Cosina/Voigtländer ending production of various items

[IloveTLRs]

I found people talking about this on Twitter this morning. Cosina/Voigtländer is ending production of various bodies, lenses, VFs, etc. The announcement and list of items applicable are here, in Japanese: http://www.cosina.co.jp/seihin/voigt/s-shuryo.html (Cosina's website)

Here's the list, cut & pasted:

CAMERA

・BESSA R2A
・BESSA R3A
・BESSA R4A
・Bessa R2A Black Body （Mat Black へ移行）
・Bessa R3A Black Body （Mat Black へ移行）
・Bessa R2A Gray
・Bessaflex TM　Black/Silver
・Bessa R2S/C
・Bessa R2　Black/Olive
・Bessa T　Black/Silver
・Bessa R Black/Silver/Olive/Navy
・Bessa L Black/Silver/Olive/Gray

LENS

・SUPER-WIDE HELIAR 15mm F4.5 Aspherical　Black/Silver
・COLOR-SKOPAR 21mm F4 Black/Silver
・APO-LANTHAR 90mm F3.5 SLII
・ULTRA-WIDE HELIAR 12mm F5.6 Aspherical Black/Silver
・SNAPSHOT-SKOPAR 25mm F4 Black/Silver
・COLOR-SKOPAR 28mm F3.5 Black/Silver
・ULTRON 28mm F1.9 Aspherical Black/Silver
・COLOR-SKOPAR 35mm F2.5 P TYPE
・COLOR-SKOPAR 35mm F2.5 C TYPE Black/Silver
・ULTRON 35mm F1.7 Aspherical Black/Silver
・COLOR SKOPAR 50mm F2.5 Black/Silver
・NOKTON 50mm F1.5 Aspherical Black/Silver
・COLOR HELIAR 75mm F2.5 Black/Silver
・APO-LANTHAR 90mm F3.5 Silver/Black
・NOKTON 35mm F1.2 Aspherical

SL II Series

・COLOR-SKOPAR 20mm F3.5 SL II N Aspherical EF
・COLOR-SKOPAR 28mm F2.8 SL II N Aspherical EF
・NOKTON 40mm F2 SL II N Aspherical EF
・COLOR-SKOPAR 20mm F3.5 Aspherical SLⅡ KA
・ULTRON 40mm F2 Aspherical SLⅡ KA
・ULTRON 58mm F1.4 SLⅡ KA
・APO-LANTHAR 90mm F3.5 SLⅡ KA

SL Series

・ULTRA-WIDE HELIAR 12mm F5.6 Aspherical SL
・SUPER-WIDE HELIAR 15mm F5.6 Aspherical SL
・ULTRON 40mm F2 Aspherical SL
・COLOR-HELIAR 75mm F2.5 SL
・APO-LANTHAR 90mm F3.5 SL Close Focus
・MACRO APO-LANTHAR 125mm F2.5 SL
・APO-LANTHAR 180mm F4 SL Close Focus

S SC Series

・SC SKOPAR 21mm F4
・SC SKOPAR 25mm F4
・SC SKOPAR 28mm F3.5
・SC SKOPAR 35mm F2.5
・S SKOPAR 50mm F2.5
・S NOKTON 50mm F1.5 Aspherical
・S APO-LANTHAR 85mm F3.5

ACCESSORY

FINDER

・15-35mm Zoom Finder
・ANGLEFINDER
・12mm ATTACHMENT
・15mm ATTACHMENT
・21mm ATTACHMENT
・25mm ATTACHMENT
・21mm VIEW FINDER
・25mm VIEW FINDER
・28/35 MINI FINDER Black/Silver
・35mm VIEW FINDER
・50mm VIEW FINDER Black/Silver
・75mm VIEW FINDER Black/Silver
・90mm VIEW FINDER Black/Silver
・12mm D VIEW FINDER
・15mm D VIEW FINDER
・21mm D VIEW FINDER
・25mm D VIEW FINDER

LENS HOOD

・LH-20（LH-20Nに移行）
・LH-58（LH-58Nに移行）
・COLOR SKOPAR 35mm F2.5 P用 HOOD
・LH-3
・LH-4 (LH-4N で対応します）
・LH-5（LH-6 で対応します）
・LH-40D
・LH-40S
・LH-75
・LH-75S

CASE

・Camera Case　VC-1
・Camera Case　VC-2
・Camera Case　VC-3
・Camera Case　VC-4
・Camera Case　VC-10
・Camera Case　VC-20
・Lense Case　VL-1
・Lense Case　VL-2

OTHER

・VM E-mount Adapter Brack
・M-Bayonet ADAPTER RING Type-II（35/135, 50/75, 28/90）
・F E-mount Adapter
・TRIGGER WINDER
・FILTER ADAPTER
・S27 PROTECT FILTER
・M Bayonet adapter Ring TypeⅠ 35/135　28/90　50/75
・SHOE BASE
・F→S/C ADAPTER RING
・F→L ADAPTER RING
・STRAP ADAPTER
・DOUBLE SHOE ADAPTER A/B/C
・VC METER Black/Silver
・SPRIT LEVEL
・SHOE ADAPTER
・BOTTOM GRIP　A/B
・CARRING STRAP Olive
・PROMINENT ADAPTER S
・PROMINENT ADAPTER C
・K Micro Four Thirds Adapter
・K E-mount Adapter

 

[MattKing]

I think there is more - this is from their English page: http://www.cosina.co.jp/seihin/voigt/english/dispo.html

 

[Roger Cole]

 

[IloveTLRs]

I think there is more - this is from their English page: http://www.cosina.co.jp/seihin/voigt/english/dispo.html

Thanks - I didn't see the English page.

 

[summicron1]

So what's left? Can't be much.

Oh well. I love my 15 and my 35 f 1.4.

 

[loman]

Well basically they have discontinued their remaining film camera production plus older versions in their lens line-up (like the 15mm version II). They had already discontinued the R2A, R3A, R4A sometime ago, and now they have axed their mechanical brethren as well.

 

[pentaxpete]

good Job then that I still have my 'Gift' Cosina CT-1 that took some really good photos in the Philippines recently-- and I met ANOTHER CT-1 user ( the bloke in the BLUE) but his was 'all beaten up' !!
Phils 2015 : Two Old Snappers! by Peter Elgar, on Flickr
Cosina-CT-1 by Peter Elgar, on Flickr

 

[darkosaric]

Now is good time to buy used wide and super wide heliars, prices can go up ...

 

[Xmas]

The 28mm are bread and butter lenses.
The 35mm ditto...

 

[frank]

I've got my CV 21 and 40mm lenses, 21,28,35,50 external finders, meter ll, and Bessa L.

 

[Lachlan Young]

The list at the top of this page is of products that have been withdrawn years ago.

If you read the links in English or Japanese, the following items are being withdrawn:

SUPER WIDE-HELIAR 15mm F4.5 Asp II
BESSA R2-M
BESSA R3-M
BESSA R4-M
Camera Case VC-5
CARRYING STRAP(BK)
SIDE GRIP
VM Micro Four Thirds Adapter
F Micro Four Thirds Adapter
SC E-mount Adapter
15mm View Finder
21/25mm View Finder
21/25mm View Finder M Silver
28mm View Finder M Silver
28mm View Finder M Black
35mm View Finder M Silver
35mm View Finder M Black
40mm View Finder
LH-1
LH-2
LH-20N
LH-28N
LH-40N

To the best of my understanding, their cameras are/ were made in batches - presumably as the current batch of mechanical cameras runs out, they won't be making another - though who knows what might happen in the longer term. I recall that there was a break in production between the 35/1.2 v1 and v2, so perhaps an R5 is around the corner, if sufficient demand. It may also have to with whether Copal are still supplying suitable shutters.

They've also been heavily involved in making lenses for Zeiss which is presumably more profitable than camera bodies.

There are thus NO WITHDRAWALS from the current range of lenses other than the 15mm which has been superseded.

 

[Xmas]

They've also been heavily involved in making lenses for Zeiss which is presumably more profitable than camera bodies.

There are thus NO WITHDRAWALS from the current range of lenses other than the 15mm which has been superseded.

I'd suggest the margin is larger when they sell as a first tier supplier even although they pay for the voightlander name plates.

 

[Helinophoto]

Well, at least when it comes to the R3M, it has been produced for 10 years without any alterations.
The used-market was pretty good for it, I picked up a R3M (close to mint) last week for $450, why pay $700 for a new one then?

 

[darkosaric]

The 28mm are bread and butter lenses.
The 35mm ditto...

Yep. Wide angle lenses are best buy from Voigtländer - FSU has good and cheap 50mm lenses, but wide angle Orions and Russars are hard to find, and Leitz are too expensive (even used).

 

[Xmas]

Yep. Wide angle lenses are best buy from Voigtländer - FSU has good and cheap 50mm lenses, but wide angle Orions and Russars are hard to find, and Leitz are too expensive (even used).

Not seen a sample in my Lomo shop yet...
http://shop.lomography.com/en/russar-plus
But steep enough.

 

[darkosaric]

Not seen a sample in my Lomo shop yet...
http://shop.lomography.com/en/russar-plus
But steep enough.

I know, I know - it is tempting , but cheap it is not.

 

[Xmas]

I've got a CV 21mm anyway as well as a 28mm Orion.

The original Russar did not fit all LTMs...

 

[Mustafa Umut Sarac]

I think biggest drawback with russian russar or fed 50mm lenses , when the light is not enough , shadows turn in to reddish cast. I dont know what is the sweet spot but I very much dislikes it.

From above lomo shop samples :





I saw these reddish pinkish cast at too many samples.

 

[frank]

I think biggest drawback with russian russar or fed 50mm lenses , when the light is not enough , shadows turn in to reddish cast. I dont know what is the sweet spot but I very much dislikes it.

From above lomo shop samples :

View attachment 117409

View attachment 117410

I saw these reddish pinkish cast at too many samples.

This cannot be blamed on the lens. It's the film or the processing, but not the lens.

 

[Mustafa Umut Sarac]

This cannot be blamed on the lens. It's the film or the processing, but not the lens.

honestly talking , it appears only fed and russar lenses , its the lens , I have two feds and saw tons of russar samples and it is there. Yes samples terrible but extremelly good samples gives these casts also. It cant be accident. I never got that cast from any other , leitz, nikon , canon or rollei samples.

 

[summicron1]

I suppose it is sad that they're discontinuing, but look at the bright side: They made the things for more than a decade. That means there are thousand more new cameras (or relatively new) in the population to use for the next several decades, keeping the discipline alive at a price folks can afford.

Why are they declining? Fewer sales -- everyone who wants one has one. I know I do.

It's not their job to keep making film rangefinder cameras just to make you feel better about life. If Leica had stuck just to that they'd have disappeared decades ago.

But what they made survives. The Graflex folks haven't made a camera in decades but their products are still very popular and, in large number, still working.

So go shoot some film.

 

[RobC]

don't cosina make lenses for zeiss for the zm m-mount/ nikon /canon / penatx?

 

[Xmas]

don't cosina make lenses for zeiss for the zm m-mount/ nikon /canon / penatx?

And cameras like Nikon FM10 and K mount...

 

[horacekenneth]

Was this the last company (besides lomography) making film cameras for the non-professional/rich?

besides maybe a couple LF groups?

 

[Richard S. (rich815)]

Now my Cosina 107-SW will skyrocket in collector value!