Photokina Rangefinder 2008 Report

[CameraQuest]

Imagine going to a camera show where you could spend 24 hrs looking at exhibits and still not see all of them. Well, that's Photokina. It's huge, and exhausting.

For rangefinders, all that is important in current production is Leica, Zeiss and Cosina-Voigtlander. Oddly enough, I only talked to management of those 3 companies.

Leica introduced the Leica M 8.2 camera update, along with 50/.95, 21/1.4, 24/1.4, 24/3.8 M lenses, and the new medium format S2 system. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that so far, orders are quite good for the new products despite their relatively high prices. It seems Leica knew their marketplace after all. Who could have seen that coming? Leica may not be in the dire financial condition that many have feared after all.

Zeiss introduced the 85/4 ZM lens. I would have liked a 85/2.8 instead. Like all other photo products, the marketplace will tell the final story.

Cosina introduced the Fuji / Bessa III medium format folder, the first new 120 rangefinder folder in about FIFTY years! Interest seems very high. We will see. (When was the last 120 folding RF introduced, anyway? The early 1950's?) LOTS of other RF stuff is behind the curtain at Cosina Voigtlander, but I can't talk about it, sorry.

I did think Nikon would introduce a new digital rangefinder at Photokina. That did not happen. Many people are guessing on the net that Nikon's medium format digital rangefinder will be introduced at PMA in Feb. I am one of them. Now if only a Leica M mount Nikon digital RF is also introduced. Time will tell. Until then I will hope.

All the other stuff not rangefinder at Photokina, well it just was not important in the larger view of things and not worth talking about .... how is that for a totally objective selective field of view ? Canon 5D update, bah humbug!

Stephen

 

[Jacob]

Cosina introduced the Fuji / Bessa III medium format folder, the first new 120 rangefinder folder in about FIFTY years! Interest seems very high. We will see. (When was the last 120 folding RF introduced, anyway? The early 1950's?)

Thank You for the report.
...but wasn't the first Fuji GS645 from the early 80's a folder, and the japanese dobbelklapp Plaubel Makinas too.
It doesn't make the new Fuji less attractive though...
Best
Jacob

 

[CameraQuest]

Cosina introduced the Fuji / Bessa III medium format folder, the first new 120 rangefinder folder in about FIFTY years! Interest seems very high. We will see. (When was the last 120 folding RF introduced, anyway? The early 1950's?)

Thank You for the report.
...but wasn't the first Fuji GS645 from the early 80's a folder, and the japanese dobbelklapp Plaubel Makinas too.
It doesn't make the new Fuji less attractive though...
Best
Jacob

I thinking in terms of the classic folding 6x7 or larger clamshell RF's.

The Fuji 645 was smaller format, the Makinas a different type of design, but still folding 120 RF's to be sure

Stephen

 

[Uwe_Nds]

I very much enjoy Stephen's and/or Mr Kobayashi's talent to come up with superlatives for more or less every new Cosina/ Voigtländer product.

Cheers,
Uwe

 

[Roberto]

...
LOTS of other RF stuff is behind the curtain at Cosina Voigtlander, but I can't talk about it, sorry.
...

Stephen

Thanks for this report Stephen!
But please, please find a way to leak some info.. without having Mr. K upset.

Cheers,
Rob.

 

[infrequent]

@cameraquest - is there any possibility of dRF from cosina in the near future or is it a given that kobayashi san will never sanction such a project?

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

Glad CV is still very much in business!

 

[KoNickon]

Thanks, Stephen, and thanks also for the Alan Greenspan-like reference to future Cosina products that will keep us wondering and wishing for the coming months!

I hope you've gotten a large number of e-mails expressing interest in the Bessa III -- I think I need to send you one also.

 

[feenej]

Good news about Leica.

 

[Jason808]

LOTS of other RF stuff is behind the curtain at Cosina Voigtlander, but I can't talk about it, sorry.

You dirty tease...

 

[kshapero]

Thanks for CameraQuest and thanks for RFF.....now will you leak for us?

 

[joachim]

For rangefinders, all that is important in current production is Leica, Zeiss and Cosina-Voigtlander. Oddly enough, I only talked to management of those 3 companies.

I thought the Mamiya 7ii is still in production or is what is presently in the shops new-old-stock? Clearly that is a competition to the forthcoming Bessa III.