Nikon RF and COSINA

[ernesto]

I know COSINA produces some products for NIKON.
I wonder if COSINA made the newest rangefinder series for NIkon?
Thanks in advance!
Ernesto

 

[rxmd]

Which one?

 

[Tom A]

Ernesto, if you are thinking about the S3 2000/SP 2005 - they were made by Nikon. The Bessa R2S was the Cosina/Voigtlander metered body, based on the Bessa series cameras with a Nikon SC mount.
CV also made the series of CV-SC lenses (from 21mm to 85mm) as well as the Sonnar 59f1.5 SC.
Nikon produced the Nikkor 50f1.4 Millenium and the 35f1.8 SP 2005.

 

[ernesto]

Thanks for your answers!
I though that Nikon FE 10 and FM 10 were made by cosina, since all the controls and screw holes are placed as in Bessa bodies.

Ernesto

 

[ernesto]

After some research, it is possible that the list is wider, COSINA CT-1 and COSINA CX-2 are the "mother" of:

ARGUS STL1000 RICOH NG something VIVITAR 220SL CANON T60
NIKON FM-10 NIKON FE-10 OLYMPUS OM-2000 RICOH KR-5 SUPER2
YASHICA FX3 SUPER 2000 CARENA CX-300 EXAKTA TWIN TL
MIRANDA MS-1 CAVALIER MSTL COSINA HI-LITE VIVITAR 420SL
VIVITAR 650SL HANIMEX DR-1 ELICAR MN-1 RICOH SINGLEX TLS
SEARS TLS NIKKOREX F SEARS SL2 PRINZFLEX SUPER TTL PENTAX P30T

More info here:http://cameracollector.proboards30.com/index.cgi?board=mslrs&action=display&thread=4178

 

[snegron]

I wouldn't be surprised if Cosina came out with the new Nikon SP-D Digital Rangefinder! It would certainly be affordable! 🙂

 

[jonmanjiro]

I know COSINA produces some products for NIKON.
I wonder if COSINA made the newest rangefinder series for NIkon?
Thanks in advance!
Ernesto

Nothing to do with Cosina.

The lenses and other optical components were manufactured by Tochigi Nikon, which is where the UV Nikkors and other exotic Nikon lenses are manufactured.

The S3 and SP bodies were manufactured by Mito Nikon, which is where the F2, F3, Nikonos, FM3A etc. were manufactured.

 

[jonmanjiro]

I wouldn't be surprised if Cosina came out with the new Nikon SP-D Digital Rangefinder! It would certainly be affordable! 🙂

Hmmm, as much as I think Cosina makes great stuff, they seem to be better at manufacturing lenses than bodies. If there is a Nikon SP-D in the works, I hope Nikon manufactures it at Sendai Nikon or their factory in Thailand.

 

[snegron]

Hmmm, as much as I think Cosina makes great stuff, they seem to be better at manufacturing lenses than bodies. If there is a Nikon SP-D in the works, I hope Nikon manufactures it at Sendai Nikon or their factory in Thailand.

If so, how do I get my name on the waiting list? 😀

 

[Highway 61]

I know COSINA produces some products for NIKON.
I wonder if COSINA made the newest rangefinder series for NIkon?
Thanks in advance!
Ernesto

Actually Cosina makes everything, and yes this is a well kept secret.
My neighbour's Harley-Davidson is probably a rebadged Cosina motorcycle.

 

[NIKON KIU]

I know COSINA produces some products for NIKON.
I wonder if COSINA made the newest rangefinder series for NIkon?

There is another Rumor out there....Cosina is going to make a Nikon Digital RF Camera with Leica M mount. 😱😀:bang:


What about me, I need S mount :bang::bang::bang:

Kiu

 

[Stefcuoz]

A waste of time!!!

A waste of time!!!

Nikon Digital RF Camera with Leica M mount????
What a waste of time!😡
There is just Leica M and Epson RD1/s, nobody wants a Nikon RFD M mount.
Who know how can make became a poll and ask to Sthephen Gandy to send results at Cosina manager..... i suppose i'm not the only who desire A real Nikon D rangefinder 😀😀

 

[Tom A]

It would be a fatal mistake for any manufacturer of a DRf to make a body that is not M compatible. The market for another DRf is small, probably in the 8-10 000 unit/year and if you do a dedicated non M- mount, most customers are going to stay away.
However, if Nikon did it and also manufactured an Orion type adapter to go with the camera, they would reap the benefit from both worlds. The SC mount lenses would be interesting to the buyer, either new or "vintage" as well as the huge supply of screw-mount and M mount lenses out there.
I am sure we will see something from either Nikon,Zeiss, Epson or even Sony will have something to show at Photokina in September. Cant wait!

 

[Highway 61]

I am sure we will see something from either Nikon,Zeiss, Epson or even Sony will have something to show at Photokina in September. Cant wait!

Given the success of the D700 with people having just bought their D300 & already listing them for sale on the second hand market, I'm very skeptical about a Nikon D-RF camera.

Nikon never ever paid any attention to the zillions of Ai-S lenses owners around who wanted a entry level DSLR with an Ai-S prong and they would never manufacture such a camera (let's say, a D60X) although the market for it would be a way larger sector than the narrow niche for an hypothetic D-RF.

Now that I'm forced to buy either a used D200, a used D300 or a new D700 to use my Nikkor Ai-S lenses, I couldn't afford the expense of the Nikon D-RF system.

To sum it up : analyzing the Nikon behavior towards the Ai-S crowd leads me to think that Nikon doesn't care the least of the RF lenses owners niche.

Nikon went the DSLR route, it's clear. "Either buy a Nikon DSLR or switch to another brand" - this could be their marketing saying.

 

[CameraQuest]

Nikon Digital RF Camera with Leica M mount????
What a waste of time!😡
There is just Leica M and Epson RD1/s, nobody wants a Nikon RFD M mount.
Who know how can make became a poll and ask to Sthephen Gandy to send results at Cosina manager..... i suppose i'm not the only who desire A real Nikon D rangefinder 😀😀

no need for a poll. After the much less than expected sales of SC lenses and the Bessa R2S and R2C, there is NO way Voigtlander will make another Nikon rangefinder mount product.

Who would buy a digital M mount Nikon RF? Damn near everyone!

Stephen

 

[NIKON KIU]

Tom, do you really think there is a viable market for another digital RF? I would think if there were, it would be the same buyers who have bought the M8.

What if the Nikon version costs half the Leica, or may be one thirds...say $1500.

kiu

 

[Highway 61]

Who would buy a digital M mount Nikon RF? Damn near everyone!

Who at Nikon would want to invest R&D time and money for a digital Nikon RF on which people would mount Leica or Cosina-... (...-Voigtländer ; ...-Zeiss) M lenses ? Damn near nobody (unless they want to get fired ) !

🙄

 

[micromontenegro]

no need for a poll. After the much less than expected sales of SC lenses and the Bessa R2S and R2C, there is NO way Voigtlander will make another Nikon rangefinder mount product.

Who would buy a digital M mount Nikon RF? Damn near everyone!

Stephen

I guess a poll was needed several years ago, before plunging. It seems quite obvious that the market is flooded with high quality, relatively affordable Contax mount lenses. It didn't take a genius to foresee that new ones wouldn't sale like hotcakes- you're competing with a zillion J12s and such out there.

New C/S mount bodies; now that was a good idea. But price killed them: it just seems insane (from the consumer standpoint) that you have to pay more than twice as much as for the same camera in LTM or M mount. Take it from me: if you offer two bodies that are essentially the same, but in one lens mount it costs double, that lens mount isn't going to sell. I know, I know, the S/C bodies are more expensive to make. But the market couldn't care less.

Again, take it from me: we Nikon/Contax fans are a pesky lot. We want to keep using our lenses. Ask my comrade Amedeo how many C/M and S/M adapters he has sold, and they don't go for peanuts. The market is there. It is a niche market indeed, but if they treat us well, we will cough up. Myself, I would get a Nikon DRF... but only if it came in S mount

 

[snegron]

I think that if Nikon were to produce a digital rangefinder with a new lens mount, not an S or M, but a totally new lens mount, it might work. If Nikon were to partner up with Zeiss and offer at least 4 new Zeiss lenses for the "SP-D", and market the new system as a high quality, high resolution, great low light performer, I would buy into the system. Think back to the Contax G series. Many either hated or loved the G1 and G2. Many people bought into the system, and I am sure that there will be many who would buy into the new SP-D with Zeizz lenses.

Why no S mount? S lenses are getting more scarce every day. M mount arlready has the M8, so if Nikon were to take the plunge why not do it head first and build something innovative and revolutionary from the ground up?

 

[snegron]

There is such a tiny market share for digital RF's, if anyone took any of that market from Leica, it would kill the company. And with it the market.

I think that the main reason for that is the price. Leica M8's are expensive compared to any DSLR on the market today. Add a couple of M mount lenses and you are looking at even higher prices.

The closest thing I can think of that came close to an affordable digital rangefinder (other than the Epson RD 1) was the Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1. It wasn't a true rangefinder by our standards, but it was close. It sold very well.

If Nikon were to market a similar outfit like the Contax G2 with 45mm lens at a price comparable to the D300, it would outsell the M8 in less than a month!