No Digital RF at Photokina 2008

[Photokina2008]

I am sad to say there is no digital Nikon Rangefinder on display at Photokina, and all Nikon staff I talked to denied knowledge of it. However I still think we will likely see a digital Nikon RF introduced at PMA in Feb. Unfortunately it is more likely to be medium format than Leica M mount, if the rumor mills can be believed.

It seems there are no digital Voigtlander or Zeiss DRF's under development due to the high cost and relatively small market.

Digitally RF wise that leaves us with the newly introduced Leica M8.2, the M8, and the Epson RD. The M8 seems to be declining in value as some owners put them up for sale to move up to the 8.2.

Eventually there will be more, but only after development costs fall and technical challenges are overcome.

Stephen

 

[spysmart]

But look on the bright side, production of 35mm Rangefinder cameras will probably out-live production of 35mm SLR cameras 🙂

 

[KoNickon]

Stephen, I suppose you're going to keep us hanging about Cosina's new stuff? 🙂

 

[Sam N]

Shouldn't everyone have made their announcements by now?

 

[Krosya]

I can feel value of RD1 going up as we speak !

 

[ferider]

Thanks, Stephen !

Look at the bright side, if the MX will be released before the S2 even ships, for a fracture of the price, there might be more pressure to get a DCL; There is a gap in the market now for the segment around US 5k. 🙂

Cheers,

Roland.

 

[Photokina2008]

Stephen, I suppose you're going to keep us hanging about Cosina's new stuff? 🙂

Voigtlander made no new product announcements at Photokina.

I can tell you honestly that Mr. Kobayashi is working on some extremely interesting projects, but that I can't yet discuss them.

Stephen

 

[shimo-kitasnap]

Look on the bright side. Now finally we have full frame DLSRs from Canon, Nikon and Sony. The resolution has reached the max useful resolution of 35mm film and the price isn't bad. Canon being the cheapest of the 3. Slap some ziess glass on either of them, ziess makes lenses that fit each one.

Pick up one of these and I think they too will have very long life. Almost like buying a film slr back 30yrs ago.

I think the market will now move towards the larger formats like medium format and beyond which will only really be bought by real pros.

Who knows maybe by 2010 someone will figure out a way to cram all that tech into something the size of an M.

 

[mwooten]

I can feel value of RD1 going up as we speak !

Yep, gonna sell mine and buy a Wall Street Bank!

 

[sockeyed]

This is quite disappointing news. I was hoping for at least some positive signs about a re-issue of the RD-1.

I guess I'll save for the 5D MkII and some ZE lenses for it.

 

[sojournerphoto]

This is quite disappointing news. I was hoping for at least some positive signs about a re-issue of the RD-1.

I guess I'll save for the 5D MkII and some ZE lenses for it.

You could do far far worse!

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

I can tell you honestly that Mr. Kobayashi is working on some extremely interesting projects, but that I can't yet discuss them.

I'm not at all surprised by that!

In any event, the Bessa III is almost as exciting to me as a new DRF. And I will continue to enjoy my R-D1...

 

[gb hill]

Stephen, since there is no DRF news & no new Bessa gear to speak of, swing by the Kodak booth & see what you can find out on the new Ektar 100 & any info on B&W films if you can.