Sad Fuji News/Happy Voigtländer News -GF670 in Japan only -Bessa III elsewhere!

Lee L

Member
Joined
Nov 17, 2004
Messages
3,281
Format
Multi Format
sanking said:
Claire,

You got me.

How does one distinguish between a real geek and a wannabe geek?

Sandy King
Click to expand...
A real geek would have scripted his sig to update after election day.


Lee
 

Barry S

Member
Joined
Jan 28, 2007
Messages
1,350
Location
DC Metro
Format
Large Format
jd-- I think you're pretty close with that price range. There are just so many goodies out there in the $2000-$3000 range that you'd have to be a photographicus geekus maximus to drop that kind of coin. Or a retired salaryman. I think Fuji designed and meant to sell this to only the retired salarymen.
 

firecracker

Member
Joined
Jan 22, 2005
Messages
1,950
Location
Japan
Format
35mm
Barry S said:
I think Fuji designed and meant to sell this to only the retired salarymen.
Click to expand...

Well, not so much any more in Japan, I guess because the economy and the economy is sinking so fast and the interest rate in the bank is so low, almost always close to zero for at least a decade...

To me, for 2-3k, I bet people will consider buying high-end digital video cameras instead.
 

Loris Medici

Member
Joined
Sep 13, 2005
Messages
1,154
Location
Istanbul, Tu
Format
Multi Format
Sandy, 8-10x is serious enlargement. Do you believe a folder camera can achieve that much "reliably"? Reliable = most of 8-10x enlargements (>= 75%?) giving satisfactory results.

I'm concerned about the rigidity of the lens standard, for instance...

BTW, to me satisfactory enlargement = things intended to look sharp while shooting, should look sharp in the print after enlargement, to 20/20 vision from 25cm. (Yes a pretty high expectation, is it too much?)

Regards,
Loris.


sanking said:
My impression is that the Bessa III is aimed at photographers who need to travel light and still want a very high quality negative that will enlarge up to about 8-10X, or in the 20X24" range
...
Click to expand...
 

sanking

Member
Joined
Mar 26, 2003
Messages
5,437
Location
Greenville,
Format
Large Format
Loris,

I have the same concern about the rigidity of the lens standard. That is certainly a major issue with vintage folders. And equally important is the mechanism for holding the film flat, which is also poor in vintage folders.

However, Fuji did manage to solve these problems to a great extent in their 6X4.5 line of folders so perhaps with modern materials and engineering they can be solved in a slightly larger camera.

In any event, 8-10X is what I expect since I can get it now with both the Mamiya 7 and Fuji GW690III.

Sandy





 

Loris Medici

Member
Joined
Sep 13, 2005
Messages
1,154
Location
Istanbul, Tu
Format
Multi Format
sanking said:
...And equally important is the mechanism for holding the film flat, which is also poor in vintage folders....
Click to expand...

Indeed. On the other hand, with MF cameras I developed a habit of winding / advancing film right before taking the shot which I think is quite helpful in preventing film sagging. So, this is a secondary concern to me...

sanking said:
...However, Fuji did manage to solve these problems to a great extent in their 6X4.5 line of folders so perhaps with modern materials and engineering they can be solved in a slightly larger camera...
Click to expand...

I hope so. Anyway, I won't act for buying this camera before seeing some samples (and reviews) from reliable others... (If it comes with a reasonable price tag of course!)

Regards,
Loris.
 

Chazzy

Member
Joined
Jan 17, 2004
Messages
2,942
Location
South Bend,
Format
Multi Format
At a thousand dollars, I think they would have sold a bunch of them. At $2400, I have my doubts.
 

Ken Nadvornick

Member
Joined
Mar 18, 2005
Messages
4,942
Location
Monroe, WA, USA
Format
Multi Format
Thus far I have saved US$1010 since the original announcement, dollar by dollar. I was prepared to eventually spend up to about US$1400. But that's pretty much the red-line outer limit. Beyond that I just can't do it. US$2400 isn't even in the ballpark, even when discounted down to street price. No one is going to discount the MSRP for this camera by US$1000. So if this report is true, I'm forced to fold my cards right now. Game over.

Damn.

So it appears then that my fall-back plan is about to come into play. A variable-contrast cold light head for my D5 enlarger is sounding *reeeal* good right about now...

Ken
 

flatulent1

Member
Joined
Oct 7, 2008
Messages
1,505
Location
Seattle USA
Format
Multi Format
$2400... How do I get hold of $2400... I'm no good at saving money, I just spend it on frivolous things, like food, rent... I don't have $1000 worth of crap I can unload, let alone 2.4x that amount... Damn. Just my luck, even if I do manage to pinch pennies long enough to get one, put in the order, receive camera, lose my job, can't afford film...
 

ntenny

Subscriber
Joined
Mar 5, 2008
Messages
2,477
Location
Portland, OR, USA
Format
Multi Format
Ack! Japanese-market prices on electronics are often significantly higher than US ones, I've noticed---but not by a factor of two!

This is really disappointing. This camera is pretty much what I'd get if I spec'd out my perfect camera---OK, I might have gone to 6x9---and I was hoping that it would come out at a price where I could justify it sometime as a big indulgence. At $2400, even $1800-$2000, there's just no way.

Well, time to look that much harder at a really good vintage folding RF, I guess.

-NT
 

jon koss

Member
Joined
Sep 4, 2004
Messages
748
Location
Boston, MA
Format
35mm
ntenny said:
Ack! Japanese-market prices on electronics are often significantly higher than US ones, I've noticed---but not by a factor of two!
...
Click to expand...

Just as a bit of a humorous aside, the first time I went to China I brought plenty of extra money to scoop up a couple of d*g*t*l cameras at the local bargain prices. At the first opportunity I asked my host the best place to purchase this kind of camera. He turned to his colleagues and there was furious debate for a few moments. Finally there was consensus and he turned to me and said: "New York!"

True story, really.

Jon
 

JMC1969

Subscriber
Joined
Apr 7, 2008
Messages
630
Location
Jacksonville
Format
Multi Format
Are they waiting for PMA to release the full disclosure of the Voigtlander version?
 

Daniel Larsen

Member
Joined
Nov 9, 2007
Messages
28
Location
Kingston, On
Format
Medium Format
I guess now the only Voigtlander folder I am going to have is an eventual Perkeo IIIe to go along with my Zeiss Mess-Ikonta and Super Ikonta III...
 

Andy K

Member
Joined
Jul 3, 2004
Messages
9,420
Location
Sunny Southe
Format
Multi Format
If it really is going to cost upwards of £1650.00 then I'm out. A fixed lens folder simply isn't worth that much.

I think Fuji may well have shot themselves in the foot.
 

Matus Kalisky

Member
Joined
Sep 29, 2006
Messages
630
Location
Aalen, Germa
Format
Multi Format
German Voigtlaender website states that the camera should be available April/May. No statement about the price or final specs ...

But if the price is really going to be around 2500 euro that gives more peace to my mind as I will soon spend all the money I have saved for this camera on a 3 week trip to New Zealand
 

eclarke

Member
Joined
Jun 11, 2004
Messages
1,950
Location
New Berlin,
Format
ULarge Format
keithwms said:
Hmm, that price. Wonderful camera, I am sure, but.... that price puts it squarely against the superb Mamiya RFs.

Well, I wish them luck.
Click to expand...

I agree, my M7II with the 65mm is terrific. This camera is almost as big and I don't have to unfold my Mamiya..EC
 

jd callow

Moderator
Moderator
Joined
Jan 31, 2003
Messages
8,466
Location
Milan
Format
Multi Format
eclarke said:
I agree, my M7II with the 65mm is terrific. This camera is almost as big and I don't have to unfold my Mamiya..EC
Click to expand...

The bulk of 7II sales are body + 80mm. If i were only interested in the normal lens for the 7II and planed on using it as a travel camera and point & shoot on steroids -- think Doctor or Lawyer -- the Fuji would look pretty good if not preferential.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn more…