New Reflex camera

[AgX]

Designing a SLR from scrap for a hardly existing market? How to finance that and how to make profit on that?
We have seen such market for some "new" lenses. But a SLR would have to have very unique features to be attractive for such clientele.

By the way, above you are discussing schools acquiring analog cameras. Keep in mind that here as in other parts of the world analog photography is not tought anymore at all.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

... Keep in mind that here as in other parts of the world analog photography is not tought anymore at all.

That is sad. I suppose typing classes will disappear next.

 

[Ces1um]

I for one am happy to see new film cameras come on the market. We need new film cameras to come out on the market. The used market will dry up eventually. At some point they're gone. If we don't start seeing new cameras show up now, the market will shrink and eventually film photography will become too "niche" to make any money off of and will just cease. New products are a sign of a healthy market. I'm excited to see what yashica has been teasing lately.

 

[Ces1um]

There has been some froth over on Facebook about a new fully manual SLR called "Reflex". Supposedly all manual 35mm SLR with no electronics. What have people heard? I guess there is enough gullible hipster film shooters out there to get suckered into buying one, just like the Lomo movement...

http://camera.reflex-s.com/
https://www.instagram.com/shotonreflex/

I'm very confused by your posts. On one hand you say that a new SLR is for gullible hipsters and then on the other hand, you post this comment in a second thread-

"OK, I really doubt Yashica is going to come out with a new Electro GSN, but wouldn't it be nice! Not sure what they are up to. Watch the video on their website. And no, I don't think they are making clip on iPhone lenses...

https://www.yashica.com/"

and even within this thread you say that this reflex camera is basically what we had with voigtlander recently, and then state you bought IT and loved it.

I can't tell if you're pro new camera or against it. So are you happy that "Reflex" is coming out or not? Are you happy Yashica might be making something? I can't tell.

 

[removed account4]

Wait didn't we already have Voightlander and we didn't buy enough of those cameras (I did and I loved it). What is different than Voightlander?

and we have the intrepid, and shen hao, and the hobo ( RIP), and chamonix, and ivancak, and the VDS and travel wide and vermeer and
the steamer trunk of pinhole camera makers, and gibelinni, and stenopeika and ... the razzle and litmann

sure lots is available at yard sales and junk stores and flea markets &c
they want to make a new camera and sell it, not sure what is wrong with that
... no one is twisting anyone's arms to buy anything ...
heck, schneider made new lenses, both fixed focal length and convertible
a few years ago, and the cooke soft focus ... and the new lomo lenses
there are enough used lenses to go from here to the moon and back again ...

still not really sure what is wrong with someone making a new camera ..
is the problem that it is 35mm and only gullible hipsters use 35mm ?

 

[blockend]

A film SLR is one of the least necessary new cameras to manufacture. OTOH a posh compact, new rangefinder, old rangefinder clone (Reid copy?) or TLR would almost certainly find sufficient backers to make it a goer.

 

[faberryman]

Still not really sure what is wrong with someone making a new camera ..
is the problem that it is 35mm and only gullible hipsters use 35mm ?

Nothing wrong with someone making new cameras. I can't imagine buying one with a plethora of used cameras with deep lens lines available for peanuts.

 

[adelorenzo]

A film SLR is one of the least necessary new cameras to manufacture. OTOH a posh compact, new rangefinder, old rangefinder clone (Reid copy?) or TLR would almost certainly find sufficient backers to make it a goer.

A "posh compact" is in the works....

http://emulsive.org/articles/news/e...alks-emulsive-new-35mm-compact-camera-project

 

[blockend]

A "posh compact" is in the works....

I saw that, hope it works out for JCH.

It's about availability, SLRs were the most popular camera type in the decades preceding digital, hence there are lots of good examples. You can buy almost any professional Nikon film camera for the price of an entry level DSLR or less, whether you like full manual or automatic models. Which is as evolved as the film DSLR got. The Reflex had better have something special in store technologically or in build quality to out perform those.

However if you want a Barnack style rangefinder, you'll need deep pockets for a mint example. Fancy compacts also sell for crazy prices and are increasingly non-serviceable. Manufacturers stopped producing student model film SLRs whose R&D had been paid for years ago, so the lead out market must have been tiny. Maybe if Nikon made the first model F and a handful of pre-AI lenses with modern coatings collectors would but them up like the millennium rangefinders, but it's hard to see a new SLR cracking the market.

 

[farmersteve]

I'm very confused by your posts. On one hand you say that a new SLR is for gullible hipsters and then on the other hand, you post this comment in a second thread-

"OK, I really doubt Yashica is going to come out with a new Electro GSN, but wouldn't it be nice! Not sure what they are up to. Watch the video on their website. And no, I don't think they are making clip on iPhone lenses...

https://www.yashica.com/"

and even within this thread you say that this reflex camera is basically what we had with voigtlander recently, and then state you bought IT and loved it.

I can't tell if you're pro new camera or against it. So are you happy that "Reflex" is coming out or not? Are you happy Yashica might be making something? I can't tell.

I am for and against some new cameras. I think releasing a fully manual SLR film camera is a waste of time considering the plethora of used cameras out there in the world that do the same thing. What I would like to see is a new Yashica T5 or a new Polaroid camera with full manual control and peel apart film. Hell, I would be happy of Cosina started up their Voightlander stuff again... Maybe now is the time to do that with more interest in film than ever but a new manual film SLR I just don't see the need.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Just keep new cameras coming, as long as they continue to sell. It is all good.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

...You can buy almost any professional Nikon film camera for the price of an entry level DSLR or less ... The Reflex had better have something special in store technologically or in build quality to out perform those.
...

Rear facing selfie lens.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Designing a SLR from scrap for a hardly existing market? How to finance that and how to make profit on that?
We have seen such market for some "new" lenses. But a SLR would have to have very unique features to be attractive for such clientele.

By the way, above you are discussing schools acquiring analog cameras. Keep in mind that here as in other parts of the world analog photography is not tought anymore at all.

Really? Several schools in my district still teach it. We have a busy darkroom.

 

[removed account4]

The Reflex had better have something special in store technologically or in build quality to out perform those.

i was thinking open source3D imaging for all the internals/parts
so someone can just go to a public library and squirt out
a replacement part for the camera from a 3D printer
whose owner charges 11¢ a gram for the part ...
talk about a great business plan, just sell the plans
and people just build the camera themselves ...
i know of someone who was...
building a 2nd 3d printer using their 1st 3d printer ...

 

[FoidPoosening]

See what incorporating digital and hybrid content wrought? People actively p*ssing on new FILM cameras ;-)

(It's a joke OK?)

I did actually laugh at this. Good joke.

The Voigtlander Bessaflex was a limited-run 42mm screwmount camera, stop-down metering. For those that wanted a new M42 camera, the comments were quite positive. It now goes in the $600 range.

There are fewer and fewer people doing camera repair, and cost have gone up. CLA prices are now well above $150. KEH charges $330 for flat-rate repair of film SLR's.

Dead Link Removed

I've been working on a few different types of cameras lately, Barnack Leicas. Figure that if I want cameras to work, better learn how to keep them running myself. I have to tell my teen-age daughter that I am very stylish because I use film Leicas. Most people see them as silly, old cameras. I'll start letting people know I'm really Hip and then explain to them how to set shutter tension to prevent capping. Be sure to have nail polish remover handy, someone filled the worm-gear screw with cement. That was hard, but all I could think about was sporting around with my stylish camera...

I'm happy that film users will have an alternative.

^^^ 100% agree.

 

[michr]

While it's nice to see that new cameras are being made, even 35mm SLRs, I know I'm not the target demographic. Call me old-fashioned, but bad-mouthing the fellow travelers in a failing market segment because they're young, unserious, posers, or whatever, is just off-putting. Some may thrive on exclusivity, but I prefer to be as open and welcoming as possible. We absolutely must have the numbers for manufacturers to justify making this stuff. They need to see it as a investment which will pay off; no one's working for charity.

 

[Peltigera]

I don't understand why folk are saying there is no point in a new camera because there is a good supply of old cameras. There have been old cameras around for, literally, 150+ years and that never stopped sales of new cameras.

Old cameras do not have a manufacturer's guarantee, rarely come with instructions and some people just like owning new stuff.

 

[TheRook]

I don't think this new "REFLEX" camera actually exists beyond someone's imagination and a bunch of speculation. I vaguely recall a toy camera some years ago with the name "REFLEX" printed on it, but it wasn't a functional, real camera, just a pretend camera.

 

[Pioneer]

I am certainly glad the Steve Jobs didn't listen to any of you guys back in 2006 or my Apple stock would be worthless today.

I hope one of these newcomers manages to build the "Apple" equivalent of an analogue camera that gets every pre-teenie thrilled about buying a film camera.

Oh yeah...Fuji has done it and is making bucketloads of money.

EDIT - by the way, which one of you has gone out and bought a new Fuji Instax...or pre-ordered one of the new Lomo Instant Squares?!?

 

[AgX]

I don't understand why folk are saying there is no point in a new camera because there is a good supply of old cameras. There have been old cameras around for, literally, 150+ years and that never stopped sales of new cameras.
Old cameras do not have a manufacturer's guarantee, rarely come with instructions and some people just like owning new stuff.

Yes, but the same time there was quite an offer of other unique photographic products too. In our shrinking market a new 35mm SLR to me is the least thing hoping for.

Furthermore we should be aware that "new" has two meanings in this context:
-) new manufactured (in contrast to being used or to unused old stock)
-) new designed.

 

[farmersteve]

I don't understand why folk are saying there is no point in a new camera because there is a good supply of old cameras. There have been old cameras around for, literally, 150+ years and that never stopped sales of new cameras.

Old cameras do not have a manufacturer's guarantee, rarely come with instructions and some people just like owning new stuff.

We all love to see new cameras, but in a market saturated with literally millions of used SLRs, I ask "What's the point"? But, there are always going to be niche players and there are still plenty of people out there willing to buy something new...

 

[trendland]

OK, what's the point? I'm all for new cameras, but really is the point? If they can produce a camera like a Nikon FM2 for $300 then I'll happily jump in, but until the supply of used cameras dries up, who needs an SLR that contributes nothing new or fill a niche that that is underserved now.

To me there is only a need to relauch Pentax LX in black with a little more modern shutter (4000/sec)

They last production run on this type was with this special edition :

this is "hipster" enough to me - so I don't need no other stuff.
But notice - in some special regions of germanys capital BERLIN it is a new todays "hipe" to wear this camera :

 

[trendland]

.....It is without film - they possibly never know how to load film AND obviously they never shot with cameras but they need it as a modern accessoire.

DAMN HIPSTERS

with regards

 

[AgX]

Funny, the same model is just sitting on my desk. Unloaded. What does that say about me...


Actually I would love to come anybody across having it hanging from the neck. Loaded or unloaded.
Likely I shall never make that encounter.

 

[AgX]

DAMN HIPSTERS

Don't they come from Trendland ?