New Konost Digital M mount Rangefinder Project

[krötenblender]

I have never read so much bi*ching and complaining in my life.

So it is your first time using the internet...? 😉

Here is a group of young engineers attempting to build the very thing a lot of people have been asking for from Leica, Sony, Nikon, etc., for years.

...

Well, I think, I am one of the people with some critique on that camera concept.
But not to say, what I and others think is wrong with the concept, the Konost-guys wouldn't get any inspiration out of it.

You can say different things about the choice of words, but who is not able to differentiate the words and the substance of critique, should not use the internet as a forum. If the vast majority of the potential buyers base here says, that the camera is plain ugly, then this might not be very nice. But engineers are usually immune against the wording of critique as long as there is some point to it. The Konost-engineers have a goal, that I like very much, but it's IMHO a long way, to make it a usable camera. They can get much inspiration out of the harsh words here.

 

[Monochrom]

After 5 months is it there any konost RF to experience?

...or is it just another big foot sight?

 

[Huss]

Four Konost cameras!

Four Konost cameras!

Konost now is 'showing' four different cameras on its website:

http://konost.com/?page_id=6714

 

[rfaspen]

Neat! some activity. I'm going to head over to the Konost site right now....

 

[rfaspen]

Hmm. I don't think I see anything new. I remember they were planning those 4 models from early on. No new "announcements". I do hope they haven't dropped this venture.

BTW, now that I revisited the site, I'm struck by how much the prototype featured on the "home" page looks like a Leica T. Very much, no?

 

[rpavich]

I wish them success, but I agree...what an ugly concept camera so far. i'm one that has wished for a simple rangefinder so good for them.

I DO wish that the styling would be more "rangefinder-esque" though.

 

[btgc]

They don't mention whether FF sensor is CCD of CMOS. Seems they only use CMOS. What is your preference?

 

[Kate-the-Great]

They don't mention whether FF sensor is CCD of CMOS. Seems they only use CMOS. What is your preference?

The sensor in the 135-format RF is CMOS. 20MP CMOSIS CMV20000.

 

[Kate-the-Great]

Not sure what to think about this. The idea is neat, but it reeks of vaporware.

I work at a tech startup that produces electronic consumer goods and have been through several painful development cycles for our products, so that colors my perspective on this and may explain why I'm about to get extremely cynical.

What I see with Konost is a lot of design and marketing, and not a lot of actual engineering and execution. The video on the front page was physically painful for me to watch. Their team seems incomplete; I see two "engineers" of unknown pedigree and role, one landscape photographer with unknown technical knowledge and- Cinderella? Who is this mystery woman and what does she do?

I can't help but feel that Konost is playing their hand far too early. I see attractive renderings of a concept camera that could have been made by any number of industrial designers, mechanical samples of said renderings that could've been made by any number of prototyping houses, and an off-the-shelf CMOS dev board that's available to anyone with a few thousand $$$ fitted with a lens mount that came off a consumer-grade 3D printer.

To be frank, this is not how to do a product launch. If they had done a Kickstarter/IndieGoGo fundraiser along with the initial announcement saying they'll ship a camera "in a couple years", then I would understand that because the whole Crowdfunded Startup thing is expected to operate on a protracted timeline. But this just seems too little, far too soon. This stage in the development cycle is not the time for press releases and getting featured articles on DP Review and Engadget.

If Konost can deliver the camera they promise, then good for them- I may even buy one. But based on my own knowledge and experience of how the tech startup world works, I'm not holding my breath.

 

[jsrockit]

To be frank, this is not how to do a product launch.

Are they really doing a launch though? They stated: "We initially started this site to show our family, friends, and beginning supporters what we’re making."

 

[jos58]

Out of curiosity just visited the Konost website.
Last update feb 2015 ?
Cannot say its ugly just from the pictures, would need 'hands on' experience.

 

[rbelyell]

'ugly' as a comment is almost a non-sequitor as it is the quintessence of subjectivity. i like the look. and, subjectively speaking, if it does what they say it will do, i dont care how it looks, as long as its shape doesnt adversely effect its ergonomics.

 

[jsrockit]

I agree...I like its looks.

 

[giellaleafapmu]

I would like any legitimate project to succeed so, assuming they are indeed a real thing and not a home page and a mock thing, I wish them the best of luck. Still I have a lot of doubts, if the guys there are reading you can call these suggestions. The grip doesn't seem to be very useful as a grip. The RF windows seems to be easy to cover with fingers. The camera seem to be very thin, really no problem with wide lenses on the corners? Is there really a market? A cheap body for very expensive lenses? Again, the best of luck, no bitching or anything, if it comes out and works as promised I might even be interested. In fact, if the company get started it would be really nice to see simple FF cameras for any mount, you know just the camera with great images and basic everything else to keep price down for Nikon, Olympus or whatever lenses.

GLF

 

[Cyriljay]

This looks some thing interesting and a bit solid as well . Hope they continue this project !

 

[krötenblender]

The last update in the news and updates section of the website was on February 24, 2015. - To me, this looks quite comatose. Although I'm not very convinced of the concept in its (not so) current form, I hope, they come back. Any seconds provider of a digital RF would be welcome.

These days, i take my M6 more and more often than my M240. I like the image quality and the extremely well made RF mechanism of the M240, but I hate its weight and size. The M6 is nearly perfect in this regard. So another digital RF might get Leica on its feet and spark some innovation.

 

[Godfrey]

The last update in the news and updates section of the website was on February 24, 2015. - To me, this looks quite comatose. Although I'm not very convinced of the concept in its (not so) current form, I hope, they come back. Any seconds provider of a digital RF would be welcome.

These days, i take my M6 more and more often than my M240. I like the image quality and the extremely well made RF mechanism of the M240, but I hate its weight and size. The M6 is nearly perfect in this regard. So another digital RF might get Leica on its feet and spark some innovation.

On seeing your comments, I decided to send Konost an email. Now let's see if they respond. 🙂

I've been shooting with the M4-2 and M-P about 50-50. I like them both, and don't find the additional heft of the M-P all that significant to me. They're both in my 'sweet zone' of size/weight/etc that I'll carry either without thinking about it too much. Where the M-P has advantages is in low light shooting and the speed of the processing workflow; it takes quite a bit of time to process and scan film, and greater than ISO 400-800 with film just doesn't produce results I'm looking for. The two bodies complement each other nicely.

G

 

[Darthfeeble]

ambitious project...i like the idea for sure and i don't mind the look at all...doesn't have to be retro looking...

Exactly, Joe. Are we to take pictures with it or pose in front of a mirror with it? I really like the line that talks about the simplicity of it, manual this and manual that and "That's it!"

 

[krötenblender]

On seeing your comments, I decided to send Konost an email. Now let's see if they respond. 🙂

Thanks for the effort. I would be interested in their answer. Maybe, they are not even aware of RFF and the possible user base, they have here.

Regards,
Stephan

 

[CameraQuest]

Thanks for the effort. I would be interested in their answer. Maybe, they are not even aware of RFF and the possible user base, they have here.

Regards,
Stephan

They are aware. I emailed them months ago.

No reply.

Stephen