New Konost Digital M mount Rangefinder Project

[squirrel$$$bandit]

Nice surprise...

 

[Huss]

"Well, we are happy to say that Konost is more than just alive. In fact, we’ve doubled the size of our team.

For the past year, we have been working hard each aspect of the camera. Behind the scenes, we’re spending our time on the full frame sensor calibration, the rangefinder and viewfinder interaction, the dial and button electronics, the body design, and the list goes on. The Konost FF will come.

It’s humbling for us to see so many of you rooting for us. To those who are waiting patiently, thank you.

Over the next several months, we’ll also be working on setting up a better method of communicating with you, our supporters. We plan to set up a mailing list that would provide updates to those most interested."

 

[traveler_101]

Jeepers, people!

It's an interesting project. The design is not particularly lovely but that is taste. It kind of reminds me of Sloth from Goonies. But another M rangefinder? Sure, bring it on. I love the R-D1. It's a wonderful way to photograph and it shouldn't have to cost $2000 or more dollars. I'll be watching this.

I'm with you - and I find the very polarised response to the camera somewhat surprising. I don't know if it could work, but the idea of effectively re-inventing the rangefinder in an electronic form seems very appealing. I do not know anything about the start-up world or "maker communities," but it would be really great in my mind to see something like this happen. And like someone else mentioned, I am a million miles away from Leica's current emphasis on luxury.

To the OP: thanks for posting.

 

[vladimir]

Great concept, what more do you want? As basic as film rangefinders are, but digital. Bring it on.

 

[jsrockit]

Someone dug this thread up just to answer the poll? 😉

 

[michaelwj]

Someone dug this thread up just to answer the poll? 😉

Now that it's up, where is it?
2 people are defiantly wrong, it ain't happening in 2015!

 

[Huss]

Great concept, what more do you want? As basic as film rangefinders are, but digital. Bring it on.

Isn't that the Leica MD?

 

[mpaniagua]

Isn't that the Leica MD?

I suppose their selling factor would be a lower selling price (although VC did the same thing with film cameras using M mount and seems they didnt do that well).

 

[krötenblender]

Isn't that the Leica MD?

Nope. The most important difference is, that the MD exists... 😉

The Konost never will... Even if it started as a serious attempt, it's dead now and also already way behind all possible competitors.

 

[jsrockit]

Confirmed dead or your speculation krötenblender?

 

[Archlich]

No one can confirm anything since it's been another 11 months without a single word. Quite an attitude of doing business for a "young tech startup".

It would be nice for them to at least keep the backers updated annually though.

 

[Bille]

FAQ: Is Konost alive? Answer: Yes.
http://konost.com/?p=7360

Problem: That message is over a year old now.

 

[DougFord]

Well, if you want to release the product, at some point you need to kill the engineers...or so they say.

 

[zuiko85]

So it joins 'e-film' then?

 

[sevo]

So it joins 'e-film' then?

Well, "more than doubled the size of our team" could be "my wife joined me, and she's pregnant" or "we now tinker on it two nights a week, and someone checks the mail every other day". Projects on that scale don't die, but they often never finish. If they really had paid staff, and that little publicity, they should be gone by now - they must have gone through their initial investment, and there is not enough happening to keep up a flow of fresh VC

 

[Bille]

I´ts just sad, why not plant a 12MP Full Frame sensor (a la Nikon D700) in a Bessa R2 body? Mr. K? Epson? Are you listening?

 

[krötenblender]

That would be nice, but something completely different than the idea of the Konost.
Also, when you can buy a used M9 in very good shape for less than 2k€, who would buy something else?
(My favourite dream would be the Epson RD-2 with a state of the art 35mm sensor)

 

[rbelyell]

me, i dont even really want 'state of the art'. imo, 90% of us, including me, dont need 36mp images. its a needless clutter and time consumer. i'd be happy with a new rd2 housing a non sony 16-20mp sensor, a little softer shutter sound and getting rid of that darned 'crank'! ):

 

[CameraQuest]

I think the Konost people should be appreciated for coming up with the concept and making an effort.

If the project comes to nothing, that should be no great surprise simply because its practically impossible to get a new camera manufacturer started without extremely deep pockets.

Perhaps they should go go Kickstarter?

 

[krötenblender]

me, i dont even really want 'state of the art'. imo, 90% of us, including me, dont need 36mp images. its a needless clutter and time consumer. i'd be happy with a new rd2 housing a non sony 16-20mp sensor, a little softer shutter sound and getting rid of that darned 'crank'! ):

I'm totally the opposite... Maybe, that is one reason, that this kind of project never will succeed: It's impossible to satisfy potential customers... :bang:

Megapixel count might not the ultimate thing, but it makes a camera easier to sell.. Also I'm really used to the potential to work with big files. Processing power and storage are more or less limitless for very small money. Even my main display today has 14MP (5k-iMac) und I really hate to upscale...

The retro-crank however... I would never buy anything, that says "Epson RD-*" on it and has no crank! I absolutely loved that! And the dials of course, and the tilting display, and... even the "clink" sound of the shutter. 🙂