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

Philippe-Georges · Sep 18, 2008

david b said:
Do you mean like the Xpan?

Fuji TX-1 and TX-2 in Japan and Hasselblad everywhere else?

I guess it could be read that way?

Or as VOIGTLÄENDER...

Alex Bishop-Thorpe · Sep 18, 2008

It's a round about way of telling us it's gonna be marketed as something else outside Japan. Voigtlander, of course! Complete with the kinda silly double-wording in German on the box. Wake me when we have a price, I'm dreaming of Fuji Acros in the thing.

Uhner · Sep 18, 2008

Well, I’m glad that the camera is going into production. Extrapolating from how Fuji and Cosina works, I would not be surprised if it will be sold under another name in the rest of the world.

Mark Layne · Sep 18, 2008

elekm said:
This looks like Fuji and Cosina "borrowed" some ideas from Voigtlander. The lens standard looks reminiscent of the Bessa, as does the top deck. I wonder if it's focus by dial -- like the Voigtlander Bessa 6x9.

In the end, it doesn't matter, as long as it delivers the goods. Very classic looking, no matter who designed it or what it borrows from the past.

I hope they have engineered this front standard better than the Bessa which has left many of them unuseable. Not a design problem, just an engineering one.
Mark

ChrisC · Sep 18, 2008

I think Fuji understands the film market too well to develop a camera that will only be sold in one country. It's going to be a niche product, thus really needs to be in as many markets as possible (under whatever branding) for it to be worth their while.

I'm just eager to see the price.

DaveOttawa · Sep 18, 2008

Mark Layne said:
I hope they have engineered this front standard better than the Bessa which has left many of them unuseable. Not a design problem, just an engineering one.
Mark

But a lot of them (Bessas) seem DO appear to have survived in good working order, if you've been following Mike Johnston's "Forgoten Camera" idea on his blog it's been a bit dominated by Voigtlander folders so far, e.g.:

http://theonlinephotographer.typepad.com/the_online_photographer/2008/09/forgotten-ca-10.html
Certainly my 50+ year old Bessa that has obviously been dropped (top plate dinged) still works as designed apart from sticky low shutter speeds.

Renato Tonelli · Sep 18, 2008

Looks good - I hope I will be able to afford it. I have been using the Voightlander and Agfa 6x9's and the only drawback is the lack of filters. I am assuming that the new Fuji is threaded for filters...

chop61 · Sep 18, 2008

But when? When, when, when?

DBP · Sep 18, 2008

David A. Goldfarb said:
Available in the US as the Voigtländer Bessa III? I'd go for that. Otherwise, I have no problem buying things from Japan, if that's where they're sold. We've got the internet, credit cards, global shipping--no big deal.

Since Cosina uses the Bessa name for 35mm, how about resurrecting Avus? Or maybe Perkeo, Prominent or Virtus?

Larry.Manuel · Sep 18, 2008

The worst thing about instant gratification is that it takes so long.

Anupam Basu · Sep 18, 2008

Forget where. When and how much are more pressing questions.

coriana6jp · Sep 18, 2008

Actually, they showed in up the computer for pre order at my big local Yodobashi Camera yesterday. No price on them yet. I placed an order to two, one for myself and another for a friend. Once I have more details for price and everything else I will post them. THey said it would probably be about the first of October when the final details are released.

Gary

david b · Sep 18, 2008

gary,
be sure to let us all know.

IloveTLRs · Sep 18, 2008

Hmm, I checked Bic Camera and Yodobashi's websites but I didn't find anything. Do you have to go in and ask in person?

coriana6jp · Sep 18, 2008

david b said:
gary,
be sure to let us all know.

David,

Will do!

Gary

coriana6jp · Sep 18, 2008

IloveTLRs said:
Hmm, I checked Bic Camera and Yodobashi's websites but I didn't find anything. Do you have to go in and ask in person?

Its not the website, at least as of this morning. I was down picking up an order for some other stuff I ordered. The manager knows me, and we had been talking about this camera in it first showed up back in February. He showed me the preorder list and said he could put my name down on it.

Gary

DaveOttawa · Sep 18, 2008

Renato Tonelli said:
Looks good - I hope I will be able to afford it. I have been using the Voightlander and Agfa 6x9's and the only drawback is the lack of filters. I am assuming that the new Fuji is threaded for filters...

I have filters and even closeup lenses for my Bessa, they just push on.

Mark Layne · Sep 18, 2008

DaveOttawa said:
But a lot of them (Bessas) seem DO appear to have survived in good working order, if you've been following Mike Johnston's "Forgoten Camera" idea on his blog it's been a bit dominated by Voigtlander folders so far, e.g.:

http://theonlinephotographer.typepad.com/the_online_photographer/2008/09/forgotten-ca-10.html
Certainly my 50+ year old Bessa that has obviously been dropped (top plate dinged) still works as designed apart from sticky low shutter speeds.

You might like to read 'Collecting and Using Classic Cameras' by Ivor Matanle

IloveTLRs · Sep 19, 2008

coriana6jp said:
Its not the website, at least as of this morning. I was down picking up an order for some other stuff I ordered. The manager knows me, and we had been talking about this camera in it first showed up back in February. He showed me the preorder list and said he could put my name down on it.

Thanks for the info. I think I'll swing by the local camera places tomorrow and see if they know anything.

Chazzy · Sep 19, 2008

To me this is good news, since it means that the camera is no longer just a prototype, but has gone into production. A whole bunch of people are going to be looking to see what price point Fuji selects.

Abbazz · Sep 19, 2008

Mark Layne said:
You might like to read 'Collecting and Using Classic Cameras' by Ivor Matanle

I don't share Mr. Matanle's opinion regarding Voigtländer Bessa cameras. I find the rigidity of the front standard on the Bessa to be perfectly adequate. The design is sturdy and even my two pre-WWII Bessa RF don't show any sign of lens misalignment due to a wobbly front standard.

Hopefully the lens on the new Cosina/Fuji "Bessa III" will be a 5 element Heliar. Or even an Apo-Lanthar...

Cheers!

Abbazz

Uncle Goose · Sep 20, 2008

What?? They speak about a price around 1000$ or more, who wants to buy such a thing at that price? I was hoping it wasn't exceeding the price of like 500$. This is way too expensive for such a limited camera and it's not that there are some super high tech electronics in it.

Konical · Sep 20, 2008

Good Morning,

I have my fingers crossed that the price will at least be competitive with that of a good used Makina 67, the only somewhat similar modern camera which is fairly readily available. $500 would be terrific, but I'd certainly consider $1000 as better than I feared.

Konical

awaken77 · Sep 20, 2008

even if it will be for sale in Japan only, I think it's not a problem to buy it anywhere in the world through yahoo auctions or ebay.
I'd want to put my hands on this thing some day...

digiconvert · Sep 20, 2008

Did anyone else notice the irony of the 'Lets Go Digital' logo on the pic ?
It's a sad commentary though when the release of a new film camera causes such a stir . Nice to hve one though.

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

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