Bessa A Series discontinued

[jonmanjiro]

Not sure if this has been posted elsewhere yet, but I just spotted the following announcement on Cosina's Japanese language website here. I guess this means the Leica M7 is the last AE film rangefinder still standing (though I doubt Leica is making many of them these days anyway). If you're thinking of buying a new A series Bessa, grab one while you can!

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2013.06.10
【生産終了案内】BESSA Aシリーズが生産終了しました

10th June, 2013
[Notice of discontinuation] The Bessa A series has been discontinued.

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[Keith]

That's interesting ... kind of makes you wonder what the future of the M models is?

This must be connected with the demise of the Zeiss Ikon I suspect as the shutter mechanisms would have been very similar.

Sad news IMO and I sense that Cosina may be heading towards being solely a lens manufacturer.

 

[alienmeatsack]

As the owner of an R4A, this makes me sad. I've wanted to pick up an M as well just to have an extra piece of gear with no need for batteries on hand, but now it makes me want to try and score a R2A or R3A series body too.

 

[Archlich]

The "rangefinder renaissance" started in the 90s is coming to a conclusion.

 

[Contarama]

Unless they are fixing to make a FF digital mirrorless RF that will mount all those fantastic lenses...Bessa DRF-1

 

[CameraQuest]

for those who did not notice,
the 2M, 3M, 4M series Voigtlander Bessa cameras were lowered $100 in price to help keep them in production

A series cameras are strictly stock on hand,
-- the factory has none left --

Stephen

 

[segedi]

Well I was considering selling my R3A and R4A.... but now...

 

[lonemantis]

That's a real shame, given their position as the most affordable AE M-mount camera. (I don't tend to count the CLE due to limited framelines and repair issues)

I'd be really interested to see some sales data on the Bessa A series vs the M series. Given many RF shooters' preference for cameras that work without batteries, perhaps the M series sold a lot better?

 

[segedi]

perhaps the M series sold a lot better?

You might be right. My preference has been AE for cameras. I sold an MP and kept the M7 which some might find crazy, but I find I work quicker with AE on the street. Maybe just lazy. But I find the AE pretty spot on and know enough to adjust or lock to get a better exposure if needed.

I think I'm the oddball though. The M versions seem to have held a price premium over the A and the M's don't show up for sale too often.

 

[Keith]

It amazes me to think that the M7 is now the only AE film RF you can buy because they cost an arm and a leg and I'd bet there's not many going out the door at Solms these days. How long Cosina keeps making the M model is anybody's guess but it obviously won't be forever!

This is a sign of the times. I think back to how hard core this place was about rangefinders when I joined in 2006 and how it is now. There is still a healthy core of film rangefinder users here but they are certainly now being buried in the digital alternatives ... particularly mirrorless.

 

[Contarama]

It is kind of scary to think about what it will be like in another 8 years.

 

[Keith]

It is kind of scary to think about what it will be like in another 8 years.

I hate to sound like a doomsayer regarding the future of film but with reasonably priced new film cameras slowly disappearing from the market ...

Luckily I guess we're currently knee deep in used ones that still work! 😛

 

[lonemantis]

Luckily I guess we're currently knee deep in used ones that still work! 😛

I think this really sums it up. Shooting film these days is all about used cameras, and almost any kind of camera you could want is available used for relatively reasonable prices.

The only reason to buy new seems to be either that you have cash to burn and want to support the makers of film cameras like Cosina or Leica, or that you're really averse to shooting something that once belonged to someone else. In which case, enjoy your new a la carte M! 😛

 

[jonmanjiro]

Did anyone notice that the Fujifilm Klasse S and W models also seem to be discontinued (disappeared might be a better word)?

Fujifilm still lists them as current models on their website here. But of the two big camera stores in Tokyo, Map Camera only lists the Klasse W, and Fujiya Camera doesn't list either.

 

[Keith]

Did anyone notice that the Fujifilm Klasse S and W models also seem to be discontinued (disappeared might be a better word)?

Fujifilm still lists them as current models on their website here. But of the two big camera stores in Tokyo, Map Camera only lists the Klasse W, and Fujiya Camera doesn't list either.

Out of curiosity Jon is the F6 still available from Nikon?

 

[jonmanjiro]

Out of curiosity Jon is the F6 still available from Nikon?

It is Keith, but production was down to 50 cameras a month in February 2012 so I doubt they're selling many. Especially when used F6s are now selling for almost peanuts. See here.

 

[Contarama]

Out of curiosity Jon is the F6 still available from Nikon?

How about the F100 or FM10 available new at least a few years ago?

Does Canon still make the EOS 1V?

SLRs I know but...

 

[Archlich]

A 42.5/0.95 for M43 was also announced silently...

Cosina needs more publicity isn't it?

 

[aizan]

it's inevitable now that we have cameras like the fuji x100s.

more and more, it's medium and large formats that people still want to shoot with film. who wants a new voigtlander brilliant?

 

[Keith]

it's inevitable now that we have cameras like the fuji x100s.

more and more, it's medium and large formats that people still want to shoot with film. who wants a new voigtlander brilliant?

Me ... the film advance knob is broken on mine! 😛