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VisualDarkness · 10-03-2015, 07:13 PM

Sadly one of very few film rangefinder makers are exiting that market and now Leica will basically be alone in the market. The lack of sales is most likely due to the mirrorless boom and Leica taking the rest of the market since they are citing increased sales of film cameras.
Voigtlander Rangefinder Cameras Are No More

**Digitalis** · 10-03-2015, 11:06 PM

the Zeiss Ikon is still in production ( I think). The Voigtlander Bessa cameras are decent entry level Rangefinder cameras, the wide range of mounts meant that lenses from discontinued cameras could be used. Even though I have never used a Bessa, it is still sad to see this happen.

Zav · 10-03-2015, 11:56 PM

Unfortunately the Zeiss Ikon has been discontinued some years ago.

stevebrot · 10-04-2015, 01:01 AM

Originally posted by VisualDarkness

Sadly one of very few film rangefinder makers are exiting that market

Sadly, one of the last makers of 35mm film cameras period. There will continue to be some production of R3M and R4M models through the remainder of the year and presumably the Nikon FM10 will still remain as the only film camera in active production by Cosina. Along with Cosina, that leaves Nikon and Leica as the last major brands making 35mm film cameras.

Also sad is that the medium format Bessa folders are also discontinued.

Steve

digital029art · 10-04-2015, 07:05 AM

Cosina could turn these into simple digital cams. Just add a sensor, SD card slot and some electronics. No LCD, no AF, no fancy nothing. Using a semi-obsolete (but still great) sensor like the 16MP Sony that has made the rounds, .. it should actually be less expensive. just saying~!

**Digitalis** · 10-04-2015, 08:05 AM

Originally posted by digital029art

Cosina could turn these into simple digital cams. Just add a sensor, SD card slot and some electronics.

Making a digital camera is a little bit more complicated than that.

tuco · 10-04-2015, 08:30 AM

I dunno. If someone can make a plastic Digital Holga, than I'd think integrating a digital sensor into your product is now a "commodity tech" in the engineering world.

digital029art · 10-04-2015, 08:58 AM

^ exactly!

stevebrot · 10-04-2015, 11:44 AM

Originally posted by digital029art

Cosina could turn these into simple digital cams. Just add a sensor, SD card slot and some electronics. No LCD, no AF, no fancy nothing. Using a semi-obsolete (but still great) sensor like the 16MP Sony that has made the rounds, .. it should actually be less expensive. just saying~!

Word has it that Mr. K (top of the totem pole at Cosina) is not fond of the idea of another digital project after the Epson RD-series cameras (essentially digital Bessas). The RD was very cool and nicely implemented, but were rumored to be a pain to make on a profitable basis.

Steve

VisualDarkness · 10-06-2015, 06:16 PM

Maybe Kickstarter or similar would be a good approach? You can check the market before actually producing anything.

stevebrot · 10-07-2015, 04:12 PM

Or...simply give these guys some money...

Konost Camera

...to build this...

M-mount, fully manual operation, unique and groundbreaking "digital" rangefinder design.

Steve

**monochrome** · 10-07-2015, 07:22 PM

But . . . . . . Film.

Jeebus. There's always somebody. We got plenty of digital.

stevebrot · 10-08-2015, 02:35 PM

Originally posted by monochrome

But . . . . . . Film.

Jeebus. There's always somebody. We got plenty of digital.

I guess that makes me biphoteo or something like that. I love working with film and my film rangefinders including my new Bessa R3M, but would really like fully manual digital equivalent as well.

Steve

stevebrot · 10-11-2015, 11:10 AM

In regards to the original post and possible reasons for V/C's actions...It occurred to me that for the last couple of years Copal has been quietly stopping production of there mechanical shutter lines. Might it be that V/C is no longer able to source that critical part?

Steve

10-03-2015, 07:13 PM	#1
VisualDarkness Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Uppsala, Sweden Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,439	Cosina discontinuing the Voigtlander Bessa line Sadly one of very few film rangefinder makers are exiting that market and now Leica will basically be alone in the market. The lack of sales is most likely due to the mirrorless boom and Leica taking the rest of the market since they are citing increased sales of film cameras. Voigtlander Rangefinder Cameras Are No More

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10-03-2015, 11:06 PM	#2
Digitalis Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Melbourne, Victoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,694	the Zeiss Ikon is still in production ( I think). The Voigtlander Bessa cameras are decent entry level Rangefinder cameras, the wide range of mounts meant that lenses from discontinued cameras could be used. Even though I have never used a Bessa, it is still sad to see this happen.

10-03-2015, 11:56 PM	#3
Zav Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,371	Unfortunately the Zeiss Ikon has been discontinued some years ago.

10-04-2015, 01:01 AM	#4
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by VisualDarkness Sadly one of very few film rangefinder makers are exiting that market Sadly, one of the last makers of 35mm film cameras period. There will continue to be some production of R3M and R4M models through the remainder of the year and presumably the Nikon FM10 will still remain as the only film camera in active production by Cosina. Along with Cosina, that leaves Nikon and Leica as the last major brands making 35mm film cameras. Also sad is that the medium format Bessa folders are also discontinued. Steve

10-04-2015, 07:05 AM	#5
digital029art Inactive Account Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 440	Cosina could turn these into simple digital cams. Just add a sensor, SD card slot and some electronics. No LCD, no AF, no fancy nothing. Using a semi-obsolete (but still great) sensor like the 16MP Sony that has made the rounds, .. it should actually be less expensive. just saying~!

10-04-2015, 08:05 AM	#6
Digitalis Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Melbourne, Victoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,694	Originally posted by digital029art Cosina could turn these into simple digital cams. Just add a sensor, SD card slot and some electronics. Making a digital camera is a little bit more complicated than that.

10-04-2015, 08:30 AM	#7
tuco Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Pugetopolis Posts: 11,032	I dunno. If someone can make a plastic Digital Holga, than I'd think integrating a digital sensor into your product is now a "commodity tech" in the engineering world.

10-04-2015, 08:58 AM	#8
digital029art Inactive Account Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 440	^ exactly!

10-04-2015, 11:44 AM	#9
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by digital029art Cosina could turn these into simple digital cams. Just add a sensor, SD card slot and some electronics. No LCD, no AF, no fancy nothing. Using a semi-obsolete (but still great) sensor like the 16MP Sony that has made the rounds, .. it should actually be less expensive. just saying~! Word has it that Mr. K (top of the totem pole at Cosina) is not fond of the idea of another digital project after the Epson RD-series cameras (essentially digital Bessas). The RD was very cool and nicely implemented, but were rumored to be a pain to make on a profitable basis. Steve

10-06-2015, 06:16 PM	#10
VisualDarkness Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Uppsala, Sweden Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,439 Original Poster	Maybe Kickstarter or similar would be a good approach? You can check the market before actually producing anything.

10-07-2015, 04:12 PM	#11
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Or...simply give these guys some money... Konost Camera ...to build this... M-mount, fully manual operation, unique and groundbreaking "digital" rangefinder design. Steve

10-07-2015, 07:22 PM	#12
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	But . . . . . . *Film*. Jeebus. There's always somebody. We got plenty of digital.

10-08-2015, 02:35 PM	#13
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by monochrome But . . . . . . *Film*. Jeebus. There's always somebody. We got plenty of digital. I guess that makes me biphoteo or something like that. I love working with film and my film rangefinders including my new Bessa R3M, but would really like fully manual digital equivalent as well. Steve

10-11-2015, 11:10 AM	#14
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	In regards to the original post and possible reasons for V/C's actions...It occurred to me that for the last couple of years Copal has been quietly stopping production of there mechanical shutter lines. Might it be that V/C is no longer able to source that critical part? Steve

Cosina discontinuing the Voigtlander Bessa line

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