First "true" digital rangefinder camera

Konost is going to release a full frame digital rangefinder camera in 2016

http://konost.com/?page_id=6654

Dubbing it the "The World’s First True Digital Rangefinder", which seems to be in
relation to the rangefinder is also a digital sensor.

It looks a bit neat, and will take Leica lenses, so.. your move, Leica?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7xCskVNOZQ

--
Sandman

On 2015-02-26, Sandman wrote:
Konost is going to release a full frame digital rangefinder camera in
2016

http://konost.com/?page_id=6654

Dubbing it the "The WorldÂ’s First True Digital Rangefinder", which
seems to be in relation to the rangefinder is also a digital sensor.

It looks a bit neat, and will take Leica lenses, so.. your move,
Leica?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7xCskVNOZQ

Certainly interesting. Any camera that returns the controls to the
fundamental basics is to be encouraged.

Not clear whether or not there is a mechanical link between the camera's
focusing electronics and the focusing mechanism of the lens; if there
is, then the cost of making and calibrating the system may not be
significantly less than Leica's wholly optical/mechanical rangefinder.
If the connection is electronic, then lens interchangeability with
existing rangefinder lenses will be limited.

The immediate competition for this project may be the likes of the
Fujifilm X100T rather than the Leica M series.

--
-- ^^^^^^^^^^
-- Whiskers
-- ~~~~~~~~~~

In article ,
Whiskers wrote:

http://konost.com/?page_id=6654

Dubbing it the "The World?s First True Digital Rangefinder", which
seems to be in relation to the rangefinder is also a digital sensor.

It looks a bit neat, and will take Leica lenses, so.. your move,
Leica?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7xCskVNOZQ

Certainly interesting. Any camera that returns the controls to the
fundamental basics is to be encouraged.

if you mean putting the aperture ring on the lens and shutter knob on
top, that's to be *discouraged*.

those were the most unergonomic places to put them and was only
required because mechanical cameras had little choice where controls
could go. they *had* to go there.

thankfully, digital removes that limitation and now the controls can go
wherever they make the most sense, which is a control wheel under the
photographer's fingers. it also adds significant functionality not
possible with the old style methods.

worse, the above camera is manual focus, manual aperture and manual
shutter speed. this is 2015, not 1965. the camera will fail.

In article ,
Sandman says...

Konost is going to release a full frame digital rangefinder camera in 2016

http://konost.com/?page_id=6654

Dubbing it the "The World?s First True Digital Rangefinder", which seems to be in
relation to the rangefinder is also a digital sensor.

It looks a bit neat, and will take Leica lenses, so.. your move, Leica?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7xCskVNOZQ

Wha can't they add autofocus? Either contrast based or on-sensor phase
AF.

Rangefinder is a thing of the past, when autofocus wasn't possible in a
non-SLR camera.
--
Alfred Molon

Olympus E-series DSLRs and micro 4/3 forum at
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/MyOlympus/
http://myolympus.org/ photo sharing site

In article , Alfred
Molon wrote:

Wha can't they add autofocus? Either contrast based or on-sensor phase
AF.

Rangefinder is a thing of the past, when autofocus wasn't possible in a
non-SLR camera.

because they're under the delusion that cameras should be how they were
50 years ago, ignoring all of the advancements since then.

that's why it's manual everything.

really stupid.

On 2015-02-26 18:41:50 +0000, nospam said:

In article ,
Whiskers wrote:

http://konost.com/?page_id=6654

Dubbing it the "The World?s First True Digital Rangefinder", which
seems to be in relation to the rangefinder is also a digital sensor.

It looks a bit neat, and will take Leica lenses, so.. your move,
Leica?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7xCskVNOZQ

Certainly interesting. Any camera that returns the controls to the
fundamental basics is to be encouraged.

if you mean putting the aperture ring on the lens and shutter knob on
top, that's to be *discouraged*.

those were the most unergonomic places to put them and was only
required because mechanical cameras had little choice where controls
could go. they *had* to go there.

thankfully, digital removes that limitation and now the controls can go
wherever they make the most sense, which is a control wheel under the
photographer's fingers. it also adds significant functionality not
possible with the old style methods.

worse, the above camera is manual focus, manual aperture and manual
shutter speed. this is 2015, not 1965. the camera will fail.

This is a funding exercise. It has yet to move beyond prototype.
They give no indication of price. Most importantly, Leica already fills
the FF rangefinder niche, and Fujifilm is doing a pretty good job with
their various X-Series APS-C rangefinders (with standard coupled OVF,
EVF, and hybrid OVF/EVF).

I just don't see this getting off the ground however much it might
appeal to some folks.

--
Regards,

Savageduck

In article ,
Savageduck wrote:

worse, the above camera is manual focus, manual aperture and manual
shutter speed. this is 2015, not 1965. the camera will fail.

This is a funding exercise. It has yet to move beyond prototype.

They give no indication of price. Most importantly, Leica already fills
the FF rangefinder niche, and Fujifilm is doing a pretty good job with
their various X-Series APS-C rangefinders (with standard coupled OVF,
EVF, and hybrid OVF/EVF).

I just don't see this getting off the ground however much it might
appeal to some folks.

not enough to matter.

i didn't realize it was just in the funding stage. this is a guaranteed
fail.

In article , Alfred Molon wrote:

In article
, Sandman
says...

Sandman:
Konost is going to release a full frame digital rangefinder camera
in 2016

http://konost.com/?page_id=6654

Dubbing it the "The World?s First True Digital Rangefinder", which
seems to be in relation to the rangefinder is also a digital
sensor.

It looks a bit neat, and will take Leica lenses, so.. your move,
Leica?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7xCskVNOZQ

Wha can't they add autofocus? Either contrast based or on-sensor
phase AF.

The only autofocusing rangefinder I know of is the Contax G, which linked the
lens with the rangefinder electronically. I seem to remember it being said it was
never a "true" rangefinder, probably at least partly due to this. Rangefinder
cameras are manual focus...

Rangefinder is a thing of the past, when autofocus wasn't possible
in a non-SLR camera.

Well, they most certainly are a thing of the past, but the enormous popularity
with the Leica shows that the old lady still has some moves, I'd say.

I think it's the idea of a more mechanical and optical camera that is tempting,
well - apart from the Leica lenses being top notch in themselves of course.

Nikon recently released the "Df", which was meant to be a photographers camera,
where you would (or at least on paper, could) get more hands-on access to the
controls.

My most commonly used camera is the Sony A7, and I run it 99% of the time in full
manual mode, and also using a Nikon F-mount adapter so I am "stuck" with manual
focusing. The Sony has focus peking so that helps, but the EVF is pretty top
notch there as well.

To each his own, some say that the Konost is going to sell well for those that
like or use the Leica rangefinder, saying it seems to be what they always wanted
the Leica to be. Well, some do at least.

--
Sandman

In article ,
Sandman wrote:

Nikon recently released the "Df", which was meant to be a photographers
camera,

all cameras are a meant to be a 'photographer's camera'. that's what
cameras do. photograph.

where you would (or at least on paper, could) get more hands-on access to the
controls.

the best hands-on access are control wheels under the user's fingers,
not a shutter knob on top and aperture ring on the lens.

On 26 Feb 2015 12:34:06 GMT, Sandman wrote:

Konost is going to release a full frame digital rangefinder camera in 2016

http://konost.com/?page_id=6654

Dubbing it the "The World’s First True Digital Rangefinder", which seems to be in
relation to the rangefinder is also a digital sensor.

It looks a bit neat, and will take Leica lenses, so.. your move, Leica?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7xCskVNOZQ

As others have said, it probably has no chance. From their site:

"The Konost Camera aims to bring back the lost experience of
photography- taking time to think, focus and compose before taking the
perfect image."

That's all very nice, as long as the only thing you ever do is static
shots, with plenty of time to get things set. Worse yet, who *wants*
to take the time "to think, focus and compose", and why would that
assure the "perfect image"? Or even any improvement over what comes
from any other quality camera? Either way, if you're into that stuff,
today's cameras have an 'M' setting on that dial.

Maybe if they sell it as a novelty for $100. Or $10,000 for those who
must have the "exclusive" gear.