Leica the only one?

BradS · Jan 3, 2021

It seems Nikon have discontinued the F6. Leica still make and sell two film cameras, the MA and MP. Are Leica the last/only company making new small format cameras?

Alan9940 · Jan 3, 2021

No idea, but I heard a rumor the other day that Leica might release a "budget" M camera body in 2021. Perhaps they see a market in the F6 price range now that that camera is gone?

narsuitus · Jan 3, 2021

Are there still a number of companies making new small format single-use cameras?

RLangham · Jan 3, 2021

Aren't there some in China?

mshchem · Jan 3, 2021

Ilford offers a reusable, simple plastic, camera. Inexpensive easy to use, great for educators.

BradS · Jan 3, 2021

narsuitus said:
Are there still a number of companies making new small format single-use cameras?

Single use doesn’t really count. It’s more like a roll of expensively packaged film.

darkosaric · Jan 3, 2021

I see in Lomography like 30 different new cameras, they have also new lenses for sale....

https://shop.lomography.com/en/cameras

ic-racer · Jan 3, 2021

How about the Ilford Sprite. Looks to be re-usable.

ic-racer · Jan 3, 2021

darkosaric said:
I see in Lomography like 30 different new cameras, they have also new lenses for sale....

https://shop.lomography.com/en/cameras

Do you know anything about those? What about this one, over $400 it is at least priced like a 'real' camera.

BradS · Jan 3, 2021

The Ilford sprite looks interesting. I may add one to my next film order.

AgX · Jan 3, 2021

RLangham said:
Aren't there some in China?

Phenix stopped the manufacture of their SLR in 2014.
What remains in 35 mm is what Lomography offers, the single-use cameras and some boutique pin-hole cameras.

darkosaric · Jan 3, 2021

ic-racer said:
Do you know anything about those? What about this one, over $400 it is at least priced like a 'real' camera.

OP question was: Are Leica the last/only company making new small format cameras?
Answer is no.

About pricing, camera quality and so on - that is not what OP was asking. Question was not "last/only small format *premium* camera"
I have a friend that is a Lomograpahy partner, he uses all those cameras and lenses, he is particularly fond of 120 format LC-A, it gives him unique look that (he says) cannot recreate with other cameras.
And also Petzval lenses for Nikon and other mount are good and unique.

EDIT: just found a scan of one print from this 35mm LC-A (that I tested some time ago, borrowed from a friend), it is basically wide lens P&S camera, with automatic exposure:

Auer · Jan 3, 2021

ic-racer said:
How about the Ilford Sprite. Looks to be re-usable.
View attachment 262869

Problem is the fixed shutter speed, but understandable at the price point.

benjiboy · Jan 3, 2021

Nikon don't even accept images on film as entrys. for their international photo competitions.

logan2z · Jan 3, 2021

benjiboy said:
Nikon don't even accept images on film as entrys. for their international photo competitions.

How do they know if a JPG came from a digital camera or a scanned negative? And why would they care?

Auer · Jan 3, 2021

logan2z said:
How do they know if a JPG came from a digital camera or a scanned negative? And why would they care?

Exif

logan2z · Jan 3, 2021

Auer said:
Exif

There are easy ways to add EXIF data to images produced by film scans. But, again, not sure why they would care.

Edit: I don't see anything in the entry guidelines for the 2021 contest that prohibits film-based images from being submitted:

https://www.nikon-photocontest.com/assets/pdf/entry/EntryGuidelines_en.pdf

Chan Tran · Jan 3, 2021

Auer said:
Exif

Why should they care? Besides if I shoot the slide with a digital camera does that qualify?

Auer · Jan 3, 2021

logan2z said:
There are easy ways to add EXIF data to images produced by film scans. But, again, not sure why they would care.

Edit: I don't see anything im the entry guidelines for the 2021 contest that prohibits film-based images from being submitted:
https://www.nikon-photocontest.com/assets/pdf/entry/EntryGuidelines_en.pdf

So no worries about film then I guess.

Chan Tran said:
Why should they care? Besides if I shoot the slide with a digital camera does that qualify?

Read the above, it doesnt matter. And if it did, You could always ask Nikon.

AgX · Feb 15, 2021

BradS said:
The Ilford sprite looks interesting. I may add one to my next film order.

Why?
I mean, if you still had fleamarkets before the pandemic you should have been able to buy similar for 2$ or so. Or do you want it as collector?
(I got at least one Ilford branded camera, I only bought for its badge.)

Huss · Feb 15, 2021

The Ilford Sprite is a plastic everything fixed focus fixed shutter speed fixed aperture reusable camera.
There are a bunch of mfgs selling very similar gear - Lomo, DoubleBubble, "Kodak" (new on ebay, don't see it as a US model) etc.

Yes you could get a used P&S or SLR for less that will take better pics. But how cheap can new gear be and still have it be profitable for the mfg? They need to make a profit to survive.

I like the idea of these simple cameras, but wouldn't be in the market for one because I already have more than I know what to do with!

Wallendo · Feb 15, 2021

I hope the Ilford Sprite is of better construction that the Harman Reusable Camera. I recently bought one. it still works, but the plastic feels incredibly flimsy as if it would break if you looked at it funny.

I am tempted to pick up a Lomography Reloadable Camera which appears to be much smaller, and even has an underwater option.

As long as used cameras sell at very low prices, there will be little market for a new quality 35mm camera.

George Mann · Feb 15, 2021

Wallendo said:
As long as used cameras sell at very low prices, there will be little market for a new quality 35mm camera.

Used camera's need to be reliable in order to remain serviceable, which means paying extra money to have them serviced.

Some camera's, mainly late-model electronically controlled offerings are difficult, if not impossible to maintain.

The number of useable cameras are dwindling, and some would prefer to buy new. Therefore, there is a market for new camera's.

SchwinnParamount · Feb 15, 2021

I am personally not worried about the question. I expect to be dead in 30 years or perhaps less (if I am unlucky or struck by some stupid virus that got through my face panty defenses). I also own several Nikon, Canon, and Leica 35mm cameras in fantastic shape. These cameras will (I hope) find a happy home with a budding 35mm film photographer who won't need to rely on newly manufactured equipment. For future generations, the question may be of more interest. If the production of film stock continues longer than the availability of cameras like mine, there will be unhappy photographers who can buy film but can't find the cameras to expose the film. As a lover of film, it makes me personally unhappy that Nikon has abandoned us. As a recent owner of a Leica, I am pleased that new and used Leica cameras will continue to be made for the foreseeable future. Used Leicas will be available for a long time, given the propensity of Japanese collectors to buy them and leave them sealed in their original packaging and placed in a shrine... never to be opened and used, only to be worshipped. Our grandchildren will owe a debt of gratitude to those collectors.

benjiboy · Feb 22, 2021

Auer said:
So no worries about film then I guess.

Read the above, it doesnt matter. And if it did, You could always ask Nikon.

I was stating a fact "Nikon no longer accept images for their international photographic competition on film",why they should care ? I don't know, but it's still a fact .

Leica the only one?

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