Beside the Nikon F6, what are the other 35mm camera still on production?

Photo-gear · Nov 5, 2015

I used to consider the future of film as quite safe with the chemicals and films still available.

But lately I have started looking at this whole business thru the camera side itself.

Beside the F6, what are the 35mm camera still being made? I have found that Sakar (based in New Jersey) carries the Vivitar V3800 (K mount) as an "active" camera still being on production, at least according to an unclear answer from the company.

At this present time, films are shot by old cameras that aren't made anymore. We can still have accessories from the companies and by some admirable technicians still willing to fix 35mm camera as well as other sorts.

But there will be a time when photographers will have to shoot with "fresh and crispy" cameras, don't you think?

BruceO · Nov 5, 2015

Nikon USA still showing the FM10 available.

Photo-gear · Nov 5, 2015

Still available, right, but not on production anymore, so far.

Cosina was the sub-contractor.

Mackinaw · Nov 5, 2015

Leica MP, MA and M7.

Jim B.

trythis · Nov 5, 2015

Lomography keeps coming out with stuff. Not a Nikon SLR system, of course!

I think we will all be dead before we run out of functioning cameras. You might have to look a little harder, but the FM's or FM2's will probably outlast most of us if not the FE and FE2. As long as people take their batteries out and fire them every so often, anyway.

summicron1 · Nov 5, 2015

Photo-gear said:
I used to consider the future of film as quite safe with the chemicals and films still available.

But lately I have started looking at this whole business thru the camera side itself.

Beside the F6, what are the 35mm camera still being made? I have found that Sakar (based in New Jersey) carries the Vivitar V3800 (K mount) as an "active" camera still being on production, at least according to an unclear answer from the company.

At this present time, films are shot by old cameras that aren't made anymore. We can still have accessories from the companies and by some admirable technicians still willing to fix 35mm camera as well as other sorts.

But there will be a time when photographers will have to shoot with "fresh and crispy" cameras, don't you think?

I think what you will see for the next few decades is the demand for film cameras being met by used stock that is clogging shelves/collections etc. and will gradually go back into use as the demand for it is driven by the equipment in use now wearing out.

Keep in mind that pro-level film cameras made by Leica, Nikon, Minolta, and Canon are pretty darn rugged -- they don't wear out so much as just get clogged and stiff as their lubricants get old. Those are easily replaced.

The fact that many of us regularly use cameras made 70 and 80 years ago tells me that the need for a "new crispy" camera because nothing else is available is a long way off.

Theo Sulphate · Nov 5, 2015

The Voigtländer Bessa R cameras are still being made, I believe. It's really Cosina - they bought the Voigtländer name.

skorpiius · Nov 6, 2015

I'm curious how many usable camera from the past 100 years exist vs # of film photogeaphers

Sirius Glass · Nov 6, 2015

skorpiius said:
I'm curious how many usable camera from the past 100 years exist vs # of film photogeaphers

A better question is 100 years from now how many of us will be useful photographers?

MattKing · Nov 6, 2015

Theo Sulphate said:
The Voigtländer Bessa R cameras are still being made, I believe. It's really Cosina - they bought the Voigtländer name.

They were just discontinued in the last couple of months.

Dr Croubie · Nov 6, 2015

MattKing said:
They were just discontinued in the last couple of months.

AFAIK it's only the Bessa R3A/R4A were discontinued and the R3M/R4M are still going.
edit, nope, you're right, R2M/R3M/R4M discontinued on Sept 28th 2015. Well that's sad. But I just scored myself an R4A off fleabay, tracking says it'll be here Mon probably. I've been waiting for 3 years to get myself one of them...

What about the Zeiss Ikon ZM, are they still going?
Not sure if it counts, but the Dead Link Removed is about to start production in a few days

Chan Tran · Nov 6, 2015

Photo-gear said:
I used to consider the future of film as quite safe with the chemicals and films still available.

But lately I have started looking at this whole business thru the camera side itself.

Beside the F6, what are the 35mm camera still being made? I have found that Sakar (based in New Jersey) carries the Vivitar V3800 (K mount) as an "active" camera still being on production, at least according to an unclear answer from the company.

At this present time, films are shot by old cameras that aren't made anymore. We can still have accessories from the companies and by some admirable technicians still willing to fix 35mm camera as well as other sorts.

But there will be a time when photographers will have to shoot with "fresh and crispy" cameras, don't you think?

You can still buy crispy Leica M7 and MP. But I don't worry about cameras. Mine are good for a long time but I am afraid of getting film.

Xmas · Nov 6, 2015

Leica Nikon and Cosina are still making cameras in small batches.
My Contax II and toilet seat Fed are both 80 years old...

Many estate sales of collectors have quite a few cameras in original boxes.

It will be some time before cameras are like Ming vases.

David Brown · Nov 6, 2015

Xmas said:
It will be some time before cameras are like Ming vases.

I have 9 working 35mm slr's at the moment, and only one gets anything near regular use. (Not hoarding, they have just accumulated over 40 years) Should I sell the others? What are you offering? They are Pentax Spotmatics, Minolta SRt's and a Canon AE1. I'd be lucky to get $25-50 for any of them depending on condition and no one has bought any that I've put up for sale lately. There's no shortage. :confused:

RobC · Nov 6, 2015

Dr Croubie said:
What about the Zeiss Ikon ZM, are they still going?

They stopped a few years ago and they were made by cosina so no chance of that coming back unless Zeiss can convince Sony to manufacture them. But cosina make the lenses for them and my suspicion is that cosina didn't want to make the Zeiss anymore becasue being a better camera it hit Voigtlander sales hard. If Sony made the zeiss again, then I think they would need to make the lenses too. Sales probably wouldn't be high enough to justify it considering there is already Leica and Voigtlander making M mount cameras.

Paul Howell · Nov 6, 2015

Is the Vivitar and Pro master 35mm still in production?

RobC · Nov 6, 2015

http://www.firstcall-photographic.co.uk/products/6469/zenit-km-plus-slr-cw-50mm-lens

http://www.firstcall-photographic.co.uk/products/6468/zenit-212k-slr-cw-50mm-lens

http://www.firstcall-photographic.co.uk/products/6497/pentax-mz50-body-cw-sigma-28-80mm-lens

http://www.firstcall-photographic.co.uk/products/6498/pentax-mz30-body-cw-28-80mm-lens

I think some of these cameras are avalable rebranded in Nikon and maybe one other mount which I can't remember

Xmas · Nov 6, 2015

RobC said:
They stopped a few years ago and they were made by cosina so no chance of that coming back unless Zeiss can convince Sony to manufacture them. But cosina make the lenses for them and my suspicion is that cosina didn't want to make the Zeiss anymore becasue being a better camera it hit Voigtlander sales hard. If Sony made the zeiss again, then I think they would need to make the lenses too. Sales probably wouldn't be high enough to justify it considering there is already Leica and Voigtlander making M mount cameras.

I'm confused you think Sony would be able to consider low volume manufacture of an M mount body?
And why you think Voightlander make lenses, Cosina make the M lenses that are badged Voightlander?

Cosina could make ZM bodies (again) cheaper than Sony, that is their skill, they have all the tooling. They may even have parts kits.

There is no demand for ZM cameras, if there was Cosina could manufacture they are a low volume manufacturer.

RobC · Nov 6, 2015

Xmas said:
I'm confused you think Sony would be able to consider low volume manufacture of an M mount body?
And why you think Voightlander make lenses, Cosina make the M lenses that are badged Voightlander?

Cosina could make ZM bodies (again) cheaper than Sony, that is their skill, they have all the tooling. They may even have parts kits.

There is no demand for ZM cameras, if there was Cosina could manufacture they are a low volume manufacturer.

I'm thinking that since Zeiss are partenering with Sony for production of highend lenses for sony alpha cameras that just maybe they could get sony to make a zeiss ikon m-mount camera body too.

Why would it make sense for cosina to make zeiss camera bodies which are in direct competition with there own voigtlander bodies in a shrinking market?

summicron1 · Nov 6, 2015

skorpiius said:
I'm curious how many usable camera from the past 100 years exist vs # of film photogeaphers

In my house, just considering good solid usable 35mm and 120 film cameras, the ratio is probably 50:1, but I am far from typical.

Still, as my collection is eventually liquidated, that is a lot of new shooters who can be equipped. I sell some now, just to try to make my heirs' job easier.

Xmas · Nov 6, 2015

RobC said:
I'm thinking that since Zeiss are partenering with Sony for production of highend lenses for sony alpha cameras that just maybe they could get sony to make a zeiss ikon m-mount camera body too.

Why would it make sense for cosina to make zeiss camera bodies which are in direct competition with there own voigtlander bodies in a shrinking market?

Cosina made the ZM to order and contract for Zeiss. There would have been restricted covenants to prevent a clone. Cosina would have got money for the manufacture of each body and each lens to the contract conditions.

Additional batches ditto, I don't see your problem nor can I visualise Sony being able to make a ZM clone, without legal problems.

Yes they could make cameras and lenses for Zeiss,... They might be able to make a ZM1 eg a digital ZM, if Cosina's contract was loose, maybe but seems unlikely.

Sales were poor, Sony are not set up for low volume...

Cosina have stopped Bessa production so there is no competition.

They could restart if 500 people wrote to them or S.Gandy.

RobC · Nov 6, 2015

Xmas said:
Cosina made the ZM to order and contract for Zeiss. There would have been restricted covenants to prevent a clone. Cosina would have got money for the manufacture of each body and each lens to the contract conditions.

Additional batches ditto, I don't see your problem nor can I visualise Sony being able to make a ZM clone, without legal problems.

Yes they could make cameras and lenses for Zeiss,... They might be able to make a ZM1 eg a digital ZM, if Cosina's contract was loose, maybe but seems unlikely.

Sales were poor, Sony are not set up for low volume...

Cosina have stopped Bessa production so there is no competition.

They could restart if 500 people wrote to them or S.Gandy.

So you rekon that if Zeiss ordered a batch zeiss ikons from cosina that they would make them?

Xmas · Nov 6, 2015

Yes for sure as the contract would have RPI clause and Cosina would have got normal 3 tier supplier terms.

But Zeiss would only have stopped ZM batches cause sales slowed, the same would not be true for ZM lenses I'd imagine they were selling well.

Cosina can make in small batches with no premium.

Leica lenses are so expensive and the Zeiss designs are comparable or better, so the sales would be hurting Leica sales rather than Voightlander.

I use Voighlander... On my Ms as I like compact and light.

flavio81 · Nov 6, 2015

I would not worry at all.

200 years later, once we are really dead, I bet that the Canon F-1s and Nikon Fs left on this earth can still be kept in working order, proven that they are stored away from harsh environments and re-lubricated every 25 years...

Theo Sulphate · Nov 6, 2015

Xmas said:
... toilet seat Fed ...

I'm not familiar with that grading system. Is that similar to LNIB?

Beside the Nikon F6, what are the other 35mm camera still on production?

Moderator

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency