oftheherd
Veteran
...
I don't remember any other more recent serious non-Gaussian lenses from anyone even as low market as Konica (and at this point German companies do not count...).
William
Low market as Konica? Are you kidding sir?
Solinar
Analog Preferred
It sounds like you may not already be using a roll film camera.
120 / 220 roll film requires you a set a mask on the film plane to change from 6x6 to 6x7, a manual adjustment of the film pressure plate for 220 or 120 and finally to set the counter as the start of each roll to the proper format. Once you choose any of the above you are committed until the end of the roll.
My experiences with changing over a Rolleiflex from 6x6 to 6x4.5 was complicated enough that I rarely wanted to do it.
If you are not familiar with some the old-school folders, to have a winder that stops automatically at the next frame and to have a proper frame counter is very convenient.
Add to the mix an electronically controlled shutter, coupled to a built in meter - and - in you've entered the realm of the Rollei Magic. Plus, the need to manually tension the shutter for each frame is eliminated by using an electrically activated shutter.
So far no one has mentioned whether the Fuji/Voigtlander dual will use a leaf-shutter. Between the lens leaf shutters are a common medium format feature.
As for the lens, if it is as good as the Fujinon on my GW690 - resolution will head and shoulders above most vintage folders. It may be a bit heavy on the contrast for some B/W photography, but that is how it goes with modern multi-coated lenses.
W
wlewisiii
Guest
No, not really. Could be worded better in the light of day but Konica was never in the same ballpark with Cosina, much less Nikon or Canon. Decent lenses, but nowhere near to the same level in my experiances. I never used a hexanon that I thought was worth the hype. OTOH, lots of folks do think they are.
William
peter_n
Veteran
Konica optics were so good that during their production heyday years the Hexanon lenses were used by the Japanese Ministry of Industry as the reference standard by which the quality of all other manufacturers' lenses were judged.
Sal Santamaura
Member
In every photo of the Fuji and Bessa prototypes posted here and elsewhere it appears there are no threads inside the lenses' front rings. Did you use the term "filter ring" intentionally? Is it expected there will be threads? If not, will dedicated push-on filters be offered? Will the cameras be able to close with a filter in place?
Did Cosina offer any insight concerning the rangefinder's level of precision, especially considering what appears to be a short base length for the 80mm lens? After two Bronica RF645s, I'm gun shy!
Ernst Dinkla
Well-known
Chris Perez tested some Koni Omega lenses:
http://www.hevanet.com/cperez/MF_testing.html
If this folder gets any of that you do not have to complain.
Not related to Konica:
At the same page you can see what happens when a folder, in this case the Plaubel Makina with 80 mm Nikkor, isn't focusing correctly. That can happen when the folder construction isn't rigid enough and/or the coupling from lens to rangefinder is flawed. Much depends on the design of the coupling mechanism. On no other type of camera you will see the variety of rangefinder coupling designs to overcome that problem.
Ernst Dinkla
whitecat
Lone Range(find)er
Stephen, can you get some idea on the cost. If over 1200 I think That will limit the market.
Roger Hicks
Veteran
Dear Ernst,
The small round 'ole is what I understood to be the meter cell when I was shown the camera, but Stephen may have been paying closer attention than I, because I was covering RF, MF, LF, accessories and 'Weird Stuff' for Shutterbug.
Cheers,
R.
Roger Hicks
Veteran
Dear William,
Maybe I used them before the hype, but I was astonished at the quality of fixed lens Hexanons thirty-five years ago. And I'm still well impressed by the 47/1.9 on my SIII.
Cheers,
R.
Roger Hicks
Veteran
Dear Richard,
Very true, but from looking at the camera, the small round 'ole makes sense -- much easier to install. I would not for one instant disagree with your analysis, except on the basis of probability.
Cheers,
R.
KoNickon
Nick Merritt
"Konica was never in the same ballpark with Cosina...."
Prior to the Cosina/Voigtlander lenses, when was Cosina even on anyone's radar, in the high end lens market?
As for the Nikon and Canon comparison, Konicas did routinely test better than those two during the SLR heyday of the '70s. Sorry, but I don't like gratuitous comments like those and the "low market" reference. (If you want low market, I think Cosina's private label cameras like the Nikon FM10, Olympus 2000, and the like fit that description. Not bad cameras, but not high end by any means.)
I think part of Konica's problem was that they never went in for "hype" -- if they did (i.e. if they marketed more effectively), they might still be in the business.
But we're off the thread topic -- if Stephen could clarify about where the meter sensor is that would be great. Having it inside the filter ring would be really great, but the pictures of the cameras we've all seen show it on the front of the top deck.
Whether the lens is Cosina-designed or a Fuji product, it's going to be great. I'm not worried about that at all. But if Mr. K is looking to produce a "classic" sort of lens, that will be really nifty.
Prior to the Cosina/Voigtlander lenses, when was Cosina even on anyone's radar, in the high end lens market?
As for the Nikon and Canon comparison, Konicas did routinely test better than those two during the SLR heyday of the '70s. Sorry, but I don't like gratuitous comments like those and the "low market" reference. (If you want low market, I think Cosina's private label cameras like the Nikon FM10, Olympus 2000, and the like fit that description. Not bad cameras, but not high end by any means.)
I think part of Konica's problem was that they never went in for "hype" -- if they did (i.e. if they marketed more effectively), they might still be in the business.
But we're off the thread topic -- if Stephen could clarify about where the meter sensor is that would be great. Having it inside the filter ring would be really great, but the pictures of the cameras we've all seen show it on the front of the top deck.
Whether the lens is Cosina-designed or a Fuji product, it's going to be great. I'm not worried about that at all. But if Mr. K is looking to produce a "classic" sort of lens, that will be really nifty.
Sensor Location
Sensor Location
Tom A actually helped design the Bessa III with Mr. K. Tom told me the meter sensor is on the filter ring, ie close to the front element.
However it is possible that the sensor location may have changed in production cameras. The cameras at Photokina were closer to prototypes than the production line. Tom will be back online in about a week to 10 days from his Europe trip to answer questions.
Stephen
Sensor Location
Tom A actually helped design the Bessa III with Mr. K. Tom told me the meter sensor is on the filter ring, ie close to the front element.
However it is possible that the sensor location may have changed in production cameras. The cameras at Photokina were closer to prototypes than the production line. Tom will be back online in about a week to 10 days from his Europe trip to answer questions.
Stephen
KoNickon
Nick Merritt
Thanks, Stephen. Let's see what Tom A. says -- pretty cool that he helped with the design.
Pherdinand
the snow must go on
since it's a leaf shutter camera, and is said to be working in aperture priority as well, it would make much more sense to put the meter on the lens assembly somewhere, reducing the complications of wirings to the body etc.
Roger Hicks
Veteran
Except that the shutter speed dial is on the body, and is therefore already wired in...
Cheers,
R.
Pherdinand
the snow must go on
LOL, i might have missed that "detail", Roger.
CK Dexter Haven
Well-known
I was interested in this camera when it was first announced, and then i changed my mind. Now, i want one again. If anyone's monitoring this forum, make enough so i can get one without waiting, please.
Could any of you experienced Folder Folks please give me some insight into how these things work? I'm assuming, essentially, you click a button to open it and it unfolds like those 1970s Polaroid thingies with the accordion arms.... But, focusing? Is that a tab on the front of the lens at 2:00? And, the viewfinder has a coupled patch just like any other rangefinder? Metering will be with shutter speeds indicated in the viewfinder? AE and all that jazz? What else? Any other 'features' or obstacles? Can you walk around with the camera on a strap, open+extended, or should it be closed? Do you have to worry about the integrity of the alignment?
Oh, and someone mentioned a video of this thing. Does anyone have a link?
Could any of you experienced Folder Folks please give me some insight into how these things work? I'm assuming, essentially, you click a button to open it and it unfolds like those 1970s Polaroid thingies with the accordion arms.... But, focusing? Is that a tab on the front of the lens at 2:00? And, the viewfinder has a coupled patch just like any other rangefinder? Metering will be with shutter speeds indicated in the viewfinder? AE and all that jazz? What else? Any other 'features' or obstacles? Can you walk around with the camera on a strap, open+extended, or should it be closed? Do you have to worry about the integrity of the alignment?
Oh, and someone mentioned a video of this thing. Does anyone have a link?
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CK Dexter Haven
Well-known
Okay, i found a video in Japanese. The link was named "Fujifilm GF670 Folding," and i thought it was supposed to show the camera BEING folded/unfolded....
http://www.capacamera.net/pma08/index.php?page=1&id=24
http://www.capacamera.net/pma08/index.php?page=1&id=24
Abbazz
6x9 and be there!
There are many modern lenses of classic non-Gaussian design that can be classified as "mass market normal lenses," like:
- Nikkor 45mm f2.8 GN, Nikkor 45mm f/2.8P, Contax/Zeiss 45mm f/2.8 and Leica Elmar M 50mm F/2.8 (Tessar clones)
- Cosina/Voigtländer Classic Heliar 50mm F/2.0 & 50/3.5 (Heliar clones)
- SMC-Pentax M 40mm F/2.8 and the SMC PENTAX-DA 1:2.8 40mm Limited (modified Tessar)
I am certainly forgetting other modern lenses from various makers that also use those classic 4 or 5 element formulas.
Cheers!
Abbazz
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nanthor
Well-known
I notice 3 lugs, nice. And the auto exposure is also great, looks like a big, bright viewfinder. It could be scary expensive and end up not being used but put on collectors shelves, that would be a shame. Bob.