RFF build an RF project? Digital perhaps?

[jaapv]

I can remember the digital-film thingie, such a thing would be awesome. But It's (almost) impossible to create, because of the thickness of a digital sensor, so the sensor to flange distance wouldn't be same as the film to flange distance, so correct focussing is impossible, IMHO.

Joris Bens 😎

Not if you remove the film pressure plate. An M camera has an interchangable back anyway.The main problem is the sensor , which cannot accept the oblique angle of light from RF lenses witout some serious tweaking. See the vignetting of WA lenses on the RD1.It was this that made Leica put off the digital M for so long. Now that Kodak-Imacon seem to have licked the problem I'm sure the viewfinder is causing some serious headaches in Solms.
The acceptance angle problem is 99% sure to dictate a 1.3 crop sensor maximally, so the viewfinder will have to be suitable for lenses from 28 to 180 mm (21 to 135 ,35 mm equivalent) Nobody has yet been able to do that. It would take at least a 80 mm measuring base to get decent focussing. I'm sure the Heinzelmännchen are busy chipping away at that one.

 

[jaapv]

Jaap, "digital film" died a silent death a long time ago. 🙂

As far as I recall it died without even drawing breath.... :angel:

 

[Honu-Hugger]

Ironic to stumble across this thread; just last week I was imagining if a 24x36 sensor ever became available that could be fitted to any existing 35mm camera in place of the pressure plate, even if it meant having the back radically modified to incorporate it. What a great way to breathe digital life into so many old film cameras...

 

[dmr]

Ironic to stumble across this thread; just last week I was imagining if a 24x36 sensor ever became available that could be fitted to any existing 35mm camera in place of the pressure plate, even if it meant having the back radically modified to incorporate it. What a great way to breathe digital life into so many old film cameras...

Or, how about this? Have a sensor such as that with the electronics in a package that's the size of a standard 35mm cartridge. I know this would be very challenging to design, but I'm sure it would sell. I might even buy one. 🙂

 

[varjag]

Some weeks ago I've been pondering about possibility of a digital back for Kiev/Contax. Their backs are fully removable and no fixed take-up spool except on the M models (could be e.g. additional space for batteries). Shutter release could be read via flash synch cable, and the sensor could be installed within/in place of film pressure plate.

But the electronics/firmware part is where the most problems would probably be. It is likely that the CCD circuitry is very dependent on physical aperture and/or shutter speed readings.. permanently setting the system into full manual/no metering mode could help but it would still be a non-trivial task to make it all work.

So, unless I suddenly stumble upon a broken DSLR, my hardware project for now is a rewind crank for 4A 🙂

 

[atelier7]

this is probably OT, but arrrrrrrrrgh! what's this DSLRexchange link that Brian posted?
An alternate parallel universe where its SLRs instead of RFFDRs.... and Digital instead of Film?
and to find quite a few familiar names posting there? nee noo nee noo nee noo nee noo...
twilight zone music coming on .... spooky! 😛

 

[pvdhaar]

Hmmm... I doubt that the DSLR-exchange is the dark side. I see so many posts about GAS attacks these days here on RFF that I can really sense the power of greed all over the place... Now if that ain't the dark side, I don't know what is!

And if you're still not convinced, think about this:

Did Luke Skywalker rely on a rangefinder to drop the bomb on the Death Star?

Nah, he used the FORCE!

 

[RML]

I found a bit more info on the digital video cam offered by CVS, mainly how it can be cracked and re-used:

http://www.maushammer.com/systems/cvscamcorder/flash.html

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/artic...archive/2005/06/13/BUGO0D5OEG28.DTL&type=tech

Maybe some of you DIY fans can use this onfo to turn a Bessa or FED into a digicam. 🙂

 

[Kin Lau]

So, unless I suddenly stumble upon a broken DSLR, my hardware project for now is a rewind crank for 4A 🙂

Not quite broken, but a removeable digital back for the Nikon N90, a DCS420 like Brian's... only $20- so far. http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7527317391&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT

 

[hoot]

I've never gotten the point of the Epson RD1. It turns a normal lens into a tele and a wideangle into a normal... so to shoot wideangle, you'd have to buy an expensive super-wideangle.

Then again, if you can afford the Epson, you can probably afford anything.

Speaking of tailored cameras, though, I'd love to see a 1:1 magnification viewfinder on a Leica... or a new fixed-lens rangefinder by Leica... or a non-SLR digicam with absolutely no lag whatsoever.

 

[ScottS]

Speaking of tailored cameras, though, I'd love to see a 1:1 magnification viewfinder on a Leica... or a new fixed-lens rangefinder by Leica... or a non-SLR digicam with absolutely no lag whatsoever.

Well on the subject of fantasy finders, how about a Canon VI-style multiple magnification finder with M6 framelines.

So we'd have a .5x mag view with 25-28-35 frames (the CV 25mm finder is .49x, so this isn't too far from that), and a 1x view with 50-90-135, and, of course, the 1.5x view for accurate focusing. Add a frameline switch like the Canon 7/Bessa R2 (or do it automatically if it's an M camera, using a 50-75 adapter for the 25 view).

I'm not sure how well the multi-magnification design would work with reflected framelines, though (and you'd have to have reflected framelines to allow for showing only one at a time).

(yes, I know I'm missing 75, and that 25 isn't on the M -- but with the .5x wide-only view, you could support a 24 or 25.)

Scott

 

[RML]

I've never gotten the point of the Epson RD1. It turns a normal lens into a tele and a wideangle into a normal... so to shoot wideangle, you'd have to buy an expensive super-wideangle.

The CV15 isn't really expensive at all at $345. Even the CV12 at $589 isn't too shocking. You won't get any wider and surely not at this price level.

Then again, if you can afford the Epson, you can probably afford anything.

Utter nonsense. The R-D1 is expensive for me but it is value for money. I shoot a lot, on average a roll a day, and a roll + development costs nearly 6 euro here. Add the time I need to spend scanning and I was easily convinced. It was a big chunk of money and I was lucky I could save and shrimp all of it without burdening my wallet too much. In a year's time I'll have money saved on this purchase.

 

[hoot]

Thanks for the info, Scott and RML!