Digital Yashica

I'm guessing it'll be a cheap digital styled to look a bit like an old Yashica, with the Yashica name on. Highly doubt anything about it will feel like a Yashica. If the name's been bought by a company that needs to rely on Kickstarter, then the name's worthless.
 
Arbitrarium said:
If the name's been bought by a company that needs to rely on Kickstarter, then the name's worthless.
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A Kickstarter project will usually be marketed to enthusiasts over technical features - which could not be all that bad. Mind, it can hardly be high tech (Kickstarter does not provide the up-front investments needed for anything that requires serious R&D at camera complexity levels), but something built by a Chinese OEM out of readily available parts. Still, it could be a lot worse - there are far more Hong Kong companies that simply re-badge cheap Chinese equipment than ones that do the degree of individual design associated with Kickstarter.
 
Arbitrarium said:
I'm guessing it'll be a cheap digital styled to look a bit like an old Yashica, with the Yashica name on. Highly doubt anything about it will feel like a Yashica. If the name's been bought by a company that needs to rely on Kickstarter, then the name's worthless.
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Yashica had always been changing, from TLR to 35RF to P&S. Even the Contax G had Yashica behind it. I can't name a single product that represents the FEEL of Yashica. The company has purchased other companies, and had been purchased by other companies, but they had been making solid cameras, at least film cameras.

Some of the best products are brought into existence by the help of Kickstarter/crowdfunding, especially niche and nerdy stuff. I personally think it is the best way to bring a non-mainstream product to people who are interested in it. I've backed various projects and 9.9/10 did not let me down. I will just hope it's not the 1% this time.
 
Kickstarter is a great approach for a company that wants to sell direct (higher profit margin) to a niche aspect of an established market. Smaller companies exist only on Kickstarter for new products. I think it's a GREAT idea to insure you can afford final engineering, production, and a bit of coin for your pocket.

Not sure who owns the Yashica name these days but that doesn't mean it would be a great camera, nor that it will be.

B2 (;->
 
nukecoke said:
...Some of the best products are brought into existence by the help of Kickstarter/crowdfunding. I've backed various projects and 9.9/10 did not let me down. I will just hope it's not the 0.1% this time.
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We just got a car top tent via Kickstarter from a company that has used Kickstarter for other products. Even with the usual issues of starting up 10X production than expected it's going well. The product is EXCELLENT and frankly Kickstarter is allowing the maker movement to take the next step.

B2 (;->
 
Expectation is the Mother of Disappointment. :eek:
That said, I think the kickstarter is a good sign.
It may show there is some actual development to be done which could indicate an actual new product rather than a re-badged "gadget".
 
I just ordered one off Ebay.

The "Yashica" ones seem to have gone, but there are a few identical versions.

a TAKASHI FX521 is on its way to me from somewhere undisclosed, I'll be interested to have a play with it.
 
^ Well let's hope it's a little quicker than the film Ferrania 120 format film that I sent $ to a fair number of years ago now . But I'm patient , otherwise why would I be using film ?
Peter
 
This is maybe mentioned already.
No one old or film photography buff (or is same person?) knows what is a “Yashica”. So name is mostly meaningless to 99.999% of people.
So, why market under this name?
Faux film cachè?
Attract Japanese market?
Hipster film appeal? (If there is any left)
Who buys no-name digital camera? No one. Maybe grandma and she doesn’t shop on Kickstarter.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
there is a pretty big market in Japan for retro cameras.

Fuji invested a lot of R&D in the X100.It's always possible that a cheaper ripoff, using existing mainstream sensors, without the optical viewfinder, made in China will find a fanbase on looks alone. It was William Morris who suggested, it's always possible to make a poorer, cheaper product - and find a market for it.
 
maigo said:
This is maybe mentioned already.
No one old or film photography buff (or is same person?) knows what is a “Yashica”. So name is mostly meaningless to 99.999% of people.
So, why market under this name?
Faux film cachè?
Attract Japanese market?
Hipster film appeal? (If there is any left)
Who buys no-name digital camera? No one. Maybe grandma and she doesn’t shop on Kickstarter.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Actually, most 'recent' Contax users are aware Yashica was behind that brand and its quality. There is an undisputed cult following, including here on RFF, for Yashica fixed lens RF.

I myself own several older and newer Yashica SLR cameras. They aren't my first grab, but they have their place.
 
Cool concept, but why not use a reconditioned Vintage Yashica Electro camera and real film and experience genuine and honest old timey inconvenience .
 
1.4 megapixels! Is it, like, Snapchat Spectacles in camera form?

I actually like the concept a lot—it’s kind of the Fisher-Priceization of film photography. But even the kids would like higher resolution photos, right?
 
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