New Nikon F mount camera from Kenko

kunihiko · Mar 15, 2007

http://dc.watch.impress.co.jp/cda/other/2007/03/15/5850.html
Sorry it's in Japanese. Some pictures are at the end of the page.

Takes Nikon Ai lense, build-in meter, manual exposure only.
Full mechanical shutter, B, 1 to 1/2000, X=1/125.

It's always a good news that someone makes new film camera

Mick Fagan · Mar 15, 2007

Very interesting, cost and or availability?

This could be the go for me as a second camera since my FE2 appears to be on it's last legs after another heavy drop from the back of a motorcycle.

Mick.

Dave Wooten · Mar 15, 2007

It looks like a metal body camera ?
Street price? My Japanese is worse than my ancient Greek.

kunihiko · Mar 15, 2007

Price has not been announced. The news says it's going to be available in summer. (I meant summer in Japan).
And yes, it's metal body.
I don't know who actualy makes this camera, could be cosina, could be Kenko them self.
It's going to be shown at camera show soon. Some additional informations should follow.

Mick Fagan · Mar 15, 2007

Having a closer look at the lens mount, it appears to be very close to the FE, not FE2. There is a flip up lever which would allow the fitting of the non AI lenses, which would put it on a par with the FE and F3 bodies.

Someone has to manufacture a cheap(ish) replacement body, otherwise 35mm photography will just die when all of the old bodies fall apart. This looks like the start of a small revival that really has to happen. Young photography students around the world are all looking for manual basic cameras, so far Pentax and Nikon bodies have been their best bet, this looks like good timing.

Mick.

Michel Hardy-Vallée · Mar 15, 2007

Very nice, but O! the location of the PC synch socket is unfelicitous. I can't imagine dealing with it each time film is wound.

firecracker · Mar 16, 2007

kunihiko said:
Price has not been announced. The news says it's going to be available in summer. (I meant summer in Japan).
And yes, it's metal body.
I don't know who actualy makes this camera, could be cosina, could be Kenko them self.
It's going to be shown at camera show soon. Some additional informations should follow.

You know this camera reminds me of the old Minolta XD and XE bodies for some reason.

Richard Kelham · Mar 16, 2007

Mick Fagan said:
Someone has to manufacture a cheap(ish) replacement body, otherwise 35mm photography will just die when all of the old bodies fall apart. This looks like the start of a small revival that really has to happen. Young photography students around the world are all looking for manual basic cameras, so far Pentax and Nikon bodies have been their best bet, this looks like good timing.

Mick.

Don't forget that Nikon (or rather Cosina or whoever) is still producing the Nikon FM10. That's pretty basic!

Richard

firecracker · Mar 16, 2007

Mick Fagan said:
Someone has to manufacture a cheap(ish) replacement body, otherwise 35mm photography will just die when all of the old bodies fall apart.

http://www.eyeopte.com/phenixdcdc.html

I think the Kenko's camera is an OEM model of one of these cameras by Phenix.

EDIT: http://www.eyeopte.com/dnek01.html

This is the one I think. Very identical.

Mick Fagan · Mar 16, 2007

Richard, I agree with you, however in this country the Nikon is supplied with one of two zoom lenses as a kit, you can buy the body alone but it is quite expensive. So far it has been cheaper to purchase second hand Nikon bodies and a lens or two when and where they become available.

A student recently looked into getting a new body but was quoted around the $570 AUD mark for a kit, with a small reduction without the lens, she ended up getting an FE2 and two prime lenses that she was really after for $640

I'm assuming that this camera will be available for a reasonable price body alone or with a lens for a reasonable extra.

Mick.

copake_ham · Mar 16, 2007

This is great news. While I don't have a personal need for this camera, it's nice to see someone introduce a new film camera model. While it may not be as "robust" as older Nikon gear; this should be attractive to young folk who, while they are interested in traditional photography, are otherwise turned off by the idea of used equipment.

firecracker · Mar 16, 2007

I found Phenix's English website:

http://www.phenixoptics.com.cn/english/Product.asp?BigClassName=Camera Equipment

It's a Chinese company that makes camera bodies with the mounts for Nikon F, Minolta MD, and more. It seems like it has been around for some time with this lineup. No wonder cheap cameras get made and distributed world-wide.

Also, if I'm not mistaken, Phenix was and maybe still is a camera-store brand for Ritz Camera in the U.S.

Paul Howell · Mar 16, 2007

I am not sure about Ritz, but the Phoenix 35mm in K mount is sold under a couple of differnt brands, Vivatar is one. I think one model with a Monolta mount has a winder, I saw it listed at a Camera store in Phily last year. From the rebranded Vivatars I have seen the FM-10 is a much better camera. But any port in the storm.

kunihiko · Mar 16, 2007

firecracker said:
http://www.eyeopte.com/phenixdcdc.html

I think the Kenko's camera is an OEM model of one of these cameras by Phenix.

EDIT: http://www.eyeopte.com/dnek01.html

This is the one I think. Very identical.

DN-60, exactly ?

kunihiko · Mar 16, 2007

Damn!
Looking at both pictures it must be Phenix DN-60.

Sorry for making noise

firecracker · Mar 17, 2007

kunihiko said:
Damn!
Looking at both pictures it must be Phenix DN-60.

Sorry for making noise

No, don't be sorry. Thanks for bringing up the Kenko article. Actually this is an interesting turning point: We are shifting to use Chinese products more and more, and that's a necessary change in the market that we are in, I think.

Cosina has stepped the up the same ladder that Phenix is about to step up.

kunihiko · Mar 17, 2007

Thank you firecracker.

What made me excited was that if they had a own camera body, since they already have Tokina lense as one of the group company there would be an interesting opportunity.
I dream Tokina makes NEW MF lense for Nikon F mount SLRs with recent technology, even though I am a canon shooter.
However, Kenko has Tokina lense, Slik tri-pod, Kenko filters offcourse, camera meters from Minolta, Metz flash as an agency in Japan and now have a camera. It must be interesting to keep an eye on them.

firecracker · Mar 17, 2007

kunihiko said:
Thank you firecracker.

What made me excited was that if they had a own camera body, since they already have Tokina lense as one of the group company there would be an interesting opportunity.
I dream Tokina makes NEW MF lense for Nikon F mount SLRs with recent technology, even though I am a canon shooter.
However, Kenko has Tokina lense, Slik tri-pod, Kenko filters offcourse, camera meters from Minolta, Metz flash as an agency in Japan and now have a camera. It must be interesting to keep an eye on them.

About Kenko, I don't know what their agenda is, but if they kick Phenix's butt a little and help them make good usable cameras, I will grab one or two and scrape off their names and use them! The current Phenix SLR lineup only has mid-to-low range cameras, and they just look some poor copies of other manufacturers' products, so they need a little more technical support to become next Cosina or something better.

I'm just sick and tired of big camera manufacturers' arrogance and laziness in their services (if you are talking about Canon and its head Mitarai's poor treatment of his workers, etc), so we need a new comer that saves us a little.

mawz · Mar 17, 2007

The Phenix bodies look like direct copies of the Cosina SLR of the late 90's (FM10, Ricoh KR-5sv, Vivitar V3000)

TLR · Mar 17, 2007

I have seen one of these cameras with the Clairex brand in it. The body is metal, but... the tripod mount is plastic. There is a model with 1/4000 top shutter speed.

Anupam Basu · Mar 17, 2007

Mick Fagan said:
Having a closer look at the lens mount, it appears to be very close to the FE, not FE2. There is a flip up lever which would allow the fitting of the non AI lenses, which would put it on a par with the FE and F3 bodies.

That looks to me like the AI tab - not flip-up like the FE or the F3 but I can't be sure. Flip-up would be way cool.

-Anupam

PHOTOTONE · Mar 18, 2007

This looks like the somewhat generic Cosina SLR platform. But...the layout of the camera may be dependent on the Copal shutter, and its requirements for placement of shutter speed dial and shutter release.

elekm · Mar 18, 2007

This indeed looks like a Cosina design because of the bump on the back just under the film advance and the angle of the tip of the film rewind crank.

The AI tab looks to be fixed. I don't see any small button to release it to a flip-up position. However, it might be there but maybe you just can't see it in the photos.

Interesting how some smaller players are now stepping in to fill a vacancy in the market.

Kobin · Mar 18, 2007

I seem to remember a Pop Photo or Shutterbug article from a few years back re: the Vivitar 3800 and the Phoenix P3000. The Vivitar was based on the FM10 body and the Phoenix on the manual Minolta (which the Japanese had jobbed out to the Chinese to manufacture). I bought the Vivitar with a 35-80mm Zoom for Number Two daughter and was impressed by the heft and feel of the thing. For $150, it was a damned good deal. Had a nifty accessory that divided the frame during multiple exposures, too.

firecracker · Mar 19, 2007

http://www.kenko-tokina.co.jp/camera/slr.html

It says the new camera doesn't fit with non Ai lenses...

New Nikon F mount camera from Kenko

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