I don't know about that...Fujifilm sold medium format rangefinders in the 90s. Also Mamiya.
thegman
Veteran
Sure, in the 90s, but in the early to mid nineties, film had never been more popular in it's history. I'm just saying that a few years ago (meaning 3 or 4), not many of us would have expected a brand new folder film camera.
Mamiya as I understand it still makes the 7II, but that was released in 1999, when film was still a pretty big deal, I can't imagine that they would have released it around the time the GF670 or GF670w came out.
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
Not gloomy ... well not intending to be!
Define a monopoly in a market where you have one competitor?
NicoM
Well-known
Sad news, indeed. I actually just bought an R2A from another member here at RFF. Still excited!
rluka
Established
Surprised. Like the end day, it will happen, but nobody thought it would be literally tomorrow.
But like the Leica in second hand market. At least there seems to be enough peoples buying their new digital rangefinders.
But like the Leica in second hand market. At least there seems to be enough peoples buying their new digital rangefinders.
Suddenly image of post-apocalyptic world with scavenging communities compete fiercely for whatever resource is left from the old civilization
There's a comment in older topic about how their boss is not so warm towards digital camera, let alone making one.
sad news,
but as I understand it
Cosina is still manufacturing more serious film cameras
(five - 3x Besss M and 2x 667)
than any other Japanese camera manufacturer.
-- correct if I am wrong on that --
Stephen
but as I understand it
Cosina is still manufacturing more serious film cameras
(five - 3x Besss M and 2x 667)
than any other Japanese camera manufacturer.
-- correct if I am wrong on that --
Stephen
thegman
Veteran
You'll get no complaints from me, for me, Cosina is the number one film camera company right now. They make some unique and fantastic stuff, and the pricing is more than reasonable.
Spicy
Well-known
the world would benefit from more (effort/products) from Cosina and Fujifilm, as far as I'm concerned
tempest68
Established
Stephen,
If you would be willing to share the information, what has been your ratio of M vs A sales? Was it your experience that the Ms dominated vs As or were sales closer to a 50/50 or 60/40 split?
Jim
sienarot
Well-known
Oh wow, that sucks. The R4A was on my to-buy list for a while.
dreamsandart
Well-known
Rangefinders were dead in the water with the 'SLR revolution' of the late 60s/70s, so I guess this is the 'second going'?
Imagine the Bessa M will be around for awhile, and in the end probably the Leica MP will be the last standing. A bright point is that there will always be loads of used film cameras waiting for some film and a release of the shutter.
thirtyfivefifty
Noctilust survivor
I never thought that the M7 would be left standing. It seems like yesterday that I was reading an article comparing AE RF's (R3A, ZI, M7). I remember having my heart set on a ZI, but backed out last minute for a DSLR, then the local store stopped carrying the Zeiss line, eventually the bodies were discontinued, and now the CV A's are discontinued. It's definitely a surreal feeling. I'm hoping the M7 carries on for a long, long while.
AJShepherd
Well-known
It's a shame, my Bessa R3A was really where I got into rangefinders.
But it would be cool if they produced something like a modern version of the old Epson RD1 (which was basically a Bessa body, I think) with a decent sensor at a reasonable price.
But it would be cool if they produced something like a modern version of the old Epson RD1 (which was basically a Bessa body, I think) with a decent sensor at a reasonable price.
Markus
Established
This is really sad news. The end of the Zeiss Ikon was sad, it was a good camera and now the Bessa-Line is next. But for me they all had one major problem: small format. I mean it is ok, but if I have the chance to get a MF-camera I would go for it because it has at least 4.x more image size at perhaps the same price.
Still hoping to see a new model like the ZI
Still hoping to see a new model like the ZI
erikhaugsby
killer of threads
cosmonaut
Well-known
What about the Zeiss Ikon? It has AE, correct?
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
Also dead in the water though ... for a while now!
That was a real loss IMO because although it's very similar in many respects to its cheaper siblings (Bessa) the very long RF base length made it a gem for focusing fast lenses.
Haigh
Gary Haigh
Thanks for that post jonmanjiro. I managed to quickly pickup a demo R4A yesterday. Since I already have one I now have a backup.
Archiver
Veteran
I saw that the R4A was discontinued, but I didn't realize that all the A cameras were discontinued. Looks like picking up a R4A ought to happen sooner than later.
The combination of 21, 35 and 50 is my favourite travel combo. Nice and wide for landscapes and interiors, a fast 35 for night time walkabout, and a 50 for environmental portraits.
Sooner or later, Sony or someone will make a full frame mirrorless camera that is compact, works well with RF lenses, and doesn't cost the earth. At least, that's what I hope. And I hope that Cosina keeps making RF bodies for as long as it is profitable for them.