Too bad Voigt never made a digital...

slackercruster · 07-21-2012, 03:56 PM

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Voigt made some purdy cams in their day. I never had one, so don't know if the beauty is only skin deep. But would have loved a digital like this....almost temps me to get back into film!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-USA-Voigtlander-40mm-40-1-4-MC-or-SC-lens-with-Voigtlander-Bessa-R3M-or-R3A-/270835001916?pt=Film_Cameras&hash=item3f0f062a3c

gtxtom · 07-21-2012, 06:45 PM

I don't care how well it performs, it just looks AWESOME!

(Ok ... I do sort of care how well it performs.)

Frogfish · 07-22-2012, 02:44 AM - **1 Like**

It really is. It would be a lower cost Leica with 95% of the IQ !

**ChrisPlatt** · 07-22-2012, 07:58 AM - **1 Like**

Cosina is still in business. They make the Voigtlander line of 35mm rangefinder cameras and lenses.
FWIW Cosina manufactured the highly regarded Epson R-D1 and R-D1s digital rangefinder cameras.

Chris

Last edited by ChrisPlatt; 07-22-2012 at 08:50 AM.

slackercruster · 07-22-2012, 09:09 AM

WOW...what the hell hap to them Chris? Why did they quit??? They were spectacular!

You see the price of those old R-D1 cams on ebay...they must be collectors items at that price for a 6mp cam!

**ChrisPlatt** · 07-22-2012, 11:15 AM

Cosina has long been rumored to have another digital in the works.
They seem to be doing just fine in their current niche market though.

Chris

jogiba · 07-22-2012, 12:01 PM

The m4/3rds are the best bodies for using the ultra fast F0.95 Voigtländer lenses.

You Tube

You Tube

Last edited by jogiba; 07-22-2012 at 01:03 PM.

pinholecam · 07-22-2012, 03:39 PM

They are usable on many of the MILC out there nowadays, so I'd not even encourage them to wade into the cesspool of digital camera bodies

The costs involved and the turn around times have been the demise of more than one camera company.

Frogfish · 07-22-2012, 08:35 PM

Originally posted by pinholecam

They are usable on many of the MILC out there nowadays, so I'd not even encourage them to wade into the cesspool of digital camera bodies

The costs involved and the turn around times have been the demise of more than one camera company.

If Voigtlander were to make a digital version of their of their Bessa III 35mm rangefinder camera, for example, I think it would be an instant success. Their rangefinders compete well with the Leicas simply because they deliver great quality but at a much lower cost. The non-digital rangefinder market is a diminishing niche market (maybe China aside but even then it's the digital Leicas that sell) and if Voigtlander are going to have a long term future then they need to produce a digital version.

Their Cosina-made lenses are superb but that's no surprise because the later day incarnation of Cosina makes many (most ? all ?) of Zeiss' top quality lenses.

stevebrot · 07-22-2012, 09:04 PM

Originally posted by Frogfish

incarnation of Cosina makes many (most ? all ?) of Zeiss' top quality lenses

They make Zeiss SLR and M mount lenses. They also make the Zeiss Ikon rangefinder camera. And yes, that is a film camera that came out just a few years ago...sort of a Bessa III on steroids. Very nice. I want one. As for a digital version of the Bessa III...it was called the EPSON R-D1. Rumor is that Mr. K. at Cosina has not been fond of making digital cameras due to their experience with the R-D1. That may explain why they have stayed out of the digital market.

Steve

**ChrisPlatt** · 07-23-2012, 09:53 AM

Voigtlander lenses sell for half the price of equivalent Leitz models, and apparently sell quite well.
Perhaps Kobayashi-san is content with the money he makes selling lenses to the Leica crowd?

Chris

eddie1960 · 07-23-2012, 10:11 AM

Originally posted by slackercruster

WOW...what the hell hap to them Chris? Why did they quit??? They were spectacular!

You see the price of those old R-D1 cams on ebay...they must be collectors items at that price for a 6mp cam!

The guy who runs Cosina is not a fan of Digital AFAIK, but I would be very surprised if they didn't have something under development. Main reason theRD1 and RD1s sell for so much is because the competing cams sell for even more (the leicas)
the Bessa rangefinders are excellent cameras, and the voigtlander lenses are also excellent. and at a fraction of the comparable leica prices.
I've seen rumours of a partnership with Fuji (X pro kills that one) and others to develop a bessa based RF (Fuji was the most likely as they already work together on the amazing Bessa III 6x6/ 6x7 folder -which was available in Japan as the Fuji 667) Voigtlander has since launched a wide version of the Bessa III which is not duplicated in a Fuji model AFAIK - I'd love to own this one

Voigtlander Bessa III Wide

07-21-2012, 03:56 PM	#1
slackercruster Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: NE, USA Posts: 1,302	Too bad Voigt never made a digital... Staff note: This post may contain affiliate links, which means Pentax Forums may earn a small commission if a visitor clicks through and makes a purchase. If you would like to support the forum directly, you may also make a donation here. Voigt made some purdy cams in their day. I never had one, so don't know if the beauty is only skin deep. But would have loved a digital like this....almost temps me to get back into film! http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-USA-Voigtlander-40mm-40-1-4-MC-or-SC-lens-with-Voigtlander-Bessa-R3M-or-R3A-/270835001916?pt=Film_Cameras&hash=item3f0f062a3c

07-22-2012, 09:09 AM	#5
slackercruster Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: NE, USA Posts: 1,302 Original Poster	WOW...what the hell hap to them Chris? Why did they quit??? They were spectacular! You see the price of those old R-D1 cams on ebay...they must be collectors items at that price for a 6mp cam! Last edited by slackercruster; 07-22-2012 at 09:18 AM.

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07-21-2012, 06:45 PM	#2
gtxtom Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Philly Posts: 395	I don't care how well it performs, it just looks AWESOME! (Ok ... I do sort of care how well it performs.)

07-22-2012, 02:44 AM - 1 Like	#3
Frogfish Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Shanghai Posts: 4,490	It really is. It would be a lower cost Leica with 95% of the IQ !

07-22-2012, 07:58 AM - 1 Like	#4
ChrisPlatt Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Rockaway Beach NYC Posts: 7,692	Cosina is still in business. They make the Voigtlander line of 35mm rangefinder cameras and lenses. FWIW Cosina manufactured the highly regarded Epson R-D1 and R-D1s digital rangefinder cameras. Chris Last edited by ChrisPlatt; 07-22-2012 at 08:50 AM.

07-22-2012, 11:15 AM	#6
ChrisPlatt Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Rockaway Beach NYC Posts: 7,692	Cosina has long been rumored to have another digital in the works. They seem to be doing just fine in their current niche market though. Chris

07-22-2012, 03:39 PM	#8
pinholecam Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: North Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,706	They are usable on many of the MILC out there nowadays, so I'd not even encourage them to wade into the cesspool of digital camera bodies The costs involved and the turn around times have been the demise of more than one camera company.

07-22-2012, 08:35 PM	#9
Frogfish Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Shanghai Posts: 4,490	Originally posted by pinholecam They are usable on many of the MILC out there nowadays, so I'd not even encourage them to wade into the cesspool of digital camera bodies The costs involved and the turn around times have been the demise of more than one camera company. If Voigtlander were to make a digital version of their of their Bessa III 35mm rangefinder camera, for example, I think it would be an instant success. Their rangefinders compete well with the Leicas simply because they deliver great quality but at a much lower cost. The non-digital rangefinder market is a diminishing niche market (maybe China aside but even then it's the digital Leicas that sell) and if Voigtlander are going to have a long term future then they need to produce a digital version. Their Cosina-made lenses are superb but that's no surprise because the later day incarnation of Cosina makes many (most ? all ?) of Zeiss' top quality lenses.

07-22-2012, 09:04 PM	#10
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by Frogfish incarnation of Cosina makes many (most ? all ?) of Zeiss' top quality lenses They make Zeiss SLR and M mount lenses. They also make the Zeiss Ikon rangefinder camera. And yes, that is a film camera that came out just a few years ago...sort of a Bessa III on steroids. Very nice. I want one. As for a digital version of the Bessa III...it was called the EPSON R-D1. Rumor is that Mr. K. at Cosina has not been fond of making digital cameras due to their experience with the R-D1. That may explain why they have stayed out of the digital market. Steve

07-23-2012, 09:53 AM	#11
ChrisPlatt Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Rockaway Beach NYC Posts: 7,692	Voigtlander lenses sell for half the price of equivalent Leitz models, and apparently sell quite well. Perhaps Kobayashi-san is content with the money he makes selling lenses to the Leica crowd? Chris

07-23-2012, 10:11 AM	#12
eddie1960 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,666	Originally posted by slackercruster WOW...what the hell hap to them Chris? Why did they quit??? They were spectacular! You see the price of those old R-D1 cams on ebay...they must be collectors items at that price for a 6mp cam! The guy who runs Cosina is not a fan of Digital AFAIK, but I would be very surprised if they didn't have something under development. Main reason theRD1 and RD1s sell for so much is because the competing cams sell for even more (the leicas) the Bessa rangefinders are excellent cameras, and the voigtlander lenses are also excellent. and at a fraction of the comparable leica prices. I've seen rumours of a partnership with Fuji (X pro kills that one) and others to develop a bessa based RF (Fuji was the most likely as they already work together on the amazing Bessa III 6x6/ 6x7 folder -which was available in Japan as the Fuji 667) Voigtlander has since launched a wide version of the Bessa III which is not duplicated in a Fuji model AFAIK - I'd love to own this one Voigtlander Bessa III Wide

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