Do you think fuji will ever launch a real digital rangefinder? - Off Topic Discussions on Fuji X Series Camera Forum - Fujifilm X-Pro1 X-E1 X100S X100 X20 X10 XF1 X-S1

Sergio

What do you guys think? will fuji ever release a true rangefinder? The x100 had the looks and as far as composition goes the hybrid viewfinder is amazing in comparison to a true rangefinder but the AF and the SAB problem really hold it back, then you have the X-pro which again looks great so far but I have a feeling (this is just my opinion here) that it will have the same focusing issues as the X100 and hopefully the newer lenses dont suffer from SAB (I think we are still clueless as to what causes SAB so there is no way of knowing if the same flaw is or isnt going to re apear in the new lenses and seeing as they are all "fly by wire" im going to hold off until they are battle tested before I decide to jump on the X-mount).... So back to my question, Do you think fuji will ever make a TRUE rangefinder? one that focuses manually with the little window in the finder but can also have the ability to AF? One with a good set of aperture blades that wont stick? The X-pro 2? 3? 8? Im afraid the X-mount might have put a nail in this dream camera's coffin because with so much invested in these "fly by wire" lenses I dont see them making yet another mount. If not Fuji then who might be able to fill in this gap? Nikon? Cannon? Pentax? Maybe even Leica at a reasonable price (pppfffttt). Will the gap ever be filled? or will we just have to man up save a 9 grand and cough it up to Leica for their M10, M11, or Mwhatever?

discuss...

p3t3or

Being that I don't have inside info on Fuji (nor do I suspect anyone else does), I can cannot say. That said, the question I think you're asking is if anyone would be interested in dRF by Fuji. It sounds like you are, and I'll be the first to say I am absolutely interested in a dRF by Fuji. I do not want it to be a direct competitor to Leica because I don't want to see a price tag anywhere near Leica's. What I hope they bring is innovation to the dRF field. Imagine having the option to switch between MF and AF on a dRF or having the option for a live view on the LCD. Simply having these options on a camera similar to Leica's would make it an absolute blockbuster of a camera that you could use in almost any situation. To be honest, I don't know why it isn't being done (or perhaps it is). I believe there is clearly a market for this type of camera, or maybe I'm way off. Perhaps this thread will help determine that.
Oh, my optimism is why I have no interest in the x-pro 1. I believe they are working on something like this. Why? Because it makes sense! (To me anyway).

kiwi

Can't see it happening why would they go backwards technology wise?
It's sort of like wanting Porsche to reintroduce a car with an air cooled engine and drum brakes.

mattmaber

@kiwi +1

Sergio

I guess every profesional grade lens is obsolete technology in your eyes.... image quality is important but i think when it comes to profesional grade gear reliability trumps new gimmicks every time.

mattmaber

Sergio said:
I guess every profesional grade lens is obsolete technology in your eyes....

Not at all, but I don't see a world where Fuji introduce a dRF (a proper RF like an M9) and certainly not with a FF sensor.

kiwi

Just what Matt says. Great glass is great glass regardless of how old it is. The problem is having the camera bodies to support it and that I suspect is a gamble that no manufacturer other than Leica is willing to take. Leica only do it because of their die hard customer base in much the same way as Rolls Royce get away with continuing to build huge cars with terrible fuel economy.
I was really keen on the concept of the Pentax K-01 because I like many people have a bag full of really good Pentax glass form the 1970s and 80's but having seen the product the glass will stay in the cupboard at the moment.

cosinaphile

yes to the above comments

but a market exists for such a camera and if someone has the guts to weld a full frame sensor like the kodak [ now platinum technologies] sensor to a rangefinder body
and sell it for 2000 usd , they will sell like hotcakes ....like the x 100 did
like the x pro will too.

ive got no idea what the whoesale price of the sensor in the m9 is is it 250 usd ?
is it 500 dollars? whatever it is if someone did a modern version of the voigtlander[epson]rd-1 with a full frame sensor , and offered digital edge correction to brightness and color in real time like the powerful gxr m mount module does , it would be highly sought,imo

the epson didnt do well because resistance to digital still existed in the rangefinder community to digital back when it was released . it was also too expensive .that luddite baggage is mostly gone

today, a full frame alternative to the leica , using the kodak sensor , or a better one would be headline news and presold in incredible numbers ,

just sayin

hub

Fuji as both the rangefinder know how and the digital camera experience.

But it they make a real rangefinder, they will have to make it Leica M mount. That's the only logical choice. Who knows.

The R-D1 was Cosina (Voigtlander/Bessa) with Epson.

MillsArt

Given that Fuji makes no "real" RF lenses, they would have to make it M mount, and I can't see the business advantage of doing all the R&D to produce a camera body, that is a one time purchase, just so that people can then go spend all their money on buying Voigtlander, Zeiss and Leica M mount lenses. Just makes no real sense.

Likewise, how much demand is their for a real RF camera ? Why isn't Zeiss bringing out a digital Ikon if so ? Why wasn't the Epson R-D1 a big hit ? Its a tiny little niche market that Leica serves.

I've shot M's for years and have let lots of people try my camera, they typically always hate it. Consumers don't want to have to manually focus every shot. 1% of 1% of photographer actually think that is "fun".

You can't mistaken what a very small minority of photographers who spend their time on internet forums discussing as what would be a real commercial success.

mattmaber

@MillsArt +1

mattmaber

Is it possible to 'fake' the RF focusing method with an EVF?
Using my Yashica Minister III the rf focusing is so simple and clear - line box A over box B (sort of)
Should be surely?

p3t3or

I saw your Yashica in a picture. I've been thinking about picking one of those up myself.

FinePixCamera

hub said:
Fuji as both the rangefinder know how and the digital camera experience.

But it they make a real rangefinder, they will have to make it Leica M mount. That's the only logical choice. Who knows.

The R-D1 was Cosina (Voigtlander/Bessa) with Epson.

Fuji HAD great rangefinder experience. I am certain that the folks who made the GSW690, GW670, GA645, etc from years past are long gone and out of the company. The current, and most likely last Fujifilm rangefinder, the GF670, is a Cosina design and manufactured camera. Fujifilm just slapped their name on it for a price.

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