R2a and R3a Info...

Tim · 09-19-2004

Mainline has it's site updated - details in English at http://www.mainlinephoto.com.au

tp

Tim · 09-19-2004

Hmmm...not many details tho

GeneW · 09-19-2004

Stephen Gandy has stated that he will be posting a full description on www.cameraquest.com tomorrow...

Gene

Doug · 09-19-2004

Thanks for the link, Tim! The prices sound horrendous, but the gear looks great. That little 40/1.4 is especially mouth-watering.

Somebody took note of the lack of the word "Aspheric" in the lens engraving or description, and speculated that "Classic" could well indicate that this lens is directed toward those who prefer the "pre-asph" look.

I am very fond of 40mm lenses. I already have a 40mm f/1.4 (but it's for the Olympus Pen F so has a different angle of view). And a 40mm f/2 Rokkor for my CLE. And a 43mm f/1.9 Pentax-L for Leica thread. And a Voigtlander-SL 40mm f/2 for Pentax bayonet. I really don't know that this can stop me from wanting this tidy new Nokton!

rover · 09-19-2004

Doug, the "Classic look" I guess is also acheived through a new coating too. I hope Gandy offers more detail than Mainline.

peter_n · 09-19-2004

That lens has what looks like a "double tab" - a ridged slightly convex part and a smooth concave part.

I'm very interested in this lens too but I find using tabs to be very awkward. Maybe this design would help...

Kris · 09-19-2004

Peter, that's not double tab. The focusing tab is the smooth concave one. The ridged tabs are for turning the aperture ring. That design is exactly the same as Pancake II.

I find the concave focusing tab on PII very easy to use because its location is just right. I use the tip of my index finger to adjust it. On the other hand, tab positioned on the left hand side ala Oly SP really frustrated me.

rover · 09-19-2004

I don't know if it is a tab that I think is awkward as much as it is short lenses. There has to be room for your fingers, and for me, it isn't the focus that is the problem, but the apeture ring hidden between the focus tab and the hood.

peter_n · 09-19-2004

Peter, that's not double tab. The focusing tab is the smooth concave one. The ridged tabs are for turning the aperture ring.

Oooooh. I get it. Do you use the index finger of your left hand Kris? Stupid question I know but some people seem to use finger(s) on their right hand with these tabs.

Kris · 09-19-2004

Quote:

Originally posted by peter_n
Do you use the index finger of your left hand Kris?

Correct. My left middle and ring fingers support the base of the camera while the index finger adjust the focus.

Tim · 09-19-2004

CameraQuest web site updated - lots of details........

Tim · 09-19-2004

including price - announced at USD499, same price as R2....

Rich Silfver · 09-19-2004

I'm sure Joe doesn't approve of this quote from Mr Gandy: "Classic Leica mount Canon fans enjoyed a 1:1 finder with the Canon P with parallax corrected framelines, but with a mediocre flare prone finder."

Designer · 09-20-2004

It seems a nice price!

Laika · 09-20-2004

MMmmm.. not a bad upgrade for no extra cost eh?

... Nothing earth shattering but lots of nice little things, I guess a few will moan about the battery dependence but its not a real issue these days... If the R3a outer frame edge is usable for a 35mm lens I might have to start saving some $$

RML · 09-20-2004

That R3A looks tempting, especially for someone like me who doesn't have an M-mount Bessa yet.

The price of the 40mm Nokton isn't too bad either. Cheaper than the 35 Ultron, & less than half of the price of the 35 Nokton. This 40 Nokton could become a killer.

I find $160 for the new light meter a bit steep. Consider what you could get from Gossen and other brands for that price. But it's a nice little add-on for my M2....

I guess I already know what I want for XMas.

chenick · 09-20-2004

oh!!
I want an R3A with a 40mm 1.4!

Looks nice and compact. Considered getting a Yashica Lynx once, but they are huge!

Brian Sweeney · 09-20-2004

I find it amazing that Cosina has that much dedication to classic cameras. Wouldn't we all like him to buy some of the film plants that are shutting down. They should give Ilford to him.

mourges · 09-20-2004

I'm kind of surprised about the releases. The R2A and R3A are just too similiar, and i think will take sales away from each other. And if the R3A's outside edges of the frame cover 35mm, why will anyone buy the R2A?

I would have thought CV could have released a R3WA, R3NA, R3TA - covering wide, normal and telephoto. The R3WA having 21/28/35 framelines, the R3NA covering 35/50/75, and the R3TA 50/75/90. I would have lined up to get the WA and a TA.

Peter · 09-20-2004

I want the Nokton Classic 40mm/1.4! Please someone stop me!

taffer · 09-20-2004

No need to stop you Peter... I also want one badly !

Now the question is... Single or Multi coated ? Gandy says the reason for a SC lens is to give a somewhat more 'classic' look to images... Also, I read there 'initially the lens will be only in black & M mount'. Does that mean there will be other color/mount options in a future ?

Personally I wouldn't mind at all being able to fit that lens on my Canon 7 as well, lol !

Btw, keeping the same price as for a R2 is a very interesting movement. Now, people who were expecting something different will go for the still available mechanical R2's, while people jumping on the new Bessas will probably find the price great. Brilliant

Brian Sweeney · 09-20-2004

I am thinking that the 40mm F1.4 would be perfect for an M3. The whole frame should just about cover the 40mm field of view. Then people will stop making fun of the Summaron with Eyes.

Roger · 09-20-2004

The Japanese on the CV site here in Japan talks about using a design philosophy from the '50s and '60s, where the character of the image was expected to be different at full aperture and you stopped it down to get progressively sharper definition. Sounds like it really might be designed for a pre-aspherical look with smooth, soft "bokeh." The Japanese deliberately contrasts this "look" with the "sharp and contrasty from full aperture" look of modern lens design. The latter is what I have in my Classic 35/2.5. I must say I wouldn't mind a really smooth 40/1.4! If it offers anything like the wonderful image quality of my 50/3.5 Heliar, then I'm definitely going to want it...

taffer · 09-20-2004

Quote:

Originally posted by Roger
The Japanese on the CV site here in Japan talks about using a design philosophy from the '50s and '60s, where the character of the image was expected to be different at full aperture and you stopped it down to get progressively sharper definition. Sounds like it really might be designed for a pre-aspherical look with smooth, soft "bokeh." The Japanese deliberately contrasts this "look" with the "sharp and contrasty from full aperture" look of modern lens design. The latter is what I have in my Classic 35/2.5. I must say I wouldn't mind a really smooth 40/1.4! If it offers anything like the wonderful image quality of my 50/3.5 Heliar, then I'm definitely going to want it...

Thanks for the translation Roger

Now, according to that, only 500 SC lenses will be made, how about a RFF special bulk order ?

rover · 09-20-2004

I was a little disappointed yesterday, but I have to admit that I think we have to give a hand to Cosina for offering a seemingly better camera for the same price as the R2. With manual backup at all shutter speeds, AE, and perhaps an improved meter... Bravo!

The price makes everything, perhaps the cameras aren't ground breaking with a short baselength rangefinder, but they remain a very good quality machine which do there job exceedingly well.

Edit: I hate reading things on the screen. I printed the Cameraquest page, and there is no confirmation about he manual backup of the shutter, should the batteries go. It is obvious though that he only has the standard info provided to him from Cosina, so we will have to wait a week or so to hopefully get more info. Still nice though.