Reflex and Photokina

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blockend

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The Reflex concept was ill-conceived, I thought so when it was first announced and do so now. 35mm cameras that took photographic corporations years to evolve, versus a start up with no experience of manufacture and a vague endgame doesn't seem like a close call. In all likelihood you could buy a good condition body for each mount and still be up on the deal. Someone will point out that I'm completely missing the point, in which case I'd like to know what the point is, other than charity.
 

AgX

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We discussed the idea of the Reflex camera and even the seeming inexperience of the team before in detail.

I think now the question is whether this Photokina appearance was illconceived, an attempt to appease old backers, win new backers for their lens program or what?
 

M-88

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The Reflex concept was ill-conceived, I thought so when it was first announced and do so now. 35mm cameras that took photographic corporations years to evolve, versus a start up with no experience of manufacture and a vague endgame doesn't seem like a close call. In all likelihood you could buy a good condition body for each mount and still be up on the deal. Someone will point out that I'm completely missing the point, in which case I'd like to know what the point is, other than charity.
I think there were two important things which attracted people: 1. a new camera instead of old and used gear. I know that most of the used stuff will work for decades to come and that Reflex could never outlive them simply because it's a product of inexperienced staff (versus huge corporations with decades of manufacturing experienxe) 2. one camera that could use several types of lenses. It is frustrating how I can not use my Olympus OM lenses on my digital Pentax body, for example. Reflex would theoretically make it possible at some extent and it seemed like a good idea.
 

M-88

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We discussed the idea of the Reflex camera and even the seeming inexperience of the team before in detail.

I think now the question is whether this Photokina appearance was illconceived, an attempt to appease old backers, win new backers for their lens program or what?
I don't see any rational point in introducing a proprietary lens for something that is advertised for the ability of mounting several different types of lenses. Do you? Does anybody else?
 

AgX

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As I said It is contradictory to the idea of their camera as they brought it over, and as I saw it.
 

faberryman

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I don't see any rational point in introducing a proprietary lens for something that is advertised for the ability of mounting several different types of lenses. Do you? Does anybody else?
There has to be a bed into which adapters can be placed. I assume that it is this bed which is the proprietary mount. Surely they haven't created a new lens mount. How dumb would that be for what are manual diaphragm lenses.
 
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AgX

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Well , their bed as you call it, can be seen as new mount. For sure if they had their camera and then would not make those promised adapters, but only proprietory lenses.

But this is talking about unripe eggs and we have not seen any yolk yet.
 

blockend

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Small analogue photographic projects have enjoyed some success, but the larger start-ups have mostly ground to a halt or morphed into something else. The lesson seems to be if you can take over an existing business, as Harman did with Ilford, with sufficient enthusiasm and know-how you can maintain a lean professional business. On the other hand if the product died and the manufacturing plant disappeared, as with Ferrania and Impossible, the struggle will be a long one.
 

M-88

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M-88

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So now they are considering the possibility of having a digital back for their unborn child. That's what I call "thinking ahead"!

It's so thoughtful to design some accessories for something that might not even come to life.

http://www.lemondedelaphoto.com/PHOTOKINA-2018-Reflex-deviendra-t,14882.html

And let's not forget, that via Google Translate I got this:

"The industrial construction phase still poses problems for the choice of suppliers, although the project promoter admits that all the subcontractors needed in Shenzen are to be found in China, but it is still necessary to be certain of the quality of the parts while the cost must be moderate for a small series, this is particularly the case for the shutter."

The very essential part of the camera still has no manufacturer assigned.
 
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CMoore

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What a bunch of deplorable running this show.:smile:
It must be about time for them to send out some more straps or coffee mugs to their Victims/Supporters.
Is the mount a done deal.?
That is to say, how do they know the lens function on a camera they do not have yet.?
 

E. von Hoegh

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The Reflex concept was ill-conceived, I thought so when it was first announced and do so now. 35mm cameras that took photographic corporations years to evolve, versus a start up with no experience of manufacture and a vague endgame doesn't seem like a close call. In all likelihood you could buy a good condition body for each mount and still be up on the deal. Someone will point out that I'm completely missing the point, in which case I'd like to know what the point is, other than charity.
As I see it the so-called "design team" has zero experience in anything related to their project, the worst aspect being "don't reinvent the wheel".
For the asking price of the Reflex abortion, I have purchased one Nikon F2 in recently Soverised condition, one 1936 Contax II wiith provenance from day one, a couple lenses, and a bit left over.
Crap such as the reflex just makes me sad.
 

E. von Hoegh

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What a bunch of deplorable running this show.:smile:
It must be about time for them to send out some more straps or coffee mugs to their Victims/Supporters.
Is the mount a done deal.?
That is to say, how do they know the lens function on a camera they do not have yet.?
"Deplorable"
(wink and nod).
:smile:
 

blockend

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How about a kickstarter for some reasonably priced, Chinese sourced, reverse Galilean viewfinders with hotshoe fitting in popular focal lengths? The branded ones cost an arm and a leg.
 

AgX

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I see the KMZ ones at Ebay for less than 50€. But of course the lenses are small. Not to compare with large zoom ones.
 

EdSawyer

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What focal lengths do you need?

The best viewfinders I have found so far:

ultrawide : the Horseman one. 2nd best: the Cambo WDS-580

Wide: Mamiya 7 43mm or 50mm are both really nice.

Medium-wide: Koni Omega 58mm viewfinder

normal: the Sigma VF-21 for the DP2M is a really nice one, amazingly small but yet good optically. There's a lot of other good options in this length too.

longer: the 150/210mm mamiya 7 viewfinder is quite nice.

reverse Galilean viewfinders with hotshoe fitting in popular focal lengths?
 

blockend

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What focal lengths do you need?

The best viewfinders I have found so far:

ultrawide : the Horseman one. 2nd best: the Cambo WDS-580

Wide: Mamiya 7 43mm or 50mm are both really nice.

Medium-wide: Koni Omega 58mm viewfinder

normal: the Sigma VF-21 for the DP2M is a really nice one, amazingly small but yet good optically. There's a lot of other good options in this length too.

longer: the 150/210mm mamiya 7 viewfinder is quite nice.
Are these "reasonably priced"? I'm thinking of something like the Owl style finders that were used in Canon 35mm compact cameras (and similar). But shoe fitting. Something that would fit old viewfinder and rangefinder peephole finders, folders, Bessa L, even zone focus SLRs. Whenever I've looked at shoe fit finders the prices are astonishing when you consider framelines are not exact and there's no parallax compensation.
 

EdSawyer

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define reasonable. I'd say these range from the $50-500 range on the used market, the WDS-580 being the most pricey, usually.
 
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