Out to Lunch
Veteran
What did I miss about this brand new digital rangefinder camera with a 1.1/35mm lens?
The announced Zenit M
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xayraa33
rangefinder user and fancier
It is made in very limited numbers, so it is hardly worth lusting after.
Ko.Fe.
Lenses 35/21 Gears 46/20
Preorder page is availible on Zenit.camera for this M240 copy with 35 f1 attached, sorry, M240 attached to 35 f1.
They say if you click on preorder with your name, email and phone number, next page is aknowlegemnt from you to believe in Russian White Elephant as most peaceful elephant on Earth.
They say if you click on preorder with your name, email and phone number, next page is aknowlegemnt from you to believe in Russian White Elephant as most peaceful elephant on Earth.
Out to Lunch
Veteran
Any news about the price and availability in particular markets?
ptpdprinter
Veteran
It was announced a while back and then everything went silent. No idea if it is actually being produced.
Sega
Established
It was on Petapixel a couple of months back as I was intrigued by it and found it a little odd they went with Zenit as that name was used for KMZs SLRs, the Rangefinders from there were generally Zorkis.
It is just a tarted up Leica M, can't remember if the optic were a rebadge or not though.
It was Xayraa says very limited and only released to the Russian market with the menus in Cryllic which is a shame as it would have gone down well in the UK as KMZ products were heavily imported here back in their heyday before the fall of the USSR.
It is just a tarted up Leica M, can't remember if the optic were a rebadge or not though.
It was Xayraa says very limited and only released to the Russian market with the menus in Cryllic which is a shame as it would have gone down well in the UK as KMZ products were heavily imported here back in their heyday before the fall of the USSR.
Out to Lunch
Veteran
I don't have anything against elephants...but white elephants...I don't know... ;-)
Out to Lunch
Veteran
I read it would be available in Europe this year and outside Europe next year...but is it true...
xayraa33
rangefinder user and fancier
The rep said only 500 units will be made and sold with the Russian made lens as a set.
The samples of images shown taken by this lens did not impress me bokeh wise, very similar OOF areas as my 35mm Mir 24 lens, not my favourite.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KjPPdlcLUw
The samples of images shown taken by this lens did not impress me bokeh wise, very similar OOF areas as my 35mm Mir 24 lens, not my favourite.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KjPPdlcLUw
Out to Lunch
Veteran
Interestingly weird... Why sink money into this without a market? Prestige...oligarch arrogance...a mix of both?
xayraa33
rangefinder user and fancier
Plenty of well to do Russians with money to spend, also camera collectors might desire it for their collection and it is made in small numbers (500) for a limited time only, perfect thing for a collector.
Leica got to use up their Leica M type 240 parts and the whole kit is not being sold at bargain basement prices either.
Out to Lunch
Veteran
Well, I've lived in that part of the world for a good number of years but this project required some serious investment and dedication. Happy to hear the final story about this venture whenever it emerges...if ever.
ruby.monkey
Veteran
Wouldn't its limited availability make it even more lust-worthy?
Sumarongi
Registered Vaudevillain
😀 I recall the president of a certain huuuuuge country talking about the topic of his country's prostitutes, that of course —— since prostitution is illegal —— do *not* exist, but: they're the best worldwide, of course 😉
xayraa33
rangefinder user and fancier
It depends if you want it to collect or if you want it to use as an everyday camera.
It is not a cheap camera to buy in the first place (5500 euros) and we are now approaching the halcyon days of FF mirrorless cameras with many new models to show up by different manufacturers in the very near future.
As the "cost versus usability ratio", it is not a good deal even if you manage to get hold of one as a kit in an era where a Sony A7II with kit lens can be bought new.. sometimes for a low price, as under a grand USD in the USA.
Huss
Veteran
Not talking about this Zeica specifically, but is any digital camera collectible?
You can take a 25, 50, 100 year old film camera and it still works. But will a 50 yr old digital camera just be a fancy paperweight?
You can take a 25, 50, 100 year old film camera and it still works. But will a 50 yr old digital camera just be a fancy paperweight?
Ko.Fe.
Lenses 35/21 Gears 46/20
Fifty years from now SoCal eco police will execute you on the spot for owning functioning film camera. It is going to be worse than already banned and eliminated guns. Because it will be device triggering unauthorized water use and animals abuse, which were considered as highest crime under Chelsea Clinton SoCal progressive governor.
While beard and mustache guys in Silicon Valley eco shoppes will convert any digital or film camera to solar operating device with 3D printed sensor and electronics. Because it is SoCal after all.
And of course Russian will still make M240 cameras after getting entire Wetzlar factory to Putinograd (ex St. Peterburg).
Sumarongi
Registered Vaudevillain
Waaaaait! I would have thought the beard and mustache guys in Silicon Valley should have become monks; heck, entire Silicon Valley should have become one huuuuge Russian Orthodox monastery! Th3r3 th3y can bu1ld by hand —— 1cons, *the real thing* —— especially Saint Vlad is very much sought after!
Remind me please, dear Kostya, that I have to tell Chelsea that this point must be included into the Russian-Kalifornian Druzhba-treaty 😀
ruby.monkey
Veteran
By that logic, why buy a digital Leica M? The Typ 240 is about the same price without offering a stupidly-fast 35mm, and is positively common in comparison.
At least some effort went into making this camera different from its source body, unlike something like Hasselblad's FX-format piss-takes.
xayraa33
rangefinder user and fancier
A Leica is still a Leica, right or wrong the name has cachet and still can be sold for a hefty price even used after a decade or so, and this is for their digital models.
The stupidly-fast lens is not impressive in its drawing performance and there are now fast Chinese made M mount lenses that sell for a song and these seem to perform a bit better than this Russian made M mount lens in my opinion from the photo samples shown.
The Russian made lens is in that recent Chinese made lens class or ballpark, it is certainly no CV made lens in quality let alone a Leica made lens.
For me that Russian lens would be a throw-away and the 5500 euro cost would be to get the camera body (which makes the whole deal a very expensive endeavour).
Plus I already own a variety of Leitz lenses and CV lenses in M & LTM mount at present and I am not enamoured with super fast (anything faster then f1.4) high speed lenses or so-so quality fast lenses in general.
I am not faulting anyone for making this kit, it is what it is, only 500 pieces.. so it is not a serious production endeavour to go head to head with Leica or Sony or Canikon.
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