New Konost Digital M mount Rangefinder Project

[olakiril]

"The camera will be released in late 2017 (check also this post and the new FAQ).
Beta versions of the rangefinder will be available in the first half of 2017.
It will have a custom 20/24MP sensor - designed and manufactured specifically for the Konost cameras.
The camera will be available in silver and black with classy aluminum or rugged carbon fiber cover.
Compatible with all M-mount lenses.
It seems that there will be two different products - a digital rangefinder and a mirrorless model.
There are also several new pictures/renderings"

http://konost.com/faq/

http://photorumors.com/2016/12/24/konost-full-frame-digital-rangefindermirrorless-camera-updates/

 

[jsrockit]

Could this actually be true?

 

[sepiareverb]

They have re-appeared on FB and the website is updated.

From their site:

"We have also been able to work out key strategic alliances, partners, and funding, which will help us bring our products to the market. Additionally, our team has grown significantly in experience, talent, and headcount.

This will push production versions of the Konost rangefinders to Q3-Q4 of 2017. We’re still working on releasing limited edition beta versions of the rangefinder in the first half of 2017. Despite the delay in launching, we’ve actually been able to cross major hurdles in order to move forward in creating amazing cameras.

We thank everyone who’s written to us and supported us along the way. Please subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date with our progress as 2017 will be a very big year."

 

[cz23]

Even if they do manage to deliver at a reasonable price (presumably a few thousand), it's hard to imagine longevity for the company. Manual focus rangefinders were superseded for a reason. Apparently they will also offer a mirrorless camera, but that market is so saturated with established names.

It's easy to see why investors balked. Even Leica probably would not be around with just an M offering. Still, I admire their gumption.

John

 

[jsrockit]

We will see John. It is a niche (lower priced RF) that, right now, has no players. I mean, do you want to live in a world where only existing companies remain and no one else has the balls to try to make a new company?

 

[mpaniagua]

Rangefinder are, in its definition, a niche market. So yeah, I think if they (Konost) take that into account, I dont see why they wouldnt be succesful. They certainly will not last longer if they try to go mainstream, but in the digital rangenfinder niche, with very limited options, with the proper strategy, I think they will succed.

Just my 2 cents.

Marcelo

 

[brennanphotoguy]

I'd love to see them even release something. It would be good to see a new player in the game since I highly double Epson will ever release a successor to the RD-1.

 

[krötenblender]

Let's see, what next years announcement brings. Still Vaporware... Sorry, couldn't resist.

Does nobody notice, that the only real change is some rearrangement of the website HTML-code?

I'd love to see a real alternative to Leicas strange developments lately. A new approach to the idea of DRF would be greatly welcome, since I completely lost my bonding to Leica, but still miss it painfully, dreaming of a Epson R-D2... 🙂

So I would love the Konost coming to live. But I don't see it.

 

[cz23]

We will see John. It is a niche (lower priced RF) that, right now, has no players. I mean, do you want to live in a world where only existing companies remain and no one else has the balls to try to make a new company?

Like I said, I admire them. I hope they succeed. Personally, I prefer RFs. But we RF fans are very niche customers in a shrinking industry.

Somewhere I saw a price estimate of $3500 USD. Not sure if that's even in the ballpark. If so, I expect most of us would opt for a used M240 at about the same cost.

It just seems like a major uphill battle. But this opinion is coming from one who, year ago, decided not to buy Google stock, certain a search engine company had little future 😉.

John

 

[Ko.Fe.]

...Manual focus rangefinders were superseded for a reason. Apparently they will also offer a mirrorless camera, but that market is so saturated with established names.
...

Where are only two mirrorless cameras manufacturers with FF sensor I'm aware of. Sony and Leica. Both are using manual focus lenses manufactured and sold new. In fact, number of manual focus lenses manufacturers has increased over last few years.

 

[jsrockit]

In fact, number of manual focus lenses manufacturers has increased over last few years.

Good point...

 

[anselwannab]

As people have pointed out, this will compete with used Leicas, so that market sets their price point. I've never thought the model looked viable in an engineering sense- like it was drawn from memory by some unfamiliar with what a rangefinder looks like and the issues with where the viewfinder is.

On features, in general I think you need to differentiate from Leica, so either go old school and less expensive or build something higher tech with some thing like the AF mod built in.

I still question the overall viability of just making bodies, but I know that lenses and bodies are too much to take on all at once. The more viable strategy would seem to be lenses followed by bodies- but that isn't as sexy as coming out with a body. Considering the east-coast/west-coast rap battle nature of the Leica-Ziess dynamic, I'm surprised that Zeiss never entered the market. The did the lens part. Start out with a Q with the AF mount built in and pivot to a full frame Fuji Xpro-like model with AF.

 

[nasmformyzombie]

...dreaming of a Epson R-D2... 🙂
So I would love the Konost coming to live. But I don't see it.

Konost has an infinitely better chance of bringing a new product to market than Epson does. As in there is ZERO chance we ever see an Epson R-D2. 😉

 

[DougFord]

Do these guys hold any patents that might suggest that they've actually developed some novel or innovative design solutions? Possible investors might be interested in such. The animated chess pieces doesn't cutting it.
As others have suggested, the digital mock-up/s look suspect. Given a bar of soap and a whittling knife, the average rff member could come up with something more believable.
'There is no there there' for me with regards to this Konost project.

 

[uhoh7]

Anybody who releases a reasonably priced FF platform tuned to M mount lenses will sell cameras.

Besides Leica, there is not one. The Sony filter stacks do not suit many M lenses.

If the camera is small and light, it can't miss.

A digital CL sort of thing. Doesn't have to be perfect, just decent. 🙂

I brought up the idea of the full frame Nex in 2011. Oh that's just niche, charlie, they all told me at FM. Sony can't make any money with that. We all know what a flop the FF e-mount is 😉

 

[anselwannab]

Konost has an infinitely better chance of bringing a new product to market than Epson does. As in there is ZERO chance we ever see an Epson R-D2. 😉

It's been a crazy year.... 😀

I think a minimalist CL type is the best bet for an independent third party, and a high-feature model for someone established for someone like Zeiss.

I think Zeiss looks at making a camera and their analysis says that they won't sell that many more lenses and there is significant risk in coming out with the camera. Meanwhile Leica makes ok cameras at just low enough prices- and their used models prices- to inhibit a second mover.

 

[Keith]

Whatever Konost do or don't come up with there is still a space in my mind for a digital FF Zeiss Ikon.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Whatever Konost do or don't come up with there is still a space in my mind for a digital FF Zeiss Ikon.

Dear Keith,

Sure. Mine too. It's a pity that the same is not true in the corporate mind of Zeiss who (a) know what they're talking about and (b) would have to fund it.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Keith]

Dear Keith,

Sure. Mine too. It's a pity that the same is not true in the corporate mind of Zeiss who (a) know what they're talking about and (b) would have to fund it.

Cheers,

R.

From memory I bought my Ikon after reading a review by your good self. Or was it your other half who wrote that ... damned if I can remember now? 🙂

 

[Roger Hicks]

From memory I bought my Ikon after reading a review by your good self. Or was it your other half who wrote that ... damned if I can remember now? 🙂

Dear Keith,

Both of us. Frances actually preferred the Ikon, but I like my Ms better.

Cheers,

R.