Anyone else think this would be cool?

[ssmc]

For various reasons I totally love the Bessa IIIW / GF670W (can't afford one right now though). And I like the idea of being able to switch from 6x6 to 6x7, even though I am not personally a "square" shooter.

But last night I had an idea... imagine if you could also switch to 645 (portrait orientation, and bringing up an appropriate set of framelines). With the 55mm lens this would be almost exactly equivalent in FOV (along the widest side of the frame) to 35mm in 135-format (and about 32mm across the frame). This would also allow saving film in certain situations where changing rolls might be iffy.

With a 645->670 body you could really just about have your cake and eat it too, IMHO.

What would be really cool would be an interlocked winder so you could switch formats mid-roll. Say you took a 645 shot and decided you wanted to go to 6x7 next. You set the format switch (before winding) and that changes how far the winder goes, and after you wind the film on it stays set that way until the shutter is tripped. Then, you can change the format dial again, and so on. I know this would complicate things internally somewhat but I also think it would make for a more versatile camera.

I can dream, I guess!

Regards,
Scott

 

[nikon_sam]

It could be done...you have a shutter/format button...the first time you trip it you take the picture only...trip it a second time to advance to the next frame (same format) or before tripping it the second time you can change the format then advance...
You'd have to have a motorized film advance to do this and format curtains in the body for format masking...now your lens would have to be designed for your widest format so the focal length might vary due to format size...I think it would be doable and the rangefinder style would probably be the easiest way to go...

 

[canetsbe]

It would be totally cool. And also cool on the standard GF. The one thing I do wish it could do is switch formats on the fly but *sigh* we can't have it all.