ZENIT returned !!!

[AlexBurdov]

News from Russia - Krasnogorsk
http://www.celler.ru/forum/index-25/topic-119573.html
Excuse me for my bad english.
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New Zenit - base "Narcis" with 4/3 matrix and with 28.8 flange focal distance.

[pvdhaar]

28.8mm, isn't that LTM territory?

[Bryce]

Was the drawing not of a digital camera?
Wish I could read the text!

[AlexBurdov]

Originally Posted by Bryce

Was the drawing not of a digital camera?
Wish I could read the text!

This digital camera
Manual focus, but SLR.

[pvdhaar]

Originally Posted by Bryce

Was the drawing not of a digital camera?
Wish I could read the text!

I ran it through babelfish, and this sounded quite interesting. Digital, 4/3 sensor. Primarily for use with manual focus lenses, AF lenses would 'not be ideal'. The question remains, which lenses will be compatible. If they shave off a further 1mm, and have an M-mount, they'd have something really interesting! But they may equally well decide to go 4/3 all the way.. couldn't really tell from the text..

[Girmantas]

It can fit M lenses too!

[pvdhaar]

Originally Posted by Girmantas

It can fit M lenses too!

Does it explicitly state that?

These have a 27.8mm register. The LTM lenses are 28.8mm, which is the target mentioned..

[varjag]

Originally Posted by pvdhaar

The LTM lenses are 28.8mm, which is the target mentioned..

It says "a bit shorter than 28.8".

[erikhaugsby]

Originally Posted by varjag

It says "a bit shorter than 28.8".

And even if it isn't 27.8mm M lenses could still be mounted and used effectively; the only negative would be loss of infinity focusing.

Yum.

[varjag]

Let's see how it works out. I admit the idea is great.

Was looking at original Narciss the other day, precisely for it's short working distance. A manual, compact DSLR that takes RF lenses would be something, and *I* sure will buy it.

For those few who can't read Russian here The text states that design goal is to have work distance shorter than 28.8mm, so that "the widest range of small format optics can be adapted", including "deeply protruding RF lenses in MLU mode". Two types of shutters are considered, cloth one and copal-style.

[Sparrow]

Probably just a re-badged Fed 8

[pvdhaar]

Originally Posted by Sparrow

Probably just a re-badged Fed 8

Please elaborate..

You mean it's vaporware?

[Sparrow]

Originally Posted by pvdhaar

Please elaborate..

You mean it's vaporware?

I rather amusing satire that ran in a few threads, on this board, around the time of the m8’s début

[varjag]

Originally Posted by Sparrow

Probably just a re-badged Fed 8

It can't be, the Kharkov factory is in Ukraine now

[brachal]

Originally Posted by Sparrow

Probably just a re-badged Fed 8

Neither is an improvement on the old Fed-2 Digital Back.

[Sparrow]

Originally Posted by brachal

Neither is an improvement on the old Fed-2 Digital Back.

hope springs eternal………….

[rbiemer]

As peter did, I ran the site through Babelfish. And I think the important part of the discussion there is that apparently there is real money for this project. (Eugene, am I reading the translation right on this point?)
I am a bit unclear about this page, though. Is it a Russian/Ukrainian discussion board and are the folks--particularly "Ivan N" involved with KMZ or outsiders reacting to some news they heard?
Exciting news, I think!
Rob

[shadowfox]

Wow, that Zenit-N1 looks very sleek with detachable(?) LCD screen.

Um, does the article talk about the 4/3 sensor as in 4/3rd system pioneered by Olympus?

[varjag]

Yes, it talks about 4/3 sensor, as that's the one they plan for. There's also mention of supporting 4/3 system lenses, although it "might not be entirely convenient on a manual body".

They mention putting some work into camera's bayonet, to my understanding desinged with adapters/3rd party compatibility in mind. Regarding the working distance, wording is "it is slightly shorter than it was on Narciss (28.8mm)".

Rob, you are correct, per the text, the real money were assigned. The project existed already though, albeit unclear in which stage.

Text also mentions that parts of original Narciss are likely to be "adapted and reused", must be a way to save on entirely new production line. My guess is molding forms for chassis. That also explains the modularity perhaps. The article suggests a pentaprism and no LCD configuration is default, replacable with digital sensor/LCD back combo.

[rbiemer]

Originally Posted by varjag

Yes, it talks about 4/3 sensor, as that's the one they plan for....Text also mentions that parts of original Narciss are likely to be "adapted and reused", must be a way to save on entirely new production line. My guess is molding forms for chassis. That also explains the modularity perhaps. The article suggests a pentaprism and no LCD configuration is default, replacable with digital sensor/LCD back combo.

That makes sense to me; why build a big(and sometimes huge) camera for a small sensor? A camera and lenses sized to the sensor rather than replicating the 35mm sized chassis and lenses seems more elegant to me. I am happily surprised that there are any parts of the Narciss production tooling still around, though. And the "pentaprism and no LCD" configuration would mean one thing at least--longer battery life.
The Zenith 408 that's mentioned, that was/is a digi 122/412? In other words a "standard" sized DSLR based on the last generation 35mm Zeniths?
How can we encourage KMZ to concentrate on the Narciss as the basis for their DSLR? And are any of the designers from the Pentax Auto 110 still around(and how do we get them to lend a hand with this idea?)?
This is getting interesting!
Rob

[sweathog]

MY first reaction (well, second after excitement) was that is this comes to fruition, it is going to be hella expensive. At least that's what I think.

[varjag]

They can't afford it to be really expensive, because they lack a good brand behind it. Zenit isn't a good brand in this regard

If they are smart (reusing old tooling, being minimalist in implementation, outsourcing/leasing/contracting CCD+controller assembly) they should be able to make one for about the current price of entry level DSLRs. *If* they also avoid serious mishaps with QC or design pitfalls it would likely sell. This is a price I'd be willing to pay at least, for a manual, tiny DSLR that can reuse my nice compact RF lenses, rather than command its own line of optics.

Too many ifs of course, so am not holding my breath. But surely would love to see it happen.

[pvdhaar]

Originally Posted by varjag

They can't afford it to be really expensive, because they lack a good brand behind it. Zenit isn't a good brand in this regard

If they are smart (reusing old tooling, being minimalist in implementation, outsourcing/leasing/contracting CCD+controller assembly) they should be able to make one for about the current price of entry level DSLRs. *If* they also avoid serious mishaps with QC or design pitfalls it would likely sell. This is a price I'd be willing to pay at least, for a manual, tiny DSLR that can reuse my nice compact RF lenses, rather than command its own line of optics.

Too many ifs of course, so am not holding my breath. But surely would love to see it happen.

With a 4/3 sensor, which gives a 2x crop factor, the design isn't overly ambitious.. It's not like they target 1.3x, let alone full frame.

[varjag]

Originally Posted by pvdhaar

With a 4/3 sensor, which gives a 2x crop factor, the design isn't overly ambitious.. It's not like they target 1.3x, let alone full frame.

Yup, doesn't sound overly ambitious. Still, I can't get rid of feeling that it's an April Fool's joke.. tho it wasn't published that day, and same decision of KMZ board mentioned at the company website.

[Trius]

Originally Posted by pvdhaar

With a 4/3 sensor, which gives a 2x crop factor, the design isn't overly ambitious.. It's not like they target 1.3x, let alone full frame.

Uh ... so what? The purpose of the Four Thirds Standard "is to standardize an interchangeable lens system for digital cameras." In Olympus' words, a "digital from the ground up" effort, not relying on legacy bodies, lenses, etc. Whether one agrees with that, or agrees completely or not, is not the point.

As sensor technology improves, the smaller sensor will become increasingly viable in more applications. Olympus has wide lenses that are specific to 4/3s, e.g. the 7-14ZD which is by all accounts a stunning lens, so the argument of not having good wide lenses for a smaller sensor size holds no water. They can do it, so can others.

The market has shown that smaller cameras with "pro" features are a big part of the digital SLR market. A manufacturer who comes along and makes an inexpensive four thirds body that has such a short register distance opens up the market incredibly, especially given the price point for the camera.

So assuming this is real, not an April Fools stunt, gets funded, etc., I see it as a real positive. Already I can mount my OM Zuikos and other SLR lens mount brands on a four thirds body via adapters. The prospect of using LTM and M lenses as well is very exciting. I'm not banking on this particular effort, but if there is simply a proof of concept here, it's a good thing.