A further new-SLR project: Ponf

[AgX]

Dead Link Removed


I'm not sure what is more interesting in this new-SLR projects of these days, the cameras themselves or the mere fact of the occurance of these projects.

 

[miha]

Dead Link Removed


I'm not sure what is more interesting in this new-SLR projects of these days, the cameras themself or the mere fact of the occurance of these projects.

I say it's the latter.

"Ponf is the world's first multi-back film and digital camera"

Well, not quite true...

 

[guangong]

A very interesting concept. Yet, at present the world is still awash with quality film cameras. After all, saturation of film camera market is a significant reason for changeover to marketing digital plus more rapid consumer replacement. I am using cameras I bought in early 1960s as well as cameras made in 1935; many on APUG use even much older cameras. Most modern consumer digital cameras are one way manufacture and not designed for repair.
There were several concepts about using digital capture in 35mm cameras floating around in the past, such as one in the shape of a film cassette. Not sure, but I vaguely remember even Leica Talking about a digital back. Maybe another APUGer can correct me on this.
Of course, Hasselblad, at a price fit only for the gods, has already done this for MF.

 

[locutus]

Leica made a digital back for the R8 and R9, it was crop and....not that great compared to integrated systems available then.

 

[cramej]

Oh jeez, not another one of these. So far, they have an empty 3d printed box with a lens mount and expect to have full production going in 6 months. It's not even a well-designed box at that. That alone says to me that they have no idea what they're doing.

I found their facebook page and it looks like they've 'hacked' a Canon 60d shutter and made it click. So they have a sensor, a shutter and a lens mount. Now they need everything else that makes a camera work. Looks like a nice college level engineering project for fun.

It's a solution in search of a problem that doesn't exist. "Why choose between film and digital? You can have both!" Yes, I can have both by carrying fully functioning film camera and/or a fully functioning digital camera.

 

[Chan Tran]

I see nothing interesting. The promise is much more than they could accomplish and yet even if they could the usefullness is quite limited cost would likely to be very high.

 

[Wallendo]

It will include a vegan model.

I'm not sure of the benefit of an $800 camera with interchangeable backs. I already have glassless adapters which allow me to use m42 lenses on my Canon, Minolta MF, and Minolta AF film cameras as well as my Sony A-mount and E-mount digital cameras.

 

[mr rusty]

Pointless I'm afraid. The people who need a digital SLR these days won't be interested in the film back, and they will never better canon, nikon etc. For the average person the quality of phone images is more than adequate, heck I use them on our corporate website all the time. So that leaves the film option. PONF or serviced OM1/2? I know where I'd go!

 

[trendland]

Well - I indeed followed such real interesting new projects in concern of new 35mm equipment.
Is there a need of 35mm film cameras? Many people would say : "I'll buy a cheap used camera from 2.hand in mind condition " (hart to find mind conditioned cameras of some types-by the way - and it is often the opposite of cheap then )
But if we remember the year 2003 - there was a point : ALL camera manufacturers discontinued there classic models. With single exeptions (Nikon F6). Some of us saw the chance to by equipment to that time (2003 -2006) with special price ....- 40%...- 50%
- 70% to brand new cameras of last series.
Today there should be a NEW SMAL DEMAND on film cameras again.
Because some are new in photography,
they are missing the good old times, may be the epuipment of some is broken a.s.o.
And what is to do if some people don't like 2.hand ?
Where one can buy a new Model Film Camera ? The last existing models are high priced or from plastic (Lomo).
But is it a way to reinvent the wheel ?
If I stated there might be a smal demand on NEW manufactured 35mm cameras I would like to state : I indeed can't see just a very smal demand on hybrid equipment (digital/film).
And if I would spend money to cheaper new 35mm cameras (outside NiconF6,LeicaM,Voigtländer Bessa and others) I want to have a camera made from new metal and I don't like to see if they are made from wood or from plastic.

I could be so simple from industrial productions because some manufacturers should still own construction plans of real iconic cameras
of modern types (most where build during the 70th -later on autofocus came out and build in motors and plastic,plastic,plastic ...).
The biggest sin was to design lenses with plastic bayonet at last - by the way.
To figure out what type of cameras from the 70th and from a bit later, have had all what people would need to be most happy - here are (some) examples :

PENTAX MX

NIKON FE2

MINOLTA XD7

NIKON F3 PRESS / MD-4

LEICA R6 / MOTOR DRIVE

PENTAX LX / LONG FILM MAGAZIN 250

Don't be afraid I have forgotten Canon and others - but it should be clear now - what is meant.
Caused from demand Pentax decided to bring out a special edition (Y2k) of Pentax LX at last :

AND this camera you realy may find only in mind condition or BRAND NEW.
( > USD 5.500 )
From my point ther might be a need to smal modification with some models
(shutter speed).
So it would be nice to have 1/4000 with
PENTAX LX.

But here is the problem : Production capabilitys and technology make it possible to manufacture ALL of these cameras with costs of just a few hundred bucks - the rest was the profit caused from actual price finding.

Todays ambition of each of this manufacturers to bring out such equipment (Minolta doesn't exist meanwhile) - is still remainig.
There is a noticable trend on "Retro" !
But no single manufacturer is able to produce only one of my camera examples with costs just in the near of some hundred bucks like during the 70th. You might say : " No wonder about in 2018" - but in reality the pricing of such nice equipment would be > $3000,-
with minimum profit and highest risc.


To me a "home made prototype" from scratch is no alternate at all to a simple
MINOLTA XD7 from 2019 but we will never see that.
With examples : I just remember a new manufactured NIKON Viewfinder 35mm camera (Leica substitude).
And the pricing was in the near of $ 8500,- if I remember corect.

So folks - pls. hurry up to decide on 2.hand equipment because prices will increase more and more in the future.

with regards

 

[trendland]

Well - I indeed followed such real interesting new projects in concern of new 35mm equipment.
Is there a need of 35mm film cameras? Many people would say : "I'll buy a cheap used camera from 2.hand in mind condition " (hart to find mind conditioned cameras of some types-by the way - and it is often the opposite of cheap then )
But if we remember the year 2003 - there was a point : ALL camera manufacturers discontinued there classic models. With single exeptions (Nikon F6). Some of us saw the chance to by equipment to that time (2003 -2006) with special price ....- 40%...- 50%
- 70% to brand new cameras of last series.
Today there should be a NEW SMAL DEMAND on film cameras again.
Because some are new in photography,
they are missing the good old times, may be the epuipment of some is broken a.s.o.
And what is to do if some people don't like 2.hand ?
Where one can buy a new Model Film Camera ? The last existing models are high priced or from plastic (Lomo).
But is it a way to reinvent the wheel ?
If I stated there might be a smal demand on NEW manufactured 35mm cameras I would like to state : I indeed can't see just a very smal demand on hybrid equipment (digital/film).
And if I would spend money to cheaper new 35mm cameras (outside NiconF6,LeicaM,Voigtländer Bessa and others) I want to have a camera made from new metal and I don't like to see if they are made from wood or from plastic.

I could be so simple from industrial productions because some manufacturers should still own construction plans of real iconic cameras
of modern types (most where build during the 70th -later on autofocus came out and build in motors and plastic,plastic,plastic ...).
The biggest sin was to design lenses with plastic bayonet at last - by the way.
To figure out what type of cameras from the 70th and from a bit later, have had all what people would need to be most happy - here are (some) examples :
View attachment 194183 PENTAX MX
View attachment 194184 NIKON FE2
View attachment 194185 MINOLTA XD7
View attachment 194186 NIKON F3 PRESS / MD-4
View attachment 194187 LEICA R6 / MOTOR DRIVE
View attachment 194188 PENTAX LX / LONG FILM MAGAZIN 250

Don't be afraid I have forgotten Canon and others - but it should be clear now - what is meant.
Caused from demand Pentax decided to bring out a special edition (Y2k) of Pentax LX at last :
View attachment 194189
AND this camera you realy may find only in mind condition or BRAND NEW.
( > USD 5.500 )
From my point ther might be a need to smal modification with some models
(shutter speed).
So it would be nice to have 1/4000 with
PENTAX LX.

But here is the problem : Production capabilitys and technology make it possible to manufacture ALL of these cameras with costs of just a few hundred bucks - the rest was the profit caused from actual price finding.

Todays ambition of each of this manufacturers to bring out such equipment (Minolta doesn't exist meanwhile) - is still remainig.
There is a noticable trend on "Retro" !
But no single manufacturer is able to produce only one of my camera examples with costs just in the near of some hundred bucks like during the 70th. You might say : " No wonder about in 2018" - but in reality the pricing of such nice equipment would be > $3000,-
with minimum profit and highest risc.


To me a "home made prototype" from scratch is no alternate at all to a simple
MINOLTA XD7 from 2019 but we will never see that.
With examples : I just remember a new manufactured NIKON Viewfinder 35mm camera (Leica substitude).
And the pricing was in the near of $ 8500,- if I remember corect.

So folks - pls. hurry up to decide on 2.hand equipment because prices will increase more and more in the future.

with regards

 

[trendland]

Oh ....no. ... sorry folks this wasn't my intention my smartphone gets a real spanking soon.
It has posted it again without asking me
without warning.
(may be wlan or browser were confederates...

Sorry sorry

 

[AgX]

It could be so simple from industrial productions because some manufacturers should still own construction plans of real iconic cameras
of modern types.

Lack of construction plans would only be part of the problem. Lack of or respective tools would be another part.
Unless a re-vived model would be mode from printed parts.