Will there be a R5 in Cosina's future?

rover said:
I assume your source is a thread I am not remembering here at RFF?
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I tried to find the thread for you, but there are only three polls' pages available on "RFF Polls" and those are just the most recent ones (since August...) but maybe there are other ways to localize it...

I started that poll asking members which AE interchangeable lenses RF cameras they used, and if they had any damage/repair, and the most problematic was the ZI, being the M7 in the middle and the most reliable one the R3A... I think more than 100 voters... I don't want to look like insisting in the R3A being better, but at least being just as good... I shoot -among others- with four used and new Bessas daily (beach, rain, bumps), two years ago, mechanical and automatic ones (all M mount), and they haven't given me any kind of problem...

Cheers,

Juan
 
The Zeiss Ikon was a first generation product, and as you might expect there were plenty of growing pains along the way.

The R3A/4A/4M were third- and fourth-generation products, possibly fifth or sixth, if you count the L and the T, and so rangefinder problems should have been solved by now.

The problems with misalignment in the R could be understood and possibly the R2 (my Rollei 35 RF ... R2 clone has slight vertical misalignment), but they should have been solved by the R3 and R4 models.

And the shutter. While it's not been an outright complaint, it has been something that people have mentioned since the R, and so by now they should have worked with Copal to either damp the shutter or provide some sound deadening in the bodies.

Still, I think they are excellent values for the money, especially for those who want a new camera and/or a less-expensive alternative to the Zeiss Ikon and Leica M.

And the bodies have improved with each successive model. I have no problem recommending the cameras to anyone.
 
wouldn't be the R5, but an updated fixed lens RF could be fun, though not sure it could be sold at a price point which would rival the canonets etc
 
wlewisiii said:
I'd be happier if they'd make nice value price LF lenses. Something on the order of a 150/5.6 Symmar convertable or even a single focus Tessar design that has enough coverage on 4x5 for movements but doesn't kill the wallet like most modern glass does.

Now there's a non-digital fantasy for you that's even less likely LOL!

William
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William, I like this idea, let's go further by suggesting for them to create the world's first truly portable 4x5 rangefinder. Accurate rangefinder, a back accepting modern sheet film holders, and a comfortable grip.

Too much to ask? :p:D
 
shadowfox said:
William, I like this idea, let's go further by suggesting for them to create the world's first truly portable 4x5 rangefinder. Accurate rangefinder, a back accepting modern sheet film holders, and a comfortable grip.

Too much to ask? :p:D
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Nah, we need the 100 sheet motorized film magazine too.

:angel:

That's ok, I've got a nice old 6.5" Velostigmat triple convertible coming from a gentleman in Canada. That will keep me playing for a nice long time. :cool:

William
 
I would love to see the R5A/M with a longer lens focus (pardon the pun). Perhaps a 1.5X view finder that bright as every other Bessa. Frame lines say 50/135, 75 and 90. While an updated T would be fun, not sure why. Now if you upgrade the L to take a winder and be M mount and a low price that would work.

An R4A & R5M combo would rock as the two body system. Have a 25/4 & 35/1.2 combo for the R4 and a 75/1.4 & 135/2.8 (coupled of course) and you would be able to handle just about everything. Perhaps a L2A (M mount, Auto, Winder accepting) rear lens cap for a new 15/4.5…..

That’s the kind of finder you need to follow the finder on the R4, world class and world first.

B2 (;->
 
A bit OT, but I have to say an interesting observation.......

Now I must say, the idea of CV branching out to LF glass is very interesting, might be a nice niche to keep the engineers busy. Easy to assemble, get shutters from outside, they know how to do brass well.

New high quality glass for 4x5 cameras at a reasonable price, I smell an interesitng niche Pres K could grow like he did in RangeFinders. I'd follow him there.

B2 (;->
 
ZeissFan said:
The R3A/4A/4M were third- and fourth-generation products, possibly fifth or sixth, if you count the L and the T, and so rangefinder problems should have been solved by now.

The problems with misalignment in the R could be understood and possibly the R2 (my Rollei 35 RF ... R2 clone has slight vertical misalignment), but they should have been solved by the R3 and R4 models.

And the shutter. While it's not been an outright complaint, it has been something that people have mentioned since the R, and so by now they should have worked with Copal to either damp the shutter or provide some sound deadening in the bodies.

Still, I think they are excellent values for the money...
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I like your thinking. And in this case, necessity may be the birth of future innovation.

Nay-sayers and doubting Thomases lack vision. Remember, my original question was: Does anyone forsee a new Bessa RXX coming down the pike?

I'm sure no one expected the introduction of a new film camera in the midst of a dirth of DSLR cameras.

Only CV and Kobayashi-san know for sure. :D
 
lilmsmaggie said:
IMHO the above comments are examples of Killing creativity, to which I leave you with some examples of missed opportunities when this type of thinking is allowed to prevail:

  • In January 1962, The Beatles were turned down by Decca Records because they were considered too similar to the Shadows.
  • "No one will ever use more than 640K of memory." wrongly attributed to Bill Gates
  • The first agent to whom J.K. Rowling sent Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone rejected her in little more than a day. Her second agent, Christopher Little, was turned down by 12 publishers before Bloomsbury said yes a year later.
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Well, that's your opinion. Mine is that it's fantasy. My opinion is based on knowing the people involved (and even on discussions at the recent photokina); on decades in the industry; and on a fair idea of what sells and has sold in the past (sufficiently fair that I've even been employed as a consultant). What's yours based on, other than wishful thinking?

Of course I could be wrong. But (which is equally important) so could you.

Cheers,

R.
 
BillBingham2 said:
I would love to see the R5A/M with a longer lens focus (pardon the pun). Perhaps a 1.5X view finder that bright as every other Bessa. Frame lines say 50/135, 75 and 90.
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A long-lens Bessa seems like the obvious follow-up to the wide-angle R4A/M to me, at least if they were going to continue with the same logic. Then that sets them up perfectly for a future ultra-wide R6A/M with frame lines going out to 12mm (hey, we're fantasizing, right?)
 
I'd like to see Cosina maybe make an RF which was a little slicker, prettier to look at, but that's just me. I'd actually like to see them make an SLR too, maybe something like the VSL43, but increase the price by $500 and build it out of metal, paint it black to match the existing VC Pentax fit lenses. Would be a sort of R8/R9 replacement.
 
Roger Hicks said:
Well, that's your opinion. Mine is that it's fantasy. My opinion is based on knowing the people involved (and even on discussions at the recent photokina); on decades in the industry; and on a fair idea of what sells and has sold in the past (sufficiently fair that I've even been employed as a consultant). What's yours based on, other than wishful thinking?

Of course I could be wrong. But (which is equally important) so could you.

Cheers,

R.
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And you're entitled to your opinion. History has proven that just because you're on the inside and maybe because you are on the inside, you fail to see the forest for the trees. Many companies have failed to take advantage of a business opportunity, or pooh-poohed ideas or the competition only to eat crow in the end. Case in point: The U.S. Auto Industry failed to see that the Japanese auto industry was making in-roads in the American market. Detroit failed to see what consumers wanted and were willing to buy. Arrogance has a tendency to make you lose sight of potential. I don't have to tell you what happened with the U.S. Auto Industry as a result of their arrogance and malaise.

I never said "what" would happen, or gave an opinion of what I thought "would" happen; I simply put it out there as a "What If" proposition to engage others in a little healthy discussion.

Your opinion and position is more along the lines of: "I'm an insider and I know." And to that I say, maybe you need to backup and rethink your position, and consider the potential possibilities. Fantasy has a habit of becoming reality.
 
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thegman said:
I'd like to see Cosina maybe make an RF which was a little slicker, prettier to look at, but that's just me. I'd actually like to see them make an SLR too, maybe something like the VSL43, but increase the price by $500 and build it out of metal, paint it black to match the existing VC Pentax fit lenses. Would be a sort of R8/R9 replacement.
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A Cosina made Vivitar in Pentax K came to me recently. Barring the plastic build and the lack of DOF preview, it compares very well to Pentax MX. That the mirror locks-up during the self-timer is something I wish the Pentax did. If one were made comparable to the Bessa R2a, it would be tempting.
 
lilmsmaggie said:
And you're entitled to your opinion. History has proven that just because you're on the inside and maybe because you are on the inside, you fail to see the forest for the trees. Many companies have failed to take advantage of a business opportunity, or pooh-poohed ideas or the competition only to eat crow in the end. Case in point: The U.S. Auto Industry failed to see that the Japanese auto industry was making in-roads in the American market. Detroit failed to see what consumers wanted and were willing to buy. Arrogance has a tendency to make you lose sight of potential. I don't have to tell you what happened with the U.S. Auto Industry as a result of their arrogance and malaise.

I never said "what" would happen, or gave an opinion of what I thought "would" happen; I simply put it out there as a "What If" proposition to engage others in a little healthy discussion.

Your opinion and position is more along the lines of: "I'm an insider and I know." And to that I say, maybe you need to backup and rethink your position, and consider the potential possibilities. Fantasy has a habit of becoming reality.
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No, I don't know. As I said, I could be wrong. I've been wrong before. But as I say, you could be wrong too. Like most people, I value an informed opinion above an uninformed one. Sure, the uninformed fantasist can be right. It just tends to happen less often.

Cheers,

R.
 
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Jason Sprenger said:
A Cosina made Vivitar in Pentax K came to me recently. Barring the plastic build and the lack of DOF preview, it compares very well to Pentax MX. That the mirror locks-up during the self-timer is something I wish the Pentax did. If one were made comparable to the Bessa R2a, it would be tempting.
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I find these very cheap SLRs quite interesting, it shows how inexpensive they can be made, and for the fondlers amongst us, a "premium" version might be quite attractive.
 
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