New "Kenko"/Tokina SLRs

[rxmd]

Hi,

I've just stumbled across this page (http://www.kenko-tokina.co.jp/camera/slr.html) in Japanese, which shows three new SLR's by Tokina under the "Kenko" label, two with Nikon bayonet and one with Yashica/Contax. The whole thing does look suspiciously like a reiteration of the generic Cosina body that has given us cameras such as the Olympus OM-2000, Canon T-60, Nikon FM-10, or Voigtländer Bessa. :)

As I've unfortunately let my Japanese go somewhat neglected over the last thirty years, maybe someone else here can enlighten us with the gory details?

Philipp

[jonmanjiro]

I got to handle both versions of the Kenko back in March at the PIE, the Tokyo annual photography show. The aluminium body was a nice touch. The rep denied that they were rebadged Cosina SLRs, but they sure looked like it to me. Here's some photos I took back then.

[jonmanjiro]

And a couple more photos!

[Stephanie Brim]

These look great. Now if only we knew how much they were going for. ;)

[jonmanjiro]

These look great. Now if only we knew how much they were going for. ;)

The rep said they'd be about the same price as an FM-10.

[veraikon]

Even it is not RF stuff thx for the information about the Y/C Kenko.
I am looking for a mechanical back up for my SLR Contax and it for me too the Kenko seems to be a non plastics FX-3 /Superphenix/ Cosina/......
veraikon

[wlewisiii]

Grump. They need to make a FD mount version... ;)

William

[Justin Low]

I don't know... It may very well use Cosina chassis, but I can't help but feel that the controls look really 'cheap' and crude. They resemble the controls on the Zenit SLRs (no offense towards Zenit owners!). And the nameplate... don't get me started.

[Dr. Strangelove]

I got to handle both versions of the Kenko back in March at the PIE, the Tokyo annual photography show. The aluminium body was a nice touch. The rep denied that they were rebadged Cosina SLRs, but they sure looked like it to me. Here's some photos I took back then.
Are there any other manufacturers left capable of making fully mechanical SLRs? Well, last I heard Arsenal in Ukraine was still making the Kiev 19M, but even KMZ (manufacturer of Zenit) stopped making cameras a couple of years ago.

The cameras must be made somewhere and it would be quite expensive to set up a completely new assembly line for mechanical cameras. And I really do not think that they are made in Ukraine. So, it seems to me that they are manufactured by Cosina.

[nikola]

...these are lovely, If the price is right I would buy one!

[Chris101]

I don't care who they are made by, new film cameras on the market is a good sign

[ywenz]

these look rather "cheap" to me... The knob height looks out of proportioned..

[kully]

These look a lot more "Seagull" (China) than Cosina.

Actually, there are a lot of design bits which come from the Seagull models marketed here in the UK as "Centon".

[Kin Lau]

It looks like a mix btwn my Minolta XG-M and my Yashica Super FX3.

[erikhaugsby]

The rep said they'd be about the same price as an FM-10.

Well, in that case I'd much rather buy a real Nikon than a third-party Nikon-mount body. And there is at least one Vivitar branded camera with the C/Y mount, so it would seem like Cosina/Kenko/Tokina is kind of wading into what might be an ice pack.

But it's new! :)

[shadowfox]

Not bad, ASA 25-3200, and can go up to 1/2000th.

You just got to wonder, who are these being marketed to? I imagine even in Japan not many people still buy film SLR's.

[mac_wt]

These look a lot more "Seagull" (China) than Cosina.

I agree. These look much more like a Yasuhara then like a Bessa (shutter speeds knob, film advance, black trim on the body,...). I put my money on Seagull too. Wim

[rich815]

The rep said they'd be about the same price as an FM-10.

Likely because I suspect they ARE FM-10's!!!

[GeneW]

Intriguing news. And good news!

Gene

[jonmanjiro]

Likely because I suspect they ARE FM-10's!!!

That's what I thought. The choice for Nikon SLR users is a plastic FM-10 marked with "Nikon" or an aluminium body marked with "Kenko". The viewfinder display was identical to an FM-10 - just three diodes to indicate exposure and no shutter speed or aperture setting display.

[NIKON KIU]

The rep said they'd be about the same price as an FM-10.
These are FM-10 clones, no doubt in my mind.
I have seen the Phoenix versions as well.

Kiu

[NIKON KIU]

these look rather "cheap" to me... The knob height looks out of proportioned..
You would be too if two hundred thousand people played with you in a camera show!!

Kiu

[Dr. Strangelove]

That's what I thought. The choice for Nikon SLR users is a plastic FM-10 marked with "Nikon" or an aluminium body marked with "Kenko"..
Hey, don't forget the Kiev 19M :D