Imagine going to a camera show where you could spend 24 hrs looking at exhibits and still not see all of them. Well, that's Photokina. It's huge, and exhausting.
For rangefinders, all that is important in current production is Leica, Zeiss and Cosina-Voigtlander. Oddly enough, I only talked to management of those 3 companies.
Leica introduced the Leica M 8.2 camera update, along with 50/.95, 21/1.4, 24/1.4, 24/3.8 M lenses, and the new medium format S2 system. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that so far, orders are quite good for the new products despite their relatively high prices. It seems Leica knew their marketplace after all. Who could have seen that coming? Leica may not be in the dire financial condition that many have feared after all.
Zeiss introduced the 85/4 ZM lens. I would have liked a 85/2.8 instead. Like all other photo products, the marketplace will tell the final story.
Cosina introduced the Fuji / Bessa III medium format folder, the first new 120 rangefinder folder in about FIFTY years! Interest seems very high. We will see. (When was the last 120 folding RF introduced, anyway? The early 1950's?) LOTS of other RF stuff is behind the curtain at Cosina Voigtlander, but I can't talk about it, sorry.
I did think Nikon would introduce a new digital rangefinder at Photokina. That did not happen. Many people are guessing on the net that Nikon's medium format digital rangefinder will be introduced at PMA in Feb. I am one of them. Now if only a Leica M mount Nikon digital RF is also introduced. Time will tell. Until then I will hope.
All the other stuff not rangefinder at Photokina, well it just was not important in the larger view of things and not worth talking about .... how is that for a totally objective selective field of view ? Canon 5D update, bah humbug!
Stephen
For rangefinders, all that is important in current production is Leica, Zeiss and Cosina-Voigtlander. Oddly enough, I only talked to management of those 3 companies.
Leica introduced the Leica M 8.2 camera update, along with 50/.95, 21/1.4, 24/1.4, 24/3.8 M lenses, and the new medium format S2 system. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that so far, orders are quite good for the new products despite their relatively high prices. It seems Leica knew their marketplace after all. Who could have seen that coming? Leica may not be in the dire financial condition that many have feared after all.
Zeiss introduced the 85/4 ZM lens. I would have liked a 85/2.8 instead. Like all other photo products, the marketplace will tell the final story.
Cosina introduced the Fuji / Bessa III medium format folder, the first new 120 rangefinder folder in about FIFTY years! Interest seems very high. We will see. (When was the last 120 folding RF introduced, anyway? The early 1950's?) LOTS of other RF stuff is behind the curtain at Cosina Voigtlander, but I can't talk about it, sorry.
I did think Nikon would introduce a new digital rangefinder at Photokina. That did not happen. Many people are guessing on the net that Nikon's medium format digital rangefinder will be introduced at PMA in Feb. I am one of them. Now if only a Leica M mount Nikon digital RF is also introduced. Time will tell. Until then I will hope.
All the other stuff not rangefinder at Photokina, well it just was not important in the larger view of things and not worth talking about .... how is that for a totally objective selective field of view ? Canon 5D update, bah humbug!
Stephen