What new Voigtlander RF or SLR product would you like to see?

[oscroft]

Of the other suggestions people have made, I think I like the idea of a Tri-Skopar best (though I think my choice of focal lengths would be 25, 28, 35, if that were possible).

 

[Sparrow]

I’d like to see them announce a compact nokton 50mm f1:1.4 in VM mount, like a stretched 40, don’t need one but I enjoy the bokeh hysteria when the faithful feel threatened. 😀

A 50 f1:2.5 VM pancake would be nice, but that could well be in the pipline anyway, and a faster 90

 

[Roger Hicks]

I'd quite like an 18mm lens. When I'm out shooting wide I do often wish I had something a bit wider than my 21, but my 15 is taking it too far. In fact, I'd probably even sell my 15 to help fund an 18 (and I can't afford a Zeiss 18)

There was in fact an 18mm Voigtländer prototype last photokina, or the one before: tiny, like a 21. But I doubt there is room for two 18/4 lenses. My wife Frances Schultz has the 4/18 Zeiss and doesn't want to give it back: the review should be on the site later this month (it's with the webmaster), along with a review of the 4/16-18-21 Tri-Elmar.

Try the Zeiss, and you may reckon it's worth trying to find the money.

Cheers,

R.

 

[breathstealer]

A compact 35/2 would be nice to replace the rather chunky 35/1.7, which is twice the size of the 35/1.4. I know there's the 35/2.5s, but the extra fraction of a stop is so appealing 🙂

More unrealistically, how about a DSLR? A full frame DSLR doesn't suffer the problems that a full frame DRF would, right? Put it in a Bessaflex body, and change the mount to be wider and (deeper/shallower) as necessary to have the maximum number of lenses adaptable to it. Then all it needs is TTL metering and maybe AE to finish off.

 

[Ronald_H]

What about a small fixed lens RF? Sure, our Canonets, Yashicas etc. are great, but they are getting old and have their limitations one way or another.

A fast, sharp 40mm lens. The lens in my decades old Canonet would do just fine.

More compact form factor

A good bright finder

AE + modern silicon cell meter + METERED manual override

Extended ISO range

Basically something small, to shoot film, with full manual control that will give outstanding results.

 

[Roger Hicks]

A 50 f1:2.5 VM pancake would be nice, but that could well be in the pipline anyway, and a faster 90

Trouble is, you can't go a lot faster -- my 90/2 Summicron definitely stretches the Bessa's base-length too far -- and anything less than f/2 (e.g. f/2.5) doesn't really look that much faster from a marketing viewpoint. Actully, even an f/2.5 might be pushing their luck. There's no much sense in selling a Voigtländer lens that won't work well on Voigtländers.

Cheers,

R.

 

[mackigator]

The things in this list that catch my eye are a fast 50 and a faster short telephoto along the lines of the 75mm Heliar. Of course, if Cosina puts out lenses like this they are competing head to head with Leica so...

My wish is bigger. I'd like to see Cosina own Leica. The only company of the three (Cosina, Leica, Zeiss) I see innovating and growing their market share is Cosina, and I don't think this market is big enough for three companies. With Leica unable to agree on their own corporate direction and laden with the development costs of the M8, they could easily flounder. Especially considering what inflation and a depreciating US dollar are about to do to exported German goods. So I say move the Leica boss to Japan and innovate away with well-aimed and well-priced products, additional niche markets, digital rangefinders, and the like.

The irony here is that Cosina's practical, turn a profit on each lens, listen to the market approach is exactly what will put a company like Leica out of business in the long run anyway. So again, a fast 50!

 

[oscroft]

There was in fact an 18mm Voigtländer prototype last photokina, or the one before: tiny, like a 21. But I doubt there is room for two 18/4 lenses. My wife Frances Schultz has the 4/18 Zeiss and doesn't want to give it back: the review should be on the site later this month (it's with the webmaster), along with a review of the 4/16-18-21 Tri-Elmar.

Ooh, a tiny 18 just like the 21 would have been wonderful - I use my super-wides when traveling, so size makes all the difference. (And I look forward to the review of the Zeiss, thanks).

Try the Zeiss, and you may reckon it's worth trying to find the money

Hmm, not sure I could persuade anyone to lend me one 😀

 

[sanmich]

I would love to see some kind of LTM chrome on brass barrel small lenses (even if slow)
some new mates for our III's...
35 f/2, 50 f/3.5 90 f/4 etc.

In M-mount, a 90mm f/2

 

[oscroft]

Especially considering what inflation and a depreciating US dollar are about to do to exported German goods.

Does anyone have any idea what proportion of Leica's (and Zeiss's and Cosina's) production goes to the US, to Europe, to Asia? I'd expect quite a large proportion to go to the US - it would be interesting to know approximately how much.

 

[brachal]

I'd like to see longer baselenght in the rangefinder.

Bring back the A-type double accessory shoe! Please!

On the pure fantasy side, how about a serious metal camera? A heavy one. Something that feels like my IIIf, or my father's old Nikkormat. A camera you'll leave to your kids and grandkids. A simple meter and mechanical shutter -- no circuit boards. Can be used to fight off bears or pound in tent stakes if necessary. A camera for war correspondants, or people who want to feel like one. That's what I'd really like!

 

[Avotius]

How about some more canon ef mount lenses too?

 

[gavinlg]

I have 2 things:

1. A compact M mount camera like the leica CL of old.
2. Ultra-Fast 50 - the working mans noctilux. Either f1 or f1.2. Even f1.1!

 

[rpsawin]

Stephen,

I, too, would be interested in a mf folder. Here's a thought...update the Konica Hexar RF with ttl flash.

Bob

 

[BJ Bignell]

I'd like to see a slightly modified R3A with:

• Longer real baselength
• 1:1 viewfinder with the following framelines: 35/75, 40/90, 50

It'd also be nice to see the Heliar 50/2 available in black without having to buy the R2M/R3M kit.

And, of course a full-frame digital Bessa around 10MP with the above features would be nice too. 🙂

 

[mr_phillip]

The one thing I'd part with real cash for is a genuinely compact 28mm (no bigger than the 40mm) in M-mount, with a 2.8 aperture. If it took 43mm filters (to make for a convenient pairing with the 40mm on a CLE or 35mm Nokton Classic on anything else) then that'd be a bonus.

 

[aizan]

instead of another folder, cuz fuji's already doing that one, how about a tlr with ttl metering and AE?

 

[Avotius]

I'd like to see a slightly modified R3A with:

• Longer real baselength
• 1:1 viewfinder with the following framelines: 35/75, 40/90, 50

It'd also be nice to see the Heliar 50/2 available in black without having to buy the R2M/R3M kit.

And, of course a full-frame digital Bessa around 10MP with the above features would be nice too. 🙂

I thought the 50/2 could be had without the camera?

Also since full frame is such a pain, I would take the same sensor out of my canon 20D and be more then happy.

 

[julianphotoart]

Any MF SLR lens in EOS mount....or has this happened and I don't know it? Seriously, if I've simply forgotten, please tell me.

 

[Avotius]

Any MF SLR lens in EOS mount....or has this happened and I don't know it? Seriously, if I've simply forgotten, please tell me.

Voigtlander had a 125mm lens in canon ef mount a few years ago, it didnt go over well, but then again it was not exactly a common focal length so was more of a novelty. I would love to have a ef mount Nokton 50 1.5 on my canon or even a 35 or 28? I would spend real money for something like that, as long as there was no plastic involved. Or hey, just give us the zeiss 50 1.4 in ef mount then.