Do you think that in the near future some manufacturer in the Asian market will produce a medium format film rangefinder 6x7 camera, full manual without electronics parts (and eventually another model with an exposimeter - so only this component as electronic - using the modern battery), for less then 350 euro?
With a lens equivalent at 50 mm included on the price?
The body could be for example on good polycarbonate.
I known that no one have a crystal ball but i noticed that on the last few years the price on different MF camera are became quite crazy while the few new model available (for example from Mamiya) are proposed at outrageous prices so i think that the demand exist but the offer lack instead so what the producers expect to enter into this re-emerging market?
Perhaps the old brands have few interest but some dynamic Asian manufacturer (since all the production is made from them) could produce something.
Produce a similar film camera is cheap since there isn't an AF system, firmware, sensor, while producer as samayang have already produced some good manual lens (for 35 mm) as the 85 mm, then the knowledge is present even for the lens so is possible make a new system from the ground.
Actually exist some good product made from Asian manufacter only on the LF camera but nothing on the MF camera.
Note:
Actually some old RF fuji is present on eBay at relative cheap price but naturally without any warranty and mostly from outside EU so thanks to the heavy tax the initial price starting from relative cheap became bad. Also on MF RF fuji camera is used quite electronics components.
If you're talking about a "modern" 6x7 film camera... like a 120 version of mid 90's Nikon/Canon DSLRs.... it could be done easily, even with the budget you mention.
37 people would buy one, so nobody will make them. If I'm doing 6x7, chances are I know what the hell I am doing, so the older ones work just fine.
Why buy a new toy, even if they make one, when a professional medium format camera that would have cost the same as a car can be bought on eBay for about $600? I use a Mamiya RZ67 but if you want rangefinder then there are plenty of those also.
-JAY- wrote: 37 people would buy one, so nobody will make them.
And there is the problem, if it cost a relative small $2,000,000 to develop and make the moulds for the body etc, and say 370 folk around the world buying it they would cost $5400 each. plus distribution cost/advertising/OHP/etc.
So not unless a mass market fashion develops for these then no chance of a brand now one at your budget.
the already have that...The Mamiya 6 and 7 are 6x7 rangefinders. The glass for these cameras are considered to be some of the best in any format. Price range 3,000 for camera and one lens.
I have a Hasselblad 500c SLR with a Carl Zeiss 80mm f/2.8 and 2x 120 magazines I'll sell for $600.00. it's still better then any new Chinese untested camera out there... FYI- Hasselblad shoots a 6x6 format.
It's 6x6 not 6x7, but it's FULL manual and I got mine for $40. Built like a tank, and small enough to just throw in the bag with all the digital stuff.
ArtisticGlamour wrote: It's 6x6 not 6x7, but it's FULL manual and I got mine for $40. Built like a tank, and small enough to just throw in the bag with all the digital stuff.
Throw in the bag? Have you no reverence to classic antique objects? shame on you! That thing needs a military grade Pelican case with custom cut foam inside!
They may be toys but they produce a very charming and interesting image. Also, they have one shutter speed plus "B" and two apertures. You have to think to get the image you want unlike today's digital cameras. I have two, one with a built in flash and one without. The one without has a hot shoe so I have an adapter that allows me to use it with studio strobes.
alessandro2009 wrote: Do you think that in the near future some manufacturer in the Asian market will produce a medium format film rangefinder 6x7 camera, full manual without electronics parts (and eventually another model with an exposimeter - so only this component as electronic - using the modern battery), for less then 350 euro?
With a lens equivalent at 50 mm included on the price?
The body could be for example on good polycarbonate.
No, but you can buy MF rangefinders for $350 euro that are used. Also, the Mamiya 6 is not 6x7. It is, 6x6. The Mamiya 7, is...6x7
TA Craft Photography wrote: And there is the problem, if it cost a relative small $2,000,000 to develop and make the moulds for the body etc, and say 370 folk around the world buying it they would cost $5400 each. plus distribution cost/advertising/OHP/etc.
I don't think that for start is necessary spend on developer so much money also using:
- internet and few good review from some users around the world (for advertising)
- two official no-single brand seller (one on UK and one on USA)
Its possible put at minimum the expensive.
While now the productions of the single piece are more efficient respect during on the past and so is sufficient use for a very small ammount of time the same machine for produce an initial small stock of cameras.
if the "pachidermiche*" structures are removed and the manager avoid taking the outrageous salaries actually present for american and european based company should be possible.
One should not underestimate the power of the Internet, think about at solution as the ballhead photoclam, or LF as Shen hao, etc., their success was possible thanks to Internet and don't using traditional system (with the relative cost) for advertising.
*On google translate don't translate this term.
AspirationImages wrote: Why buy a new toy, even if they make one, when a professional medium format camera that would have cost the same as a car can be bought on eBay for about $600?
Because similar system:
aren't cheap (especially if you translate it on Euro);
no warranty;
difficult find someone for repair it and the few available want don't few money.
wiseleo
Posts: 1,682
Castro Valley, California, US
Disregarding the obvious question "Who will buy it?", I think this question really should be asked at http://www.apug.org
If you are already aware of it, I apologize. Just trying to help.
The answer will probably be that there is an abundance of used equipment. If the photographer cannot afford to purchase one, it is certainly possible to rent or borrow one from someone who has it gathering dust in a box somewhere.
At one point I could purchase computer modems for as low as $5 new. Nowadays, modems are typically only purchased by customers who need to route faxes into computers. They are considered a specialty low demand item and cost $50 new in stores. Of course, they are still available at a much lower price online.
I highly doubt that customs who collect import duty would pay attention to duties on what they would consider an obsolete camera that is no longer in service. The seller can probably declare it as an obsolete piece of home decor or "obsolete film camera" at this point. I doubt I would have a problem importing something like a Canon EOS-1v today either.
As an enthusiast, warranty would not matter to me for this type of equipment. The people who can repair low-demand equipment deserve the high rates they charge for their services because they will otherwise go out of business.
wiseleo wrote: The answer will probably be that there is an abundance of used equipment. If the photographer cannot afford to purchase one, it is certainly possible to rent or borrow one from someone who has it gathering dust in a box somewhere.
Perhaps on USA, on Italy is already a lot difficult even try to rent some DSLR camera different from Canon or Nikon.
TA Craft Photography wrote: Canon/Nikon/Hassy are just expensive toys.
Well, on a certain sense, certain camera could be considered very expensive toys but about Holga i means toys for the bad lens and bad body.
wiseleo
Posts: 1,682
Castro Valley, California, US
alessandro2009 wrote: Perhaps on USA, on Italy is already a lot difficult even try to rent some DSLR camera different from Canon or Nikon.
By renting I meant borrowing a camera from another photographer and paying him for it. I would never expect such equipment to be available at a rental firm.
As the overwhelming majority of professional photographers switched to digital, they still have this equipment not being used at all. I think finding someone to borrow from wouldn't be too hard even in Italy.
wiseleo wrote: By renting I meant borrowing a camera from another photographer and paying him for it.
Ah ok this, with patience, could be possible, especially for certain MF camera.
But unfortuntately this don't solve the issue that RF MF camera aren't cheap since the tax are heavy even the small used market ask high price.
Just for make you an idea, on a shop that sell even some used camera, a 35 mm RF (so no MF), from one day to another day is pass from 230 to 280 euro!
(Was a simply Kodak Retina II C).
I'm no interest on 35mm camera but this is just an example of price without sense.
For products outside EU is necessary instead now add 21 % of Iva (but from some months became 23 %) plus customs duties if the total import plus shipping cost is over 150 euro!
Built like a tank, and small enough to just throw in the bag with all the digital stuff.
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