ideal Bessa R4

[Andrew Sowerby]

What are you two talking about? There's absolutely nothing similar about these two cameras:

🙂 🙂

 

[VinceC]

I understand that Cosina is philosophically oppposed to creating its own digital body. But it's hard to imagine there's much market for too many more film-based rangefinder cameras. There are now so many good ones to choose from.

An ideal R4 would have a longer baseline and would combine a 1:1 finder for telephoto work ... with 50/75/90/105/135 tunneling framelines (like on a Nikon SP) and would, like the SP, also incorporate a minifinder for wide-angle lenses built into the camera housing. The minifinder would be based on the current excellent CV minifinder, with frames for 35mm and 28mm lenses. However, it would also have some kind of small switch that would slide an optical element to vary the magnification so that, when switched, the finder would show the 25mm and 21mm field of view. You would then have a camera capable of using 21mm to 135mm lenses without external finders. That's the only film-based RF I can envision gaining much traction in the marketplace.

 

[wlewisiii]

I like the idea of a CL sized Bessa. Give it a hybid shutter as Franks suggested with AE capability. 28/50/90 would be my prefered framelines, though the more likely set would be the cle style 28/40/90. A conventional swing back with DX reading would be nice as well - make DX a setting option on the ISO dial? Finally, having been spoiled rotten by my T-90, a spot meter mode would be lovely... 😀

Vinces's ideas are interesting too. R5 perhaps? 🙂

William

edit: fixed Vince's name. Ack!

 

[anselwannab]

I'd like to see a trigger winder that you could "charge" a spring so that you can "store" 4-5 frame advances and use it like a motor winder.

Spot metering would be nice, but is there an issue with knowing what is actually being spotted? How accurate would the something in the viewfinder be to where the spot is?

Longer EBL, definately.

How about autofocus? Just kidding.

 

[tomtodeath]

i really like the idea of a cl sized bessa, mechanical or hybrid, but having a 1:1 finder, that preferably i can use with glasses.

 

[Creagerj]

I say that a 35mm with an interchangabel back is a great idea. For those of us who can not afford the luxery of having a body for color and a body for b+w might find this inticing. With interchangable backs, a digital back could also be made available. Think about it. I wish more up to date digital system was available for my F3, as well as an interchangable back option. That would be amaizing! I could have the best of all the worlds. Color, B+W, and digital. There have been tons of situations where I found myself indoors unable to use a flash and thinking to myself "I wish this wasn't fp4". Also a hybrid shutter is a great idea. Carrying extra batteries is great, but electionics are unreliable in some conditions. Also, some people are just forgetfull, batteries are no good if you left them at home.

 

[wlewisiii]

I don't mind batteries - I just wish that the manufacturers would use AA batteries that are available everywhere like my T-90 takes. Especially now that there are lithium AAs out there.

William

 

[Creagerj]

my only gripe about AA would be the extra wieght and bulk.

 

[wlewisiii]

Oh, I don't know that it needs to be all that much extra. 20 years ago Canon managed to drive three motors (advance, rewind & shutter mechanism) several CPUs & the metering circuts with 4 AAs for 75 to 100 rolls on a set. With advances in power management and such I'd think that it would be very possible to drive an RF's meter and a hybrid shutter with a single AA for a suitable number of rolls.

William

 

[BrianPhotog]

wouldnt it be nice to have a DIGITAL BESSA ??

Why? If I wanted a digital RFF with the Cosina chassis I'd get an Epson RD-1s. Neither Epson or Cosina make the sensor for it, anyway. The price for a 'digital Bessa' would be the same.

 

[Creagerj]

with an interchangable back you could have both.

 

[Hiyawaan]

I'd like a 10 second timer for selfportraits.

 

[adep]

How about 21, 25, 28, 35, and 50 framelines??

Justin Low reposted a Stephen Gandy (who has seen the R4) post here:
http://www.justinlow.com/journal/bessa-r4a

 

[Stephanie Brim]

Framelines 25/35/50, Frank's idea of an FM3a like shutter, .60 magnification. M-mount. Bundle with a faster 25mm lens. 😉

Close...but not quite close enough. And I swear I had no clue just like anyone else. Heh.

Glad about this, though. Finally gives me a reason to stop getting GAS and start paying it off...I'll have to ask Stephen when he'll take preorders...and hurry up with that job thing.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Free would be ideal (any camera). 😀 Besides that, I think they did a good thing, providing both electronic-shutter and all-mechanical shutter models for the R4x.

 

[Stephanie Brim]

Also, guys, I'm guessing that the J-12 will have the same problem on this one as it does on the other ones. I love mine, but it looks like it may have to go for something else. I'd like something that I can use on both cameras for that focal length.

Bah. I love that lens...but I promised myself that I wouldn't start a collection of 35's. 🙂