Would you buy a new film camera?

[Larry Cloetta]

Yokosuka Mike, you're probably right about Larry C. Normally I enjoy tremendously what Larry says, but there I thought he was having a dig at a perfectly innocuous opinion of yours. Perhaps I misinterpreted his intent.

No, it wasn’t sarcasm. Too obtuse maybe. I pretty much agree with Mike about the G2. I do get many more keepers on a roll with my G2 than I do with my M bodies, but I am more likely to pick up an M when going out the door, or an Iskra for that matter. Simply because I apparently find that getting good results from the G2 to be too easy. Makes no sense, I know. (But, unlike Mike, I haven’t sold mine.)
The bit about the M “viewfinder experience” was a bit sarcastic, but it was a dig at myself more than anything. I do find the M viewfinder to be superb, and better than the G2, but what difference does that make, and why should I take the M3 out more than the G2, if the G2 is clearly a better picture making tool than an M; why this fascination with a viewfinder? They are questions I ask myself, heresies.
So, it was pretty much the opposite of a dig at Mike, it was an agreement about a human behavior I seem to share, but don’t understand. If some tool makes achieving the goal too easy, unchallenging, I do seem to get bored with it. Stick shift over automatic, rev matching double clutched downshifts till the end of my days, that kind of thing.
Mike, glad you sensed what I was getting at, even if it wasn’t perfectly clear.

 

[Canyongazer]

Well, I do seem to be in the minority here and find myself on the other side of the fence from RFFs for whom I have a lot of respect.
Ouch.


I confess I have a hard time blaming - or crediting - equipment for the results.

Harken back to the old saw about the writer who praises a photographer thus : "Wonderful photographs, you must have an excellent camera!"
to which he replies
"Your short stories are fascinating...you must have a top notch typewriter * ."

The genesis of this, for me anyway, is the occasional condemnation we see of 50mm lenses for being "boring." That strikes me as self delusion.

I maintain that photographs, for good or ill, are the products of the camera operator, far more so than the camera.


Cg

* I did admit the saw is old. : -))

 

[narsuitus]

The Contax G2. One of the most beautiful cameras I've ever owned. I had the 28mm, 35mm 45mm and 90mm lenses. A flawless camera.

I do not have the Contax G2 rangefinder but do have the G1 with 21mm, 28mm, 45mm, and 90mm lenses.

I also have the Leica M6 rangefinder with 21mm, 35mm, and 90mm lenses.

I think they are both beautiful cameras and love the way the two rangefinders can work together.

My favorite two-body/three-lens combination is:
Leica M6 with 35mm f/1.4
Contax G1 with 90mm f/2.8 and 21mm f/2.8 plus accessory wide-angle viewfinder

If I had to replace either my G1 or my M6 film cameras, I would love to do so with a brand new body.


35mm Rangefinders by Narsuitus, on Flickr

 

[Yokosuka Mike]

Some people think that auto-focus is boring. Some people think that digital photography is boring. And, some people think that color photography is boring.

I may not agree but I understand their point of view.

All the best,
Mike

 

[Dogman]

I can't see how anything associated with photography is boring.

And I agree, the camera doesn't take the picture anymore than the quill writes the poem.

 

[Dogman]

Concerning the Contax G2, yes I would love to have one. But I really want one in digital configuration.

 

[Ambro51]

I think film cameras reached a high point post WWII and costs today to tool up for the hundreds of small mechanical parts would be staggering. Plus, today, you simply dont cast or forge a part....you create software and programs to CNC or 3D print parts. Everything would be way too complicated for today’s manufacturing techniques (cheap & modular). To tool up today to manufacture a Contax II or TLR from the ground up....you’d need a 7K price point to come close to breaking even, providing the product would be a sales success. Given the fact that most classic cameras stood the test of time and are only an eBay click away....perhaps it’s best to Not really try to build serious film cameras anymore (unless you’re Leica).

 

[aizan]

I think the only sustainable way to make more advanced film cameras will be to have cooperation between new camera companies to design key components via open source and set standards to make them modular. Right now, there’s not much infrastructure and everybody is starting from the ground up. It’s great that there are so many unique, individualistic products, but it’s too expensive for these small companies to develop more sophisticated components like shutters, meters, film advance mechanisms with automatic frame counters, and combined rangefinder/viewfinders. They have to found a new camera manufacturers association to cooperate.

 

[helen.HH]

Sometimes I lust for a Nikkor RF S2 or the Contax T (again in Life)
But in reality
My Black M4 Is the only film camera I need

So plain and simple answer : No Buying film cameras

Later this week, I will have Tom A’s 21 lens... I plan on making Tom smile

 

[Deleted member 65559]

Sometimes I lust for a Nikkor RF S2 or the Contax T (again in Life)
But in reality
My Black M4 Is the only film camera I need

So plain and simple answer : No Buying film cameras

Later this week, I will have Tom A’s 21 lens... I plan on making Tom smile

Excellent Helen. Lucky you!

 

[pyeh]

Gotta apologise to Cg and LC for my tetchiness earlier. Should have kept my mouth shut/hands tied.
I have Ms and Contax Gs. Like Larry I use my Ms much more. In fact I haven't used my Contax Gs for a long time, but I'm saving them for when my eyes and hands completely fail to focus a manual lens.

 

[Canyongazer]

Apology appreciated and accepted, pyeh.
I confess my initial post could have/should have been more clear.

 

[Tom Diaz]

I had to return to film for a spell, because I have a special job coming up that requires film.

I would gladly have bought a Voigtlander, to use my Leica lenses with, but there were no new ones, so I bought a Leica CL. It took me three tries to get one that worked, but it's nice.

I'm with others here who have said this, but I would have gladly bought a new film camera for $500-$1000, but I don't think there are enough guys like me to support a factory.

Tom

 

[Deleted member 65559]

I'm with others here who have said this, but I would have gladly bought a new film camera for $500-$1000, but I don't think there are enough guys like me to support a factory.

Tom

Tom, with pro level digitals selling from $3-5k, it would be a losing battle to tool up a factory and sell a pro film camera for $500....

 

[aizan]

What kind of camera could you realistically make for $500?

$30 Ilford Harman reloadable camera
$45 Kodak M35
$100 Polaroid Now
$120 Fujifilm Instax SQ1
$145 Willtravel 4x5
$150 Goodman Zone
$260 Ilford Harman Titan 4x5 pinhole
$275 Lomo LC-A
$300 Ondu 6x17 Ondurama Rise (€260)
$360 Intrepid 4x5 Mk4 (£280)
$380 Stenopeika Hyper Camera 4x5 Butterfly Wings (327€)
$390 MiNT InstantFlex TL70
$410 Ilford Harman Titan 8x10 pinhole
$450 Lomo LC-A 120
$500 Cosmos Circle 4x5

We’re looking at:

1) Plastic, fixed lens, auto-everything cameras
2) Primitive, bare-bones, manual-everything cameras

Molded or 3D printed plastic, some machined wood and metal. Autoexposure with no meter display. No SLRs or rangefinders.

Given these constraints, can you imagine a new camera that you would want to buy?

 

[Deleted member 65559]

What kind of camera could you realistically make for $500?


Given these constraints, can you imagine a new camera that you would want to buy?

With Tmax 400 selling for $150 a box.... i'd be reluctant to try any molded plastic or other cheapie 4x5....

 

[chipgreenberg]

Actually, I just did

Actually, I just did

New old stock from the factory

rollie by Chip Greenberg, on Flickr

 

[f.hayek]

New old stock from the factory

Please share how you sourced new-old stock!! Who can be contacted at the factory (didn't know there still was one)? This is exciting.

 

[chipgreenberg]

Please share how you sourced new-old stock!! Who can be contacted at the factory (didn't know there still was one)? This is exciting.

I was trying to decide between a Rollie TLR (I have a Minolta Autocord I really like and wanted something different), a Blad which I used extensively in the past, and maybe something different. I've had kind of a run of bad luck with old cameras, as charming as they are so NEW had great appeal. Enough appeal to consider a Hy6.

There is indeed still a factory and they do still make the Hy6. I really thought about that but it was just more than I wanted to spend. If I'm happy with this I'd consider it but I was unsure about an electronic camera, autofocus, automation and a motor I don't really care about. It's a very different beast from the Blad.

This site has good history on the factory and info on the Hy6: http://www.rolleiflexpages.com/Hy6.html

So I was looking for something used and called Eric @ Rollie USA. He's a great resource and was terrific to deal with. He told me the factory was building him a 6008AF out parts they found. Came boxed, with a 1 year factory warranty.

Here's Rollie USA: https://rolleiflex.us/pages/about-rolleiflex-usa

I'm about half way through my first roll. The camera is big. Nowhere near as big as an RZ67 which I've also used. I hand held it and found the ergonomics terrific with the grip. If I want small/light I'd grab the TLR. Or my contax after Mark Hansen fixes it again. I focused and metered manually but checked my settings with the built in meter and focus confirmation.

So I'd assume this was a one of, and I was pretty lucky. Eric has some new lenses and parts like backs on the site still for the 6000 series. And of course new Hy6's.

good luck!

 

[Ambro51]

“Building it out of parts they found”....what an amazing and fortunate occurrence. Warranty, no less!