New Konost Digital M mount Rangefinder Project

[jl-lb.ms]

At $3k or less, I'm so in!

 

[rluka]

Or at least the APS-C version under $1.5k.
Not the kind to do up-close-and-personal photo, so the crop won't bother me too much.

I note that Konost has a facebook page and has had for at least four months that I can make out ... it has less than 500 'likes' which tells me a lot about who does and doesn't want a camera like this. I'm not trying to rain on the parade here but a reality check tells me that success is unlikely in the current market.

They're just doing bad job in promoting themselves.
Just found out about them yesterday from TOP.
Seems like Bellamy picked up the story too, and now Petapixel also have them, so it will reach the more mainstream crowds.

Although with the usual trend curve, it will be like Ferrania story. Calms down after a few weeks.

 

[noimmunity]

I'm hoping that it comes to market.
The idea has been discussed here for aeons.

Am I the only one who would miss being able to see outside the frame? (Or was it rather me who missed something?) That framing plus the coincident image is together what makes the RF/VF so cool.

 

[Ronald_H]

So much hate... *shakes head*

My reaction on this news can be summarized as follows:

 

[Vobluda]

Wow, you have an MA?

Not in the market for a digital right now. Maybe in about 15 years when I have the MA broken in.

But it will certainly be fun to watch.

 

[mani]

Why don't they Kickstarter this? Seems like a good candidate for crowd-funding?

Incidentally, pretty funny all the grumpy posts in the thread - no-one is being forced to buy a camera from these guys, whether they make it to market or not.

 

[Ronald_H]

Why don't they Kickstarter this? Seems like a good candidate for crowd-funding?

Incidentally, pretty funny all the grumpy posts in the thread - no-one is being forced to buy a camera from these guys, whether they make it to market or not.

Amen brother. It's not even on the market and people already complain. I think that these guys deep down can't accept that anyone will be challenging Leica at their own game. Will Konost succeed? Hopefully so.

And indeed I would Kickstart the hell out of this! Money and mouth etc.

 

[Keith]

I don't see the 'grumpy' replies in this thread ... a bit of cynicism maybe?

Personally I hope it succeeds and starts to cut into Leica sales because being the only player in the field has given them a license to charge pretty much what they want over the last few years. As much as I like my 240 it's not an eight thousand dollar camera ... it should be half that price IMO.

 

[robert blu]

An interesting idea for sure, now the technical aspect and later the promotion will be important to get the desired and necessary success in the market.
robert
pS: I still think many years ago one of the reason Epson didn't get more success with the RD1 was the almost non existent promotion...

 

[Danlo]

Great idea! Just think that a few photoenthusiast/engineers from RFF could have given it a better start.. A better thought out design and asthetics to begin with.. understanding of how a camera works would surely give this concept a boost to. I find it strange though that thos has not appeared before now.. A simple camera with a simple design, photography back to basics.. Surely it would appeal to a very large market, but as someone mentioned earlier, the problem is the cost of production.. Would it not be better to work on the "digital film" or "e-film" or what it was called and make a digital film that would work with any analog camera out there? Surely (my favorite word) the technology must be mature by now??

 

[Sparrow]

... perhaps Cosina will notice it and get involved, after all they had the experience of building the first digital rangefinder and the precision engineering in decent volume

 

[Keith]

... perhaps Cosina will notice it and get involved, after all they had the experience of building the first digital rangefinder and the precision engineering in decent volume

That's actually a pretty good idea IMO Stewart. They got involved with Epson so why not .... I'm sure they wouldn't mind having another digital RF platform out there for their M mount lenses.

 

[Sparrow]

That's actually a pretty good idea IMO Stewart. They got involved with Epson so why not .... I'm sure they wouldn't mind having another digital RF platform out there for their M mount lenses.

... yes I thought so 😉 ... maybe someone on the board has contact with Cosina? ... or commercial links with them that would benefit from a new M digital to insure his business's future sales?

 

[dct]

I'm hoping that it comes to market.
The idea has been discussed here for aeons.

Am I the only one who would miss being able to see outside the frame? (Or was it rather me who missed something?) That framing plus the coincident image is together what makes the RF/VF so cool.

No, I don't miss this aspect because I understood the idea is to mimic the mechanical RF with a digital/sensor based one, still with superimposed RF patch/image into the normal tunnel viewfinder. Frame lines and additional camera informations are always possible.

Depending on the magnification of the viewfinder it will cover more than the lens angle of view.

 

[gustavoAvila]

Personally I hope it succeeds and starts to cut into Leica sales.

Au contraire, I don't see the Konost cutting into Leica sales at all!

If anything, it will increase Leica (and Zeiss and Voigtlander) lens sales.

After all, more M bodies = more M lenses.

I sincerely hope that Konost can get their rangefinder camera to market for a reasonable (by Leica standards) price.

And FWIW, I have no problems with the looks!

 

[Out to Lunch]

Somebody tries something new and immediately the armchair industrialists are moaning... I'd certainly be interested, especially after viewing Leica's Lenny K's US$ 24,000 offering in a snake skin case.

 

[willie_901]

I hope the first camera Konost brings to market is a monochrome camera.

 

[Huss]

Au contraire, I don't see the Konost cutting into Leica sales at all!

If anything, it will increase Leica (and Zeiss and Voigtlander) lens sales.

After all, more M bodies = more M lenses.

I sincerely hope that Konost can get their rangefinder camera to market for a reasonable (by Leica standards) price.

And FWIW, I have no problems with the looks!

Well, "Konost" just does not have the ring to it that the name "Leica" does.

CV should buy out this project and market it as the new Zeiss digital camera. I'm interested in a body that works properly with M lenses (therefore not looking at you Sony), and so if this does, then yes my sale will be with this camera not another Leica.

 

[Pioneer]

I hope the first camera Konost brings to market is a monochrome camera.

There you go...I think that is a terrific idea! (Said with tongue firmly in cheek 😱 )

 

[rbelyell]

Well, "Konost" just does not have the ring to it that the name "Leica" does.

CV should buy out this project and market it as the new Zeiss digital camera. I'm interested in a body that works properly with M lenses (therefore not looking at you Sony), and so if this does, then yes my sale will be with this camera not another Leica.

OT, but from what ive read the sony A7S would do the trick for you.

back to topic, how can this not be great news for rf fans? oh thats right, it is good news!