sony? Not enough history in cameras to know its direction.

Carl Zeiss -- I would venture a guess and say when and not if.

Cosina -- maybe after Zeiss makes its move. And don't forget, the Epson was really a digital Cosina Voigtlander Bessa-R2.

 

[gavinlg]

I would Love to have a canon rangefinder.
Can you imagine that sexy sexy 5d sensor in a canon p or 7 body. I dont even care if they don't change the body style at all. re release with the same specs, but an updated VF equal to that of the M8. Sell it for 6k. I'll buy it. So will others. Make a RF version of the canon primes - a 14/15 2.8L, a 24 1.4L, a 35 1.4L, 50 1.2L, 85 1.2L and 135 f2L. Then release some basic lenses - a 24 2.8, 50 1.8, 85 2.5 and call them serenars. Even use the old optical formula for the original serenars with updated coating. Weather seal it.
My god it would be awesome. They could even design the new RF L lenses with correct flange distancing etc to be able to be used with a full sized sensor - leica struggled with this with the leica m lenses.

 

[Finder]

Unfortunately, there have been digital RFs on the market and the manufacturers know how sucessful these products were. You can send them all the e-mails you want. That will not influence them to produce a product they will lose money on.

 

[Pablito]

I want a new (and affordable) true dRF as much as the next guy, but I see it as very unlikely given the industry is feeding us machines like the Canon G7, which to the untrained or undiscerning eye is close enough:
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canong7/

Yeah, that just won't do, but they can mass maket it.

 

[aizan]

when will the dslr market be saturated? i think it will only be two or three more years.

 

[colinh]

If you don't think this is a lame idea, then someone more techie (sp?) than me could draw up our desired specs, find email addresses for the hapless mfgs. (Sony, VC/ CV, Nikon, Canon, Oly, etc.) and we could unload a ton of emails on the poor *******s.

If only Leica would make a digital RF *sigh*.


colin

 

[RML]

I wish there would be a dRF in the (near) future but I'm not holding my breath. Further, I doubt I'd be able to afford it. I already can't afford a new dSLR (prosumer Canon Eos 400D or such - what's the latest incarnation?) so a new dRF will be out of my league anyway. Yes, I don't think any dRF will be under $1000-1500 and those semi-RF cameras that will be less than $1000 will be inferior to any dSLR offering. So, while I'm an avid dRF user and wish for another in the future, I'm pretty realistic about my getting one.

 

[MadMan2k]

I think Leica and Zeiss will cover the M mount DRF market for a while, which I won't be able to afford..

What I really want is a top quality fixed lens digital camera with a 35mm 2.0 equivelant lens and an APS sensor. Whichever manufacturer made it, I'd buy it. Hell, I'd pay up to $1500 for it if it had a sensor as good as the ones in the 20D/30D/XT. I know that's close to R-D1 with CV 28/1.9 territory on the price, but I'm wary of buying a camera that the manufacturer probably won't even think about supporting in a few years. I also need something that can be replaced immediately if I break it and the insurance company needs to pay for the replacement. Hunting for a rare used or refurb one won't cut it.

Since I gave up on film, I've been shooting my wide shots with a 1D and a 28-105 zoom, which is a monster of a setup, and I would be thrilled to be able to leave it in the bag and pick up something the size of an M or a Hexar.

 

[Bill58]

Yikes--I'm beginning to feel like Dennis Kucinich w/ no (huge) groundswell of popularity behind my great (?) ideas. Oh, well I tried.........

 

[shadowfox]

Bill, take heart. The idea is great, but the cogs and bins that are needed to move the wheel isn't there. I believe someday the time will come. Let's keep trying 🙂