New Fuji / Voigtlander 667 Folder Update

[Athos6]

ah, much better:

Sweet, email sent, this is too neat 🙂

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

As this is a 'demo camera' (I understand) not a prototype I guess the design is fixed and production-ready.

The strap lugs look on the wrong side of the camera to me. I'm sure there's a good design decision, but I can't think of what it may be.

The '667' marking which some people here dislike seems to be missing in this photo of the product.

 

[Soeren]

As this is a 'demo camera' (I understand) not a prototype I guess the design is fixed and production-ready.

The strap lugs look on the wrong side of the camera to me. I'm sure there's a good design decision, but I can't think of what it may be.

The '667' marking which some people here dislike seems to be missing in this photo of the product.

Photoshop? 😉

 

[David Goldfarb]

Well, there are other possibilities.

 

[Solinar]

David - even with the red dot, this will be the first camera that I will have bought new in the past twenty years.

 

[ZeissFan]

It certainly could have a TTL meter even with a leaf shutter. In that case it would have two meters -- one operating traditionally, i.e., not TTL, and the second using cells mounted inside, a la the OM-2/3/4. The former would be used for metering in manual mode, the latter for auto.

While they could do this, I don't see it happening, because it adds unnecessary complexity to production and extra cost.

The problem with putting a meter into the body is that you have bellows that must collapse, something that is not a concern with a 35mm camera.

If you look at a traditional folding camera, the bellow take up all nearly all of the z-axis space. You could always move the bellows forward, which would make for a thicker body.

You could mount the SPD on the rear housing of the shutter, but then you'll have cabling to consider: How does the meter cell transmit its information to the shutter? You can use a ribbon cable, but that could be a source of problem later down the road as the cumulative effect of opening and closing the camera could cause weakness in a part or parts of the tiny wire within the cable.

You could transmit that information wirelessly, but now you're talking some real complexity in creating a miniature tranmitter and receiver.

And with the coverage area of 6x6 and 6x7, do you need one cell, two cells? More? And where do you point the cell or cells? Center of the image? Or do you use two or more cells and average the input?

All in all, while not impossible -- I just don't a manufacturer going this route for what will be a limited production camera.

I'd rather see the money put into a solid rangefinder and quality construction. Body mounted meters have served photographers well for decades. TTL would be nice, but for me it wouldn't be a deal-breaker.

 

[Athos6]

Thus the wondrous invention of credit! 🙂

 

[Rayt]

Thus the wondrous invention of credit! 🙂

The problem with us Yanks is that people use too much of it 🙁

 

[Tuolumne]

Thus the wondrous invention of credit! 🙂

...Of which there is less and less. 😡

/T

 

[kuzano]

Viagra does the same thing....

Viagra does the same thing....

It would be hard to gauge a price and obviously Stephen needs to get a handle on the expressions of interest in this thread to be able to calculate how many of these to put his name down for when they become available for export.

He's probably well aware also that the rush of blood that makes you stick your hand up and shout "I'll have one!" can fade back to other parts of the body where it's needed when you suddenly realise you have to actually find the money! 😛

Redirects the blood elsewhere than from your arm. Therefore, if you are a regular Viagra/Cialis user, reconsider before raising your arm for this new folder. You may have other needs that are more important.

 

[dazedgonebye]

Redirects the blood elsewhere than from your arm. Therefore, if you are a regular Viagra/Cialis user, reconsider before raising your arm for this new folder. You may have other needs that are more important.

If I feel my arm staying up for more tha 4 hours, should I seek medical attention?

 

[RicardoD]

I emailed Stephen, but I have a feeling it may end up too much for me. Aperture priority on a Bessa folder its too much to resist.

 

[jwhitley]

I must admit that I had already emailed Stephen a day or so before this thread started, while Photokina was in full-swing, on the assumption that a waiting list would be soon to follow. Now _that's_ GAS, baby! 😱

 

[Harry S.]

Well, I just hopped on the bandwagon. 😱

 

[Matus]

So I joined the list too. I would love to hear an estimation about the possible delivery times. To look forward to a nice Christmas present would probably be too optimistic,

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

This is the most excitement and pre-buying behavior on RFF since the M8.

 

[steamer]

This is the most excitement and pre-buying behavior on RFF since the M8.

One small difference: Nobody has declared this one to be the greatest camera ever created, sight unseen.

 

[dazedgonebye]

One small difference: Nobody has declared this one to be the greatest camera ever created, sight unseen.

This IS going to be the greatest camera ever seen! The lens will redefine sharpness and character. The "sensor" will out-resolve every smaller sensor on the market.
No word yet on the need for specialty filters though.

😀

 

[Matus]

I just checked the german website of the Voigtlaender (www.voigtlaender.de) and the camera under the name "Bessa III" is officially annouced and should become available beginning next year. The film transport really seems to be done via a "knob" better than a lever. Well - let's see.

But still - the specs are not complete yet - they publish this to warm us up I guess 😉

 

[sepiareverb]

Well if it will go 6x6 I may bite. If only there was a WA version with a 50 or 55 lens...