R2A/R3A in olive and chrome

[clintk]

So what do you think the odds are that a R2A or R3A will come out in chrome and/or olive?

Just a late night thought.

Clint

 

[taffer]

Hmmm, dunno, in some way we could think that if the Rollei 35 RF was the chrome R2, the new Zeiss Ikon will be the chrome R2a/R3a 😕

 

[Doug]

We can hope there'll be a black Zeiss-Ikon, too. Other colors welcome as well! Navy, Red, Green/Olive...

 

[peter_n]

Very nice. Pardon my ignorance, but where is the film rewind on this camera?

 

[Huck Finn]

On the bottom, Peter.

 

[Doug]

And there is a very small focus tab on the lens! (Sorry for hijacking your thread, Clint!)

 

[Huck Finn]

Clint, I think it's clear that Cosina has made the decision that it prefers "basic black." That seemed evident once they abandoned the screw mount & began producing lenses in M-mount only, starting with the 35 Nokton. All 3 of their M-mount only lenses are made in black only.

Hmmm, dunno, in some way we could think that if the Rollei 35 RF was the chrome R2, the new Zeiss Ikon will be the chrome R2a/R3a 😕

Now, now Taffer. 🙂 . . . We know that the only improvement of the Rollei 35RF over the R2 is that the Rollei rangefinder couples to 0.7 mm instead of 0.9 & is otherwise identical. So the 35RF can legitimately be called the chrome R2. But the ZI is a whole different camera with a whole different set of specs & capabilities. . . . But, of course you knew that & were just teasing us. 😉 I'll consider my chain pulled. Ouch. 😀

Huck

 

[taffer]

😛 😀 But seriously, if Cosina left the Chrome market of the R2 for the Zeiss guys, I don't know if they will invest in a chrome R2a/R3a or simply let things as they are...

OTH the new ZI reminds me a lot of an elongated Leica CL... or in fact a CLE 🙂

 

[peter_n]

On the bottom, Peter.

Thanks Huck (and Doug for the picture). That "little" bump could be a problem for me given my incompatibility with lens tabs. I guess they are following tradition though, see the attached pic. 🙂

 

[Doug]

Good point on the elongated CL/E, Oscar... I love my CLE, but it worried me there was no reasonably close successor. Thought maybe I'd "have to" get a M7! The ZI looks like a very worthy successor, with several nice improvements (despite the larger size). For that matter, the R2a seems like a nice rig too.

 

[Doug]

Thanks for the Contarex shot, Peter... the lens styling resemblance is noteworthy! Is that a focus wheel on the body?

 

[peter_n]

I wouldn't know Doug, I don't really know anything about Zeiss stuff. Given how the Contax is designed its a good hypothesis though!

I am interested in the new lenses coming out soon but I'm willing to wait to see how the reports go...

 

[digitalox]

I would've love to gotten an olive R2, but with the R2A/R3A out now, it seems hard to justify given there didn't seem to much price difference (if memory serves correct, which it usually doesn't). But if the option for an olive R2A/R3A comes I'd probably pick that instead.

 

[Alex Shishin]

I saw and held an Olive R3A in Tokyo! It was especially made as a present for a friend of mine, but not, alas, for me!

I want a blue R2A and gold R3A. Then I call truly say that I am ready of Heaven.

(I saw a gold Bessa L in Tokyo!)

But the camera I really and truly want is Tom Abrahamsson's Purple Haze M4 with matching Rapidwinder!

 

[aizan]

i am green with envy!

 

[Alex Shishin]

I' m green with envy too. It wasn't mine. But what I want is a blue one. If I hold my breath until I turn blue do you think Cosina will make me one?

 

[Roger Hicks]

It's not so much a tab as a bump, quite handy for orienting the lens by touch -- I've tried the 21 to 50 lenses, but not (alas) 15 and 85.

Cheers,

Roger

 

[aizan]

i wonder if shintaro will start repainting bessas...

 

[QuillianSW]

Rollei 35RF Just a Cosina?

Rollei 35RF Just a Cosina?

"We know that the only improvement of the Rollei 35RF over the R2 is that the Rollei rangefinder couples to 0.7 mm instead of 0.9 & is otherwise identical. So the 35RF can legitimately be called the chrome R2. "

Now are you meaning to say that the Rollei is 'made by' Cosina or essentially functionally idential in operation?

Me so confused. Was considering the Rollei over the Voight/Cosina only because i've had good experiences with Rollei.

 

[Doug]

Now are you meaning to say that the Rollei is 'made by' Cosina or essentially functionally idential in operation?

This particular Rollei model is essentially a re-badged Voigtlander R2 with different finish color, closer RF coupling, and viewfinder framelines for 40 & 80mm lenses rather than 35, 75, & 90mm. Yes, made for Rollei by Cosina. I think it was a way for Rollei to more easily market their Zeiss-licensed 40mm and 80mm lenses... (one or both of which are rumored to use Cosina-supplied lens barrels!)

By contrast, the forthcoming Zeiss-Ikon rangefinder, also made by Cosina (with QC by Zeiss), is mainly a Zeiss design with (seems likely) input/suggestions from Cosina, and not related to the Voigtlander Bessa line. Its lenses are Zeiss designs built at Cosina's facility under Zeiss supervision and quality control.

Gee, it seems Cosina is getting its fingers into a number of different pies, aren't they... Then there's also the Epson RD-1 digital RF camera, mechanical parts made by Cosina!