jtyr Posted September 18, 2004 Share Posted September 18, 2004 The hinge and the collar around the lens mounting button are Cosina all the way. The viewfinder/rangefinder is quite distinct from any Bessa past, present, or future (R2A & R3A). Does anyone else think that the small rangefinder window looks longer than normal? I think it is significant that all images in the puzzle (including the sample photos) are in the long 1:2 format. It must take 1:2 format pictures. Given lens coverage issues, digital seems more likely than film. 24mm x 48mm film images would mean much more new design and engineering work, wouldn't it? That means that the G lenses couldn't be easily re-purposed. Of course the Cosina/Epson RD-1 still incorporates the typical Cosina/Bessa hinge. I'm actually beginning to lean towards this being a digital camera. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john_ela Posted September 18, 2004 Share Posted September 18, 2004 A comparison between two cosina bodies...<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ho_ho Posted September 18, 2004 Share Posted September 18, 2004 Thanks for the photo, which let us see the Biogon is not 28 but 21! If the viewfinder covered 21mm FOV... Suppose technically impossible to make a zoom viewfinder with rangefinder together, we may still limited to the 45mm Planar rather than the 90mm Sonnar, even the long base length (it looks wider than M!) considered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill_marshall1 Posted September 18, 2004 Share Posted September 18, 2004 Looks like a Konica Hexar RF to me - even with those same details. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtyr Posted September 18, 2004 Share Posted September 18, 2004 The design of the lens mount also looks rather Cosina to me. In fact it looks like there is a hood bayonette that strongly resembles the Voigtlander 40/2 SL lens. The top housing layout and design does resemble both the Contax G2 and Hexar RF, which meshes well with a claim made by Stephen Gandy on the CVUG list, that the the rf/ vf for both cameras were made by the same sub-contractor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtyr Posted September 18, 2004 Share Posted September 18, 2004 Here's what I think: Cosina body and lens hardware, rf/vf designed by Stephen Gandy's purported Hexar & G2 subcontractor. What do people think of my 1:2 format digital theory? That might explain the "color cast" teaser. It also looks like the camera has a 21mm lens. Wouldn't that lend itself to my theory, giving enough coverage for a digital 1:2 format? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
del_gray Posted September 18, 2004 Share Posted September 18, 2004 Jonathan, I think it is digital (the color cast comment), but the 1:2 format is confusing. The pictures posted on the Zeiss site clearly show that aspect ratio, and the text clearly says that the new camera took those photos. The lens, though, is obviously interchangable, so the fact that it is a 21 Biogon (which I'm not sure about either) doesn't factor in. If it is interchangable, then any lens with the same mount should work for that format. They wouldn't make it 1:2, put on an interchangable mount, and then say that it only works with this one lens, would they?! Maybe a whole new line-up of lenses for the format? I'm still hoping it's G mount or M mount. There was also some text on the website about "flexibility," so maybe the aspect can be changed, like the Fuji/Hassy? Also, I only saw the close-up segments on the official Contax/Zeiss website, never this whole picture. Can anyone confirm that it came from official sources? This last full picture is a confirmed composite sewn together, and you can tell which parts are original and which are filled in. The earlier full pics, though, are harder to tell. Did anyone see the full picture first hand on the Zeiss site, or is it speculation? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
del_gray Posted September 18, 2004 Share Posted September 18, 2004 On the official Zeiss site they've posted an update on the camera, but I have absolutely no idea what to make of it. And they even used a previously posted close-up picture. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill_marshall1 Posted September 18, 2004 Share Posted September 18, 2004 I did see the full picture on the Zeiss site. As I perused the site & read the Zeiss comments about how they are selective with their partnerships, I thought about who they already have a relationship with that might make this camera. So despite its similarities to the Hexar RF in my mind, Hasselblad jumps out because so much of it looks like a smaller version of the x-pan & because of their existing partnership with Zeiss. I guess we'll know for sure tomorrow or the next day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
split_image Posted September 18, 2004 Share Posted September 18, 2004 The official announcement will be made on SEP 28 at Photokina. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougmiles Posted September 18, 2004 Share Posted September 18, 2004 I think Del had a good comment about a switchable aspect ratio. Look at the viewfinder and mask windows, though; they appear pretty normal for 1:1.5 ratio. If there is a switchable ratio, how about the mask moving to 18x36mm? Then the G-series glass would be usable, print processing would be less bothersome, and the Cosina frame wouldn't need to be stretched. Even without switchable film format, though, this camera looks very attractive. Bottom rewind makes a lot of sense, clearing more room for the RF with no sacrifice in usability. Long baseline is a Zeiss tradition, looks longer than Leica M. This makes a very good market distinction vs the new Bessas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david_kieltyka Posted September 19, 2004 Share Posted September 19, 2004 The latest text from the "Back with Passion" page at the Zeiss website: "Anyone wanting to completely concentrate on the subject when taking pictures has to be able to rely 100% on the system. This includes, for example, the focus remaining in the image plane when changes are made to the diaphragm setting. It works! We'll show you on Sept. 28 at Photokina 2004 in Cologne, Germany. Hall 1.2, booth B040. Until then, don't miss the next piece of our puzzle. It will be online here on Sept. 21." What to make of this? Depth-of-field information in the viewfinder? This camera gets curioser and curioser... -Dave- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougmiles Posted September 19, 2004 Share Posted September 19, 2004 Dave, I think they're simply touting the quality of the Zeiss lenses, having the same focus point at all apertures. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lucien1 Posted September 19, 2004 Author Share Posted September 19, 2004 Automatic translation of the current teaser: Who has the choice, has the torture? No ? the choice! Or do you know a system that offers you between 21 mms and 50 mms immediately five different focal lengths? Which exactly, we show to you from 28th September, 2004 on photokina in Cologne. Hmmm. ;-) A camera ࠬa Xpan, (with Leica M bayonet) ? Who knows ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lucien1 Posted September 19, 2004 Author Share Posted September 19, 2004 The Zeiss Ikon may come with 21-25-28-35-50mm frames (plus maybe panorama option ?!?). The long rangefinder base may be necessary to improve the accuracy of the low magnification finder needed for 21mm frames (or larger if panorama). Lucien Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtyr Posted September 19, 2004 Share Posted September 19, 2004 Just to clarify for Del, the composite that I posted was made solely from pieces that I downloaded from www.zeiss.de. Nothing was added or filled in. Basically I took the small picture of the whole camera, blew it up, and then peiced the closeups together on top of it. Just a few wasted hours in Photoshop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
del_gray Posted September 19, 2004 Share Posted September 19, 2004 Jonathan, thanks for clarifying that! I certainly didn't mean to offend, so I hope you didn't take it that way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtyr Posted September 19, 2004 Share Posted September 19, 2004 None taken, my friend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frank_jackson Posted December 5, 2004 Share Posted December 5, 2004 This is a film only camera that is supposed to be a "Hasselblad dealer" product in the U.S. It is fully manuel or with aperture priority exposure. I haven't heard prices but the lenses are made with the Leica M mount. This camera/lens system could cost some where close to Leica MP or M7....it is sexy looking and has a couple of focal lengths in "M" mount that's thats not available from Leica. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill_marshall1 Posted December 5, 2004 Share Posted December 5, 2004 Frank, you can find USA prices, as best they are known now, at www.classicconnection.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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