What Cameras Can, and Should, Be Brought Back into Production?

[Cholentpot]

I am doing my best
Minox 8x11 + SPUR100 film & developer
And more:

Minox 8x11

The photos by my lovely Minox C & Minox IIIS cameras

www.flickr.com

Minox is something else. I think I have to get one of these things. I don't know where to start though.

 

[gone]

Never heard of Jeff Bezos. Bit of an awkward name, I'd probably change it if it were mine. Sounds too much like Bozo(s). The Nikon FG and N8008s cameras should be resurrected. They're pretty cheap now, if new ones were made the used prices would surely drop way down. But if new ones were made today they'd probably cost $1800. The old ones might go up then. It's complicated.

Looked it up. Jeff Bezos is the Big Kahuna at Amazon.com? He looks like a smaller version of Mr Clean w/o the pecs, or Captain Kirk's inferior stand in. So I had it right, he's IS a Bozo. I stopped doing business with them ages ago. Big and good are two different things. The company. Not him.

 

[Eric Rose]

Mamiya 6

 

[reddesert]

If we're going to speak about practicalities, rather than just asking what we could do with a near infinite amount of money: Some early DSLRs were semi-based on the chassis of film SLRs - for example the Nikon D100 is generally said to be based on the N80. (It's not literally the same body, but there are similarities.) A company that makes DSLRs today could make film SLRs by re-engineering the body to have film transport instead of an electronic detector. The hard parts of the focal plane shutter, viewing system, body, exposure control, lens interface, etc, are already there.

If one demands a mechanically controlled shutter rather than electronic, then it will become a lot more complicated to create.

 

[Sergey Ko]

My votes are for the XPan, the Pen F, FT of FV.

Xpan (Fuji-TX) -is a great camera. It is really candidate #1 for production restarting in 35mm film cameras.

Fuji TX-1 24x65mm

45 & 90mm Super EBC Fujinon Lenses

www.flickr.com

 

[Steve@f8]

Why did they stop production of the XPan and the TX. I’d call it an international disaster!

 

[Donald Qualls]

An XPan is very desirable, lenses too of course. But fully manual please.

I'll probably never be in the market for an Xpan, even if I hit the lottery. The only thing it's got over an RB67 with 35 mm adapter(s) and optional mask is weight, while the RB doesn't have electronics to fail without warning and little or no chance of repair. A similar camera in fully mechanical, however, might pique my interest.

 

[Cholentpot]

I'll probably never be in the market for an Xpan, even if I hit the lottery. The only thing it's got over an RB67 with 35 mm adapter(s) and optional mask is weight, while the RB doesn't have electronics to fail without warning and little or no chance of repair. A similar camera in fully mechanical, however, might pique my interest.

If I win the lotto I'd buy enough of them not to care. Or have someone fix them when broken. What's a dozen grand when you've got loads more?

 

[Donald Qualls]

What's a dozen grand when you've got loads more?

But then you might still miss opportunities if the camera fails on you -- how many can/will you carry at once, after all?

 

[grat]

Number one goal should be to re-engage the amateur. Moms who can point and shoot, drop the cassettes off at the drug store and receive some nice 4x6 prints, negatives and the scans used to generate the prints. George Eastman had the right idea, so does Fujifilm in Instax, mass market.

Except those same Mom's have a smartphone with a camera that does very well at producing a reasonably sharp, in focus image with bright colors and fake bokeh, that they can instantly view on a computer and upload to their friends.

Why should they bother with film? There's a market for Instax, partly because of the novelty, but Instax has a terrible dynamix range.

I realize this is heresy, and violates all sorts of principles and guidelines for posting, but it's where the amateur market has gone, and I'm not sure how to get them back.

 

[Marcelo Paniagua]

I already have a Pen FT, but a new one would be great. I need to give it more love, me thinks.
An XPan is very desirable, lenses too of course. But fully manual please.

Yep, can say that Pen's are great. Had F/FT and FV (even a medical one with a weird viewfinder that I found cheap). Sold most of them since I was focused on MF at the time but keep the original F since I really like it. Still going strong. They are quite complex and small cameras. A wonder that a full SLR would fit in such an small size. Maitani's genius for you

 

[Marcelo Paniagua]

Except those same Mom's have a smartphone with a camera that does very well at producing a reasonably sharp, in focus image with bright colors and fake bokeh, that they can instantly view on a computer and upload to their friends.

Why should they bother with film? There's a market for Instax, partly because of the novelty, but Instax has a terrible dynamix range.

I realize this is heresy, and violates all sorts of principles and guidelines for posting, but it's where the amateur market has gone, and I'm not sure how to get them back.

I would say that Fujifilm approach is the right one. Focus on the physical evidence of the moment, images on the phone are forgetful, get a piece of history you can touch, etc. Thats approach has worked for Fuji and I don't think is a novelty since it took over since 2010 (when Polaroid gave out). Sure, they are technically horrible, but you nothing beats a physical picture that you can put anywhere.

Example, I work as a software developer, and my coworkers carry top of the line mobiles and yet, many of them have Instax cameras and enjoy the physical photos they get. They use them for special occasions and events. Sure, they may not be as perfect as the ones they get from their cellphones but they are physical and wouldnt get drown on the sea of digital images. I think thats the best way to entice people.

Probably I'm wrong but thats my morning coffee rant.
Marcelo

 

[mshchem]

Except those same Mom's have a smartphone with a camera that does very well at producing a reasonably sharp, in focus image with bright colors and fake bokeh, that they can instantly view on a computer and upload to their friends.

Why should they bother with film? There's a market for Instax, partly because of the novelty, but Instax has a terrible dynamix range.

I realize this is heresy, and violates all sorts of principles and guidelines for posting, but it's where the amateur market has gone, and I'm not sure how to get them back.

I think that the simplicity of shoot a roll drop it off and get back physical prints could be appealing.

 

[Cholentpot]

But then you might still miss opportunities if the camera fails on you -- how many can/will you carry at once, after all?

Alfred will carry my backups in a bag for me.

You need to think like a moron to be a moron. Same for being filthy rich.

 

[Kodachromeguy]

Why did they stop production of the XPan and the TX. I’d call it an international disaster!

I agree, the Xpan was an amazing tool. As I recall, it was seriously expensive when new, at least in the USA market. A generous friend in town lets me use his complete outfit:

Hasselblad XPan Panoramic Camera: How to Handle the Film? (XPan 03)

worldofdecay.blogspot.com

Panoramas on the Dixie Overland Highway - Mound, Tallulah, and Delhi (XPan 04)

worldofdecay.blogspot.com

More Wide View in Central Jackson (XPan 09)

worldofdecay.blogspot.com

 

[markjwyatt]

...

Example, I work as a software developer, and my coworkers carry top of the line mobiles and yet, many of them have Instax cameras and enjoy the physical photos they get. They use them for special occasions and events. Sure, they may not be as perfect as the ones they get from their cellphones but they are physical and wouldnt get drown on the sea of digital images. I think thats the best way to entice people.

Probably I'm wrong but thats my morning coffee rant.
Marcelo

You are not wrong. Instax photos can get pinned at work on the side of a cubicle, and you see it everytime you step in, or at home stuck to the refrigerator with a magnet (we have a few such photos). I do not see any cell phones stuck the the refrigerator, and I access the refrigerator far more often than the picture section of my cell phone!

 

[Sirius Glass]

I agree, the Xpan was an amazing tool. As I recall, it was seriously expensive when new, at least in the USA market. A generous friend in town lets me use his complete outfit:

Hasselblad XPan Panoramic Camera: How to Handle the Film? (XPan 03)

worldofdecay.blogspot.com

Panoramas on the Dixie Overland Highway - Mound, Tallulah, and Delhi (XPan 04)

worldofdecay.blogspot.com

More Wide View in Central Jackson (XPan 09)

worldofdecay.blogspot.com

I have a WideLux F7 but I would rather have the XPAN and all three lenses. The only problem is the price. I would like to see the XPAN bought back.

 

[Steve@f8]

I'll probably never be in the market for an Xpan, even if I hit the lottery. The only thing it's got over an RB67 with 35 mm adapter(s) and optional mask is weight, while the RB doesn't have electronics to fail without warning and little or no chance of repair. A similar camera in fully mechanical, however, might pique my interest.

I wonder if I should place an advert asking to purchase an Xpan for $10. I don’t mind a Fuji equivalent, but either has to be in full working order; no rubbish please.
Perhaps Huss would bump it now and again.

 

[Marcelo Paniagua]

I have a WideLux F7 but I would rather have the XPAN and all three lenses. The only problem is the price. I would like to see the XPAN bought back.

Lets not delude ourself. If it is back on production, it won't be cheaper than before. Look at current incarnation of Leica M6. Not cheaper event thought there is a host of them on the used market.

Would be nice if that happened though. Got plenty of stuff I could sell (including non vital body parts) if that one was available at a reasonable price.

 

[Marcelo Paniagua]

I wonder if I should place an advert asking to purchase an Xpan for $10. I don’t mind a Fuji equivalent, but either has to be in full working order; no rubbish please.
Perhaps Huss would bump it now and again.

Thay may work

 

[Steve@f8]

Thay may work

…followed quickly by another ad for a set of XPan lenses. No use having a $10 XPan and not being able to use it.

 

[Huss]

I wonder if I should place an advert asking to purchase an Xpan for $10. I don’t mind a Fuji equivalent, but either has to be in full working order; no rubbish please.
Perhaps Huss would bump it now and again.

I have the TX-2 (Xpan2) but I am afraid that $10 is a little on the low side.
However I would be happy to bump your WTB.

 

[Huss]

I think that the simplicity of shoot a roll drop it off and get back physical prints could be appealing.

But where would they do that? I have a local shop, but they are few and far between. Most people don't.

 

[Huss]

The ugly truth about the Xpan is if you crop a regular 35mm shot to the Xpan format, and are not going for a very big print, you would not be able to tell the difference.

One of these pics was taken with a TX2, the other with a Rollei QZ 35 P&S







The give-away is when you show the film rebate:

 

[mshchem]

But where would they do that? I have a local shop, but they are few and far between. Most people don't.

I think Walgreens will send it out, maybe once a week. But you make a good point.