Amazing! This guy turned a Konica S3 into a digital rangefinder.

Corran said:
Nice.
Now use the guts from an A7 and I'll be interested...
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There's a reason he used a cheap camera... because this was an experiment. A well thought out, well executed experiment. And just as the comment above mentioned, I'd challenge you to do the same.

Many kudos Ollie. Don't we live in a wonderful time when 3D printing and cheap quality cameras are available to do this kind of thing? We're in the golden age of hacking. For makers and DIY'ers... the world is your oyster.
 
Very interesting and much less "franken..." than most of these do-it-yourself hybrids. It has always made sense that this was possible, albeit not always practical so always a specialized project. It's easy to "sync" a mechanical body with the x-sync contact, and keeping the "donor" senor on "bulb" is an important step forward. There might be a cottage industry using 3D printers to create digital backs for select classic cameras -- I would pay good money to be able to use a digital Nikon SP/S3. I think one of the more difficult aspects of this project is developing the production plans for the 3D printing. However, that's something that would be done only once for each model, and some tolerances could be refined.
Congratulations to Oliver, with additional congratulations for Raid for extending the RangefinderForum's long established courtesy by inviting him to join us.
 
To me, this is a great project!!! Well done.

It also restates the need for a digital capturing medium.
I think that it is not impossible to make an device which will replace film on demand.
Something like a digital back, but a digital film, which will fit to each film camera.

It will provide capturing and storing of pictures and different asa/iso sensitivity, as film does.

And this device will stop this camera "war", and instead of thronging off a camera when digital technology is outdated we can just replace the digital film with a more evolved version.

I think that there are market opportunities for a project like this.
What do you think? Have you ever seen a device like this?
I am sure that I am not the only one that have thought about it...
 
I simply do not get the point of the whole thing.
A simple Point and Shoot digital camera can cost very little.
My daily used Canon 1200 was a whole $80 with taxes, extended guarantee.
I have wide, 28mm to almost 400mm zoom.
In a package that fits with pouch, a shirt pocket.
A Sony digital camera is messed up, a Konica film camera, a ruin.
Sorry, a waste of time, effort and money.
 
What's you think, if this S3 has no screen and use the foveon x3 sensor and 16Gb. internal memory for RAW data storage and wifi for data transfer. This come out the true rangefinder, shutter priority in the habituate way. Just shoot photos and come home to Post-process, no more film no more darkroom but still speculate the result of the picture.
 
semilog said:
Tell you what. If you want to cop that kind of attitude, show us your own elegant hack. Walk the talk.
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jkrumsick said:
There's a reason he used a cheap camera... because this was an experiment. A well thought out, well executed experiment. And just as the comment above mentioned, I'd challenge you to do the same.
Click to expand...

I'll be interested in buying a product if/when it's an A7 (or whatever is available with a FF sensor). That was the subtext. I know it's not a product, just making a comment. In many things, there are DIY-ers, and there are consumers. I don't have the time, patience, or interest in doing anything like this.

As it stands, I already "hacked" a digital Nikon RF. It's a Leica M9 with an Amadeo adapter. I still wish I could use a Nikon SP body, though.
 
I don't see the guy selling it anywhere on his page, so perhaps it's premature to act as a dissatisfied customer.
 
I don't get how people compare this to a point and shoot camera? This hack is way closer to a Leica M than it is a point and shoot. It's an actual working rangefinder camera, apart from the Photokina announcements, this hack is the latest addition to the world of digital rangefinders.

The idea itself may not be so new, but the fact that it is so well hacked together is awesome. I think it is really cool!
 
What's important is, this is what is sometimes called a "proof-of-concept demonstration." If it can be done with this film camera, the principle applies across camera types. There have been several kludges and garage-tinker attempts, but this is the first time I have seen someone apply a practical engineering problem-solving approach coupled with the innovation of 3D printing for the missing parts. In retrospect, 3D printing is so obvious, but it took a smart teenager to make the connection whilst those of us in another generation were bending metal.
 
And a recall, for those who didn't see the start of this thread, this was a student project, justified on those grounds anyway irrespective of opinions about it from the camera point of view 😉.
 
Once again...hat off, he's one smart guy who did amazing job. Just like those who swap current TDI and GTI engines into early Rabbits. You know, they look pretty, rev accordingly but rarely are daily users. Not bashing anyone, just lets call things what they are. There are show off gizmos and there are daily users. Gizmos drive scene, attract crowd and add spark to daily routines. Daily users are who do business to pay bills and earn bread.

That said S3D and similar prototypes could influence manufacturing making certain reminiscent models or features but alas, business isn't going to drop their income from making new cameras. To make this for small number of passionate film users doesn't look to be cost effective.

While people can buy two gen old digital gems for a fraction of initial price (like DP, for example) easily satisfying needs of digital capture - now tell me the future of conversion projects except being personal fun stuff?

You tell me focus ring and RF patch is a big deal in digital camera? Nope, this is sentimental touch from days of film rangefinders. Digital cameras already have their own ways for manual focus. Knobs to set exposure? Anyone daily using his digital camera can set it as fast or faster using native means - dials on DSLR or buttons on compacts. We can put a horn on Prius but it's not becoming steam driven vehicle. If i want to drive steam vehicle I drive it out of garage instead of modding Prius.
 
Hey guys,

Firstly I am thinking of doing a second Auto S3 version with no screen, just an ISO dial, in case you're interested.

I came here to use your experience, I was thinking of starting another camera, originally the Zorki 4 but I decided against it because the viewfinders pretty bad. Since this has proved so popular I thought i might try and get some crowd funding and do a reversible conversion on a more expensive camera like the Leica M3(/6) or my new favourite, the Zeiss Ikon, or maybe a Bessa R. Any thoughts? the advantage of the Zeiss over the Leica is the open back and maybe the viewfinder?

Thanks,
Ollie
 
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