New Fuji / Voigtlander folder on Voigtlander's German website

[iamzip]

My apologies if this has been posted before, but I didn't see it anywhere here...
On the home page of Voigtlander's German website, there is a feature on the new Voightlander Bessa III folder, click on it for some specs (no price yet) and click on the small pictures for some very nice, very large high resolution shots of the camera.

http://www.voigtlaender.de

If you're typing it, be sure to include that 'e' after the 'a' in Voigtlaender.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Cool. Although...the rangefinder base, from what I see on the photos they provide, is remarkably short, given that it's medium format rather than 35mm. I predict a lot of "is my new Voigtlaender back/front-focusing?" questions in the future...

 

[iamzip]

Okay, so I'm a relative newcomer to RFs, so I don't quite understand the terminology... Are you saying that the RF windows look like they are too close together?

What struck me was the rather plain and industrial looking struts of the folding mechanism... I guess I'm just used to the nice pretty chrome bits on the older folders.

 

[hiromu]

It looks very good. I wonder what sort of price tag it's going to carry...

Hiromu

 

[steverett]

English Version:

http://www.voigtlaender.de/cms/voigtlaender/voigtlaender_cms.nsf/id/pa_home_e.html

 

[nanthor]

2 things concern me. The little dial for changing formats is directly under the center of the film path, so it must be well recessed and also looks to need a tool to change it. I don't like putting my fingers and other things in the area where the film goes, too much chance of dust, damage, oils, etc. affecting the film. and... although it may just be me, or my monitor, it appears that the lens standard is not perfectly parallel to the back of the camera, therefore the film plane. This was always a concern of the older Bessa cameras due to their floating lens holding mechanism, I wonder if it will be a future concern?

 

[sevo]

Cool. Although...the rangefinder base, from what I see on the photos they provide, is remarkably short, given that it's medium format rather than 35mm.

Medium format is irrelevant. Given a normal lens with moderate aperture, that base width should be adequate - there are plenty of accurately focusuing folders that did with the same or less. And it would cover a wide angle even better.

If they should ever intend to release a tele version, they won't be able to share the top, though - but then, that would be a bizarre beast in any case, the only MF fixed lens tele rangefinder ever, so we need not hold our breath for that...

Sevo

 

[iamzip]

2 things concern me. The little dial for changing formats is directly under the center of the film path, so it must be well recessed and also looks to need a tool to change it. I don't like putting my fingers and other things in the area where the film goes, too much chance of dust, damage, oils, etc. affecting the film. and... although it may just be me, or my monitor, it appears that the lens standard is not perfectly parallel to the back of the camera, therefore the film plane. This was always a concern of the older Bessa cameras due to their floating lens holding mechanism, I wonder if it will be a future concern?

It would be very hard to determine if it were not perfectly parallel just from looking at it on your monitor, even given the size of the pictures. I can say that, looking at it, the edge furthest from the door tapers a little, making it look as though the whole thing may be leaning back... Could that be what you're noticing?

 

[monochromejrnl]

Cool. Although...the rangefinder base, from what I see on the photos they provide, is remarkably short, given that it's medium format rather than 35mm. I predict a lot of "is my new Voigtlaender back/front-focusing?" questions in the future...

isn't the plan to have a fairly slow (f4) and relatively wide (60/75mm) lens on this camera? would that make a relatively short RF baseline length sufficient given the lens parameters?

i owned and used a Super Ikonta B with a 80/2.8 Tessar without much focusing difficulty so i've gotta believe that VC will ensure that the RF baseline is more than adequate...

 

[iamzip]

isn't the plan to have a fairly slow (f4) and relatively wide (60/75mm) lens on this camera? would that make a relatively short RF baseline length sufficient given the lens parameters?

i owned and used a Super Ikonta B with a 80/2.8 Tessar without much focusing difficulty so i've gotta believe that VC will ensure that the RF baseline is more than adequate...

Take a look at the pictures...

80mm f3.5

 

[HarryW]

Very interesting photographs but would love to be able to hold the camera to try and get a feel for the quality of construction.
Does anyone know:
The construction - is it all metal?
What is the slot on the base of the camera between the tripod and battery cover - could it be for an SD card 😛

Harry

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Medium format is irrelevant.

A lot of people use Medium Format film, specially by those who refuse to get sucked into the "Digital Age". I don't think it's irrelevant.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

isn't the plan to have a fairly slow (f4) and relatively wide (60/75mm) lens on this camera?

It has an 80mm f/3.5 lens. I think that's not fairly slow for a Medium Format camera, compared to a 50mm f/2 in 35mm format.

 

[iamzip]

A lot of people use Medium Format film, specially by those who refuse to get sucked into the "Digital Age". I don't think it's irrelevant.

I think what they meant was, "it doesn't matter that it's medium format" (regarding the rangefinder).

 

[aizan]

i hope they announce it before christmas. what's taking them so long?

 

[Avotius]

it does mater indeed that it is a medium format rangefinder, anyone who has used a mamiya 6 and tried to focus on things with the 75mm lens wide open at 3.5 will tell you that.

 

[Ernst Dinkla]

Some data borrowed from similar threads

Some data borrowed from similar threads

The specs + some (German site) picture measurements by me (ED), give or take 1 mm.

Technical specifications.

Folding camera with coupled rangefinder
Film choice 120/220 film
6x7 cm (56x68 mm ED)(120-10 exp. / 220-20 exp.)
6x6 cm (56x56 mm ED)(120-12 exp. / 220-24 exp.)
Switch for frame sizes inside the body (ED)
80 mm/f3.5 (4 groups 6 elements)
7 rounded aperture blades (ED)
Bright frame-type viewfinder.
Physical rangefinder base 37 mm (ED)
Automatic parallax compensation
Integral LED exposure metering indications
Electronically controlled lens shutter. 4-1/500 sec, B
Exposure control: SPD Sensor
Center-weighted averaging system
Aperture priority AE and manual switchover
Exposure compensation approx 2EV in 1/3EV steps
Film speed: Manual setting, ISO25-3200 (1/3EV step accuracy)
Manual film wind by winding knob
Mechanical-type counter
120/220 (changeable)
6x7/6x6 (changeable)
CR2 (3v) lithium battery
Outer dimensions: 176x111x63 mm folded (ED)


Ernst Dinkla

 

[gohaj]

i am really keen to get one!
it really depend on the price tag!

 

[CK Dexter Haven]

A lot of people use Medium Format film, specially by those who refuse to get sucked into the "Digital Age". I don't think it's irrelevant.

I don't think it's quite "irrelevant" either. I want one. But, it's either naive or insincere to suggest that it's a fight against being "sucked into the 'Digital Age.'" That's sorta like rallying against computers. Or, fire, for that matter. Digital is here. It's not a trend or 'movement.' There's nothing to get "sucked" into.

Hard to believe you're the 'survivalist' living in a cabin in the woods, resisting the cheap, easy allure of ELECTRICITY. How, exactly, are you not already "sucked" when you're posting on a web forum via computer?

 

[rogue_designer]

The "medium format is irrelevant" statement - was a clumsy way of saying, "the format doesn't matter to the required rangefinder base-length - the focal length of the lens is the important factor. 85mm is 85mm regardless of whether it is used on 35mm or 120."

For what its worth - this is a gorgeous camera. If the build quality is even half what the old bessas were, it will be worth it to me to have.