shel_belinkoff2 Posted February 12, 2004 Share Posted February 12, 2004 Care to speculate on what it may be? Or can read the Japanese site? The camera is shown with collapsible Leica lenses, looks like a Bessa body, but it also appears to be digital, has an Epson nameplate: http://www.itmedia.co.jp/pcupdate/articles/0402/13 /news003.html Shel Belinkoff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christopher_engeler Posted February 12, 2004 Share Posted February 12, 2004 Link doesn't work anymore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave_flanagan Posted February 12, 2004 Share Posted February 12, 2004 <a href="http://babelfish.altavista.com/babelfish/urltrurl?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.itmedia.co.jp%2Fpcupdate%2Farticles%2F0402%2F13%2Fnews003.html&lp=ja_en&tt=url">Link</a></p> Looks definitely like a prototype, and no info on resolution etc. But something about announcing (or shipping?) by March.<p> Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hansley_yunez Posted February 12, 2004 Share Posted February 12, 2004 a digital camera with a film advance lever? http://www.itmedia.co.jp/pcupdate/articles/0402/13/mn_epson3.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john_collier2 Posted February 12, 2004 Share Posted February 12, 2004 No details yet but the speculation is that the advance lever cocks the shutter. If this camera works, it is really going to suck the wind out of Leica"s economic sails Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter_evans4 Posted February 12, 2004 Share Posted February 12, 2004 The article says, inter alia, that there'll be a full announcement of this Epson Bessa in mid March, and that the sensor is at least the size of "APS-C" (whatever that might be). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
._._z Posted February 12, 2004 Share Posted February 12, 2004 It looks like a joke -- a Voigtlander body with an LCD grafted onto the back. Who else but credulous nerds would believe that it was a real digital body ... complete with a film advance lever?!?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adnan Posted February 12, 2004 Share Posted February 12, 2004 Here is my favorite line from the translated link: "It is the attention machine of camera maniac drivelling of the Leica M mount correspondence and the past years in the design which is similar to Bessa-R well." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnmarkpainter Posted February 12, 2004 Share Posted February 12, 2004 MA 2004 Epson, worldwide first "range finder type digital camera" With PMA 2004 the SEIKO Epson, range finder type digital camera reference exhibition. It is the attention machine of camera maniac drivelling of the Leica M mount correspondence and the past years in the design which is similar to ??? Bessa-R well. In the middle of March formal announcement schedule. With PMA 2004 which is in the midst of holding in American Las Vegas, the SEIKO Epson referred displayed the range finder type digital camera which corresponds to the Leica M mount. Concerning the specifications and the like, it is not released altogether, but that it announces to the middle of March formally, you have announced. The range finder type digital camera which the SEIKO Epson refers displays The product to be inserted by the glass case, ??? corporation make Hektor and the like of the past years and also the exhibition in the acrylic case. Design has been similar to Bessa-R of ??? well, design of the especially finder section is the impression which was said almost that way. However, some this one somewhat large pattern impression. Though, if the range finder type camera where the flange back is short to seem depth we are finished in the compact, to consecutive digital single-lens reflex compare portable characteristic probably will be much better. Becoming one important point in the appearance aspect, the analog meter which is arranged on product top. With the design as in the chronograph which the clock manufacturer seems, status such as the battery remaining amount it has become check possible. With this analog meter, "the analog ? ?" those where it has engendered, are the film film advance lever. Though in just the digital camera, the expectation where it is not the case that it is used in the film hoist. Perhaps, shutter charge, those which are done with the film advance lever it is presumed. The analog meter which is arranged on top. How film film advance lever! As for liquid crystal display the rear at size about of 2 inches, small EPSON logograph enters into liquid crystal panel lower part. As for the EPSON logograph in the exhibition machine at only these 2 places, furthermore as for the liquid crystal panel because it is possible, to turn over, if the liquid crystal surface has not appeared in the table, being EPSON make you do not understand. When you turn over, because the electronic operation button hides, it stops completely insisting the fact that it is the digital camera. Furthermore, product name logograph was not stamped. Furthermore, also the electronic dial was visible in position of the film rewind lever. As for liquid crystal panel rear about 2 inches. As for small EPSON logograph charm. If the liquid crystal is turned over, "the digital camera it seems," it becomes not to go out So far, if as for the digital camera of range finder type there is no thing which is sold and the knitting machine is formally announced, it probably becomes the worldwide first real range finder type digital camera. It is the camera whose hobby characteristic is high very, but when you think of that recently the old camera has become popular, it may become funny existence. In order to check, the focus of the old lens in such as old camera city, perhaps the maniac who carries about this product large number reaches the point where it frequents. Furthermore price, altogether there is no either announcement of the sensor and the number etc. of pixels which have been used. Simply, because the lenses for 135 format are used, as for using the sensor above APS-C size you probably will not be wrong. With the valid line, adoption around the SONY make 6.1 Mega pixel sensors which do outside sales at APS-C size is powerful. [ Honda elegance one, ITmedia ] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hal Posted February 12, 2004 Share Posted February 12, 2004 EPSON has developed substantial expertise in the area of microlens arrays. They use them to "straighten out" randomly oriented light from metal halide lamps in there LCD projectors. It is why they are so small and bright. Makes sense to me that they grafted their microlens array onto a CCD and stuck it in a VC body. We can only hope!!!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charles barcellona www.bl Posted February 12, 2004 Share Posted February 12, 2004 Definately Bessa derivitive from the lens mount to the top cover etc etc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charles barcellona www.bl Posted February 12, 2004 Share Posted February 12, 2004 This is a joke.... folks... even the frame-counter-to-advance-lever position has been grafted back. If I didn't know better (and I dont) I'd say its all photoshop illusion.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark_ryan2 Posted February 12, 2004 Share Posted February 12, 2004 Film advance lever to still cock shutter? What is the funny dial on top. Are those ISO settings? Still no longer RF base length. I like the idea, but I can't wait until digital cameras come into their won and assume the shape that best befits their physical engineering requirements and ergonomics. These "Horseless carriages" look odd. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grg Posted February 12, 2004 Share Posted February 12, 2004 Pics of the subject camera.<p> <img src="http://www.itmedia.co.jp/pcupdate/articles/0402/13/mn_epson1.jpg"> <img src="http://www.itmedia.co.jp/pcupdate/articles/0402/13/mn_epson3.jpg"> <img src="http://www.itmedia.co.jp/pcupdate/articles/0402/13/mn_epson4.jpg"> <img src="http://www.itmedia.co.jp/pcupdate/articles/0402/13/mn_epson5.jpg"> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scott squire nonfiction Posted February 12, 2004 Share Posted February 12, 2004 Looks pretty credible--the pictures look just odd enough not to have been invented to fulfill expectations. The advance lever cocking the shutter--of course. Why not? The exposure meter on top? Weird, but perhaps sensible enough if you want to get something to stick in the case to show the investors. I'm tentatively... eager! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grg Posted February 12, 2004 Share Posted February 12, 2004 <img src="http://www.leica-camera.com/discus_e/messages/3/48348.jpg"> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gerry_rosen Posted February 12, 2004 Share Posted February 12, 2004 It is sitting in a glass case in the Epson booth in Las Vegas at this moment with a sign that says, "More information in March." I got a call from a friend at PMA this afternoon who told me not to buy a digicam, my digital rangefinder was on the way. Gerry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidv1 Posted February 12, 2004 Share Posted February 12, 2004 Too bad the English "translation" wasn't done properly. So far it might as well be from TheOnion.com as anywhere else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
msitaraman Posted February 13, 2004 Share Posted February 13, 2004 This is the result of what happened when your Leica M camera and your Nikon D100 rubbed up against each other in your camera bag on a hot steamy night. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter_evans4 Posted February 13, 2004 Share Posted February 13, 2004 <p>Neither Cosina nor Epson is responsible for the dire translation above. Following is my rough version:</p><hr><p>In PMA 2004, now running in Las Vegas, Seiko Epson is showing a rangefinder digital camera with a Leica M lens mount. Absolutely nothing is being divulged about the specifications, etc., but a full announcement will be made in mid March.</p><p>The product is in a glass case, and is on show in an <i>akuriru</i> [does this mean perspex? I forget] case together with an old Hektor, etc., by Leitz. [Either I misunderstand or this is poorly written.] The design closely resembles that of the Bessa-R; the finder in particular gives the impression of being identical. . . </p><hr>Sorry, no, that's enough for now. I'm bored. Anyway, the article has little more seemingly intelligent guesses about what's inside the perspex/glass box, mixed with some journalistic speculation. Well, the writer could see it more closely than we can, and says that what to me looks like a rev counter cum fuel gauge is indeed a fuel er I mean battery gauge, plus plus.</p><p>Contrary to one speculation above, there is not the slightest suggestion in the article that the camera can be used for film as well as CCD.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnmarkpainter Posted February 13, 2004 Share Posted February 13, 2004 Not to get my hopes up....but I HAVE MY HOPES UP! jmp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrew_lee2 Posted February 13, 2004 Share Posted February 13, 2004 Sure is ugly as hell! <g> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joshroot Posted February 13, 2004 Share Posted February 13, 2004 Normally I would expect this sort of thing to pop up on April 1. But who knows. It seems a little well done to be a hoax. Maybe it's just someone's joke at their PMA booth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter_evans4 Posted February 13, 2004 Share Posted February 13, 2004 While I don't think the whole idea is a joke, I am a bit puzzled by the collapsible lenses. I've a feeling that few people use collapsible lenses where they can't be collapsed, and most such lenses can't be collapsed into a regular, olde-worlde Bessa R as they'd collide with some of the mechanical/optical gubbins within. Could the Epson Digi-Bessa have less internal gubbins than the Cosina Bessa? (Well, yes, if it's just an empty box.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jay_. Posted February 13, 2004 Share Posted February 13, 2004 My impression: pix don't look like previous Photoshopped hoax images I've seen before, and if it's a real mockup but a hoax, somebody went to an awful lot of expense just to play a joke. Maybe this camera explains Leica's sudden about-face on the digital M issue, just as the Hexar RF quickly brought about an end to Leica's story that an electronically-controlled shutter with AE was "impossible without significantly altering the existing M body dimensions". The important thing is that the Japanese, who are largely responsible for keeping the Leica and rangefinders in general alive, are thinking along rational lines, that there is a need for a digital platform to utilize the existing M and LTM lenses, rather than walking around in a dream world spouting about how film will be around forever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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