"To every thing there is a season..."

[Godfrey]

Stephen Gandy (CameraQuest.com, Rangefinder Forum) has posted that Cosina has formally announced the end of production of all Voigtländer film cameras.

All Voigtlander Film Cameras Sadly Discontinued - Rangefinderforum.com

G

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven ...”
(Ecclesiastes 3:1)

 

[JohnW]

I think they are only one of three or so OEMs who still offer 35mm film cameras, and the others are now primarily digital outfits. So it's sad news but not surprising. I know they have a small but devoted customer base. Fortunately for the company, their lens line seems to have prospered from the mirrorless boom. Thanks for the link.

John

 

[Tim]

I am just guessing, but if we don't buy em, they won't make em.
There will be a bit of a rush for some users to stockpile some spares I bet.

Might be time I pick up that all manual M Leica I have dreamt of.
Whats the best pick of them for repair-ability purely? M3/M4/M6/M7 ?

 

[Jorgen Udvang]

Sad news, but I never bought one, so I guess I have nothing to complain about. Not many manufacturers of 35mm cameras left. Nikon, Fuji and Leica obviously, but who else? None?

 

[Godfrey]

I am just guessing, but if we don't buy em, they won't make em.
There will be a bit of a rush for some users to stockpile some spares I bet.

Might be time I pick up that all manual M Leica I have dreamt of.
Whats the best pick of them for repair-ability purely? M3/M4/M6/M7 ?

I wouldn't worry too much about Leica film M cameras for a while yet. Leica is pretty strong these days, is charging enough for them to be profitable, and they're (IMO) more robustly built than the Cosina bodies in the first place. The M7, MP, and M-A are all in production, with no signals yet that they might be nearing the end.

But if you want to buy a used one: It's a tough call as to which specific model is more or less repairable than others. Certainly the ones without a meter have fewer bits to go wrong, and parts for more recent models are bit more easily available than bits for older models, perhaps. Certainly, in the hands of the right repair tech, nearly any all mechanical model is more repairable than ones with electronics.

I would just pick whichever model tickles your fancy and have one of the Leica specialist techs go through it, if it's older or shows signs of problems. Which reminds me that I should send my M4-2 out for a shutter overhaul one of these days... It's been a little slow at 1/500 and 1/1000, with a gradient, which means is needs a strip and clean, replace worn bits and curtains, reassemble, and recalibrate. But it's not been bad enough to warrant spending the money, yet..

G

 

[Godfrey]

Sad news, but I never bought one, so I guess I have nothing to complain about. Not many manufacturers of 35mm cameras left. Nikon, Fuji and Leica obviously, but who else? None?

Lomo is still around, Cosina makes the Vivitar 3800 and Nikon FM10. I thought Canon was still making the EOS 1v, but they might have pulled it.

I'm not overly attached to the Cosina/Voigtländer bodies either. Only one I owned was the Epson/Cosina R-D1, and that very briefly as I didn't like it all that much.

G

 

[Jorgen Udvang]

Lomo is still around, Cosina makes the Vivitar 3800 and Nikon FM10. I thought Canon was still making the EOS 1v, but they might have pulled it.

I'm not overly attached to the Cosina/Voigtländer bodies either. Only one I owned was the Epson/Cosina R-D1, and that very briefly as I didn't like it all that much.

G

As far as I know, the FM10 has been out of production for quite a while. There might be new cameras still available in shops though. But then I saw two new-in-box/old-stock Canon F1 at a shop in Hong Kong less than 5 years ago. Yes, I was very tempted

 

[Godfrey]

As far as I know, the FM10 has been out of production for quite a while. There might be new cameras still available in shops though. But then I saw two new-in-box/old-stock Canon F1 at a shop in Hong Kong less than 5 years ago. Yes, I was very tempted

Nikon still lists the FM10 on the Nikon global site and it's purchasable from nikonusa.com:

http://imaging.nikon.com/lineup/filmcamera/slr/fm10/
http://www.nikonusa.com/en/nikon-products/product/film-cameras/fm10.html

That's usually an indication that it's still considered a current production model.

G

 

[4season]

Lomo is still around

According to an interview with LOMO's Assistant Director-General

Production of all LOMO cameras ended in 1992 except for the "LOMO Compact" which was discontinued in 2004 due to large losses. In 2005, LOMO and Lomographic Society International have signed an agreement to outsource the production of the camera rights for the "LOMO Compact" and "Lubitel" to China.

The complete interview can be found in Toy Tokyo by Manami Okazaki

 

[Tim]

I would just pick whichever model tickles your fancy and have one of the Leica specialist techs go through it

For me that would be either an M6 or maybe a M4.
I'd likely chicken out for the M6 to have the meter.

 

[Jorgen Udvang]

Nikon still lists the FM10 on the Nikon global site and it's purchasable from nikonusa.com:

Nikon | Imaging Products | Nikon FM10
FM10 from Nikon

That's usually an indication that it's still considered a current production model.

G

You seem to be right. Here too:

Nikon FM10 35mm SLR Camera with 35-70mm Lens 1689 B&H Photo

What is worse is that all film cameras on Fuji Japan's website are marked "This product, has ended production." or similar. That includes Fuji Klasse, Natura and GF670. Not that there is a lack of cameras around, but I guess we are seeing the end of factory new cameras. Canon EOS 1v isn't listed on Canon Japan's home page, so that leaves us with Leica and Nikon, I suppose.

 

[Godfrey]

According to an interview with LOMO's Assistant Director-General
The complete interview can be found in Toy Tokyo by Manami Okazaki

Lomography.com shows two 35mm film camera models available. I guess these are the Chinese made ones.

Lomo LC-Wide 35mm Camera
LC-A 120
​

They also have an Instax film camera listed:

Lomo'Instant Montenegro (three lens kit)
​

G

 

[Godfrey]

You seem to be right. Here too:

Nikon FM10 35mm SLR Camera with 35-70mm Lens 1689 B&H Photo

What is worse is that all film cameras on Fuji Japan's website are marked "This product, has ended production." or similar. That includes Fuji Klasse, Natura and GF670. Not that there is a lack of cameras around, but I guess we are seeing the end of factory new cameras. Canon EOS 1v isn't listed on Canon Japan's home page, so that leaves us with Leica and Nikon, I suppose.

So it goes. Cherish and use the film cameras we have, keep them in good shape; that's all.

G

 

[Jorgen Udvang]

So it goes. Cherish and use the film cameras we have, keep them in good shape; that's all.

G

Since I already have the F6, it's tempting to buy an MP or M7. The final refinements of 35mm film photography.

 

[4season]

But you never know what the future will bring! Thanks to the efforts of Lomography, Holga, Fujifilm and others, film is reaching a younger audience. They won't necessarily lust after the same sorts of products as their baby-boomer and x-generation parents, but maybe that's a good thing.

I gotta tell you, I'm having a lot of fun seeing how far I can go with film on a minimal budget. I can afford to pay bigger bucks, but I'm feeling like maybe that's not where I want to go with the film side of things. Nothing wrong with getting a Hasselblad, but I'm after extreme value . Highest price that I've paid for a complete film camera recently is about $350, and that's really on the high side: $50 is closer to where I want to be. Kind of excited about the pending arrival of a (hopefully) working Olympus Trip 35...

 

[Godfrey]

If you are so inclined, I may have a few 35s that you would like. Oly Trip 35s, Pen EE, Stylus, maybe a couple others; I have to look. My compact 35s are my favorite and beloved Rollei 35S and Minox 35GT-E, as well as a 1940 Robot II.

If you're interested in the others, I'll let you have them for the price of shipping.

G

But you never know what the future will bring! Thanks to the efforts of Lomography, Holga, Fujifilm and others, film is reaching a younger audience. They won't necessarily lust after the same sorts of products as their baby-boomer and x-generation parents, but maybe that's a good thing.

I gotta tell you, I'm having a lot of fun seeing how far I can go with film on a minimal budget. I can afford to pay bigger bucks, but I'm feeling like maybe that's not where I want to go with the film side of things. Nothing wrong with getting a Hasselblad, but I'm after extreme value . Highest price that I've paid for a complete film camera recently is about $350, and that's really on the high side: $50 is closer to where I want to be. Kind of excited about the pending arrival of a (hopefully) working Olympus Trip 35...

 

[4season]

If you are so inclined, I may have a few 35s that you would like.

Most generous of you Godfrey!

Think I may be good as far as the Trip 35 goes: Got one with busted meter movement (one thing I cannot repair) but have another Trip due here any day.

Olympus Stylus: I thought the original with prime lens was really pretty neat, but suspect I'd never get around to using one today.

Picked up a very nice Rollei 35SE not long ago and it needed only minimal servicing. Had one years ago, forgot why I sold it. Not totally sold on the handling of this one, but maybe I should give it more time.

Minox 35: Had one years ago (35EL) and recall liking it.

Never actually seen a Robot camera in person. Had toyed with the idea of getting one which uses standard 35mm cassettes, then thought maybe it would wind up costing more money than I was prepared to spend?

Any thoughts on the Olympus Pen D, Zeiss Contaflex I or II or gray Rolleiflex 4x4? I don't think I've ever seen any in person.

Got a local camera swap meet coming up in a few weeks and perhaps I will go. Have not attended one of those things in at least a decade, this should be fun.

 

[Godfrey]

Rollei 35SE vs S ... I had almost all the Rollei 35s and was never that happy with the ones with LEDs in the viewfinder. The original design with top mounted match needle meter worked better for me.

Berning Robot ... They're wonderful, utilitarian little bricks. I happened upon this one a couple of years back from a Florida estate auction, it was made after the point where all Robot production went to the military. It had to have been a camera given to a high ranking officer originally as it isn't one of those modified for the Luftwaffe, and the person who's estate it was a part of was likely a servicemen who obtained it when all such things were being confiscated at the end of the war. I had it overhauled by Robot KameraDienst in Düsseldorf after I got it, but it seems Fritz and his son have closed the shop now. When he overhauled it, he upgraded it to Robot IIa spec which means it now takes a 35mm cassette on the feed side rather than the original feed spool (much more convenient) but it has no in-camera rewind so you shoot a load, then take it out to process it. Fun stuff, beautiful little clockwork mechanisms, etc. The later Robot Stars and such are much more utilitarian; relatively plentiful in eastern European countries but most have been used a lot and are pretty beat up. They were often used for industrial work and just used until they were worn out.

I've only seen a Pen D once or twice, never played with one. Same for the Contaflexes. I had a baby Rolleiflex for a bit—they're sweet but there's very little available in 127 format film now. I have a Japanese "Primo Flex" that was a copy of one, given to me recently and not working, as part of my office decoration.

Fun playing with all these old mechanical marvels. I'm carrying my Polaroid SX-70 (the MiNT rework "SLR670a" model) this week for snaps... now that was a camera design very advanced for its day. As long as Impossible Project can stay afloat and make film for them, I'm going to enjoy them.

G

 

[Jorgen Udvang]

Any thoughts on the Olympus Pen D, Zeiss Contaflex I or II or gray Rolleiflex 4x4? I don't think I've ever seen any in person.

I had a gray Rolleiflex Baby that I still regret selling, 15 years after the fact. Not many films available for that camera any longer (127 format), but it's an ultrasweet experience; a complete Rolleiflex in a compact package.

http://www.fotoimpex.de/shopen/films/medium-format-films-127-4x4/

http://www.freestylephoto.biz/category/1-Film?attr[]=1-275

 

[4season]

I had a gray Rolleiflex Baby that I still regret selling, 15 years after the fact. Not many films available for that camera any longer (127 format), but it's an ultrasweet experience; a complete Rolleiflex in a compact package.

Okay, will continue to (casually) look for a deal on one. I figured I could always shoot 35mm if it came down to that. Probably won't go much higher than $100 for a fairly nice example.