Reading mode: Light Dark

Canon Digital Rangefinders

Go to last post
R

rachis

Forum Enthusiast
Messages
277
Reaction score
0
Location
UK
I've been wrong many times so let me go out on a limb and take a chance on being wrong again.

I don't think canon will make a rangefinder camera.

The market for a rangefinder is actually pretty small. It's a niche market and although Canon would sell quite a few, they wouldn't sell enough to make the R&D plus the production profitable.

Epson makes a rangefinder that, I believe, uses Leica lenses. The Epson is a pretty good camera but it never sold very well.

90% of the people who use a rangefinder want the Leica.

Naturally, all of this is just my opinion and as I said, I've been wrong many times.
 
Ed B said:
The market for a rangefinder is actually pretty small. It's a niche market and although Canon would sell quite a few, they wouldn't sell enough to make the R&D plus the production profitable.

Epson makes a rangefinder that, I believe, uses Leica lenses. The Epson is a pretty good camera but it never sold very well.

90% of the people who use a rangefinder want the Leica.
Click to expand...
If it was another Leica M9 with a Canon badge on it... I would agree with you whole heartedly...

BUT... what got my attention is that the "rangefinder" mentioned in the article is actually more... it is basically like the GF1 with a full frame sensor + rangefinder viewfinder "option". AF is included... I can live without the rangefinder part of the spec (I've put my foot in it now...) but an interchangeable FF compact would have a LARGE market IMHO. The rangefinder option just makes it more attractive for those who are strongly against the electronic viewfinder...

Regards,
Rachis
---------------
I am an Amateur / Enthusiast / Hobbyist / etc… not a Pro = I can be wrong

Cautions:
I may when the mood suits me become a pixel peeper!
 
Guess we'll just have to wait and see what's announced at this year's PMA.
 
Ed B said:
Guess we'll just have to wait and see what's announced at this year's PMA.
Click to expand...
In that case... I'll concede defeat now... it's never going to come up in this PMA.

I still reckon that if Canon (or Nikon or Sony) came up with a FF version rangefinder/EVIL camera... it will sell like hot cakes.

Regards,
Rachis
---------------
I am an Amateur / Enthusiast / Hobbyist / etc… not a Pro = I can be wrong

Cautions:
I may when the mood suits me become a pixel peeper!
 
Ed B said:
I've been wrong many times so let me go out on a limb and take a chance on being wrong again.

I don't think canon will make a rangefinder camera.

The market for a rangefinder is actually pretty small. It's a niche market and although Canon would sell quite a few, they wouldn't sell enough to make the R&D plus the production profitable.

Epson makes a rangefinder that, I believe, uses Leica lenses. The Epson is a pretty good camera but it never sold very well.
Click to expand...
Ed, I think it did sell well. AFAIK they sold out their intial production run. I don't believe they made very many to begin with, though. Cost was quite high. No idea why they didn't continue to make them, though.

larsbc
 
I know that Epson only made the camera for about three years and only produced about 10,000 units.

I think you're right and the cameras did sell but for some reason Epson decided to discontinue production.

I've read that Epson didn't have a very good after market support system in place and it seems like they just gave up on the whole idea.
 
Don't sell both your kidneys! If you do, urine in big trouble...
 
...that with an auto-focus pancake prime and I'm in for one.

Obviously.

--
holding out for a high quality FF compact...
 
Maybe I'm just stuck in the dark ages but there is no such thing.

The term "rangefinder" defines the focusing system.

Any type of auto focus system would negate the qualities associated with a rangefinder and would make the instrument an "auto focus" camera.
 
Ed B said:
Maybe I'm just stuck in the dark ages but there is no such thing.

The term "rangefinder" defines the focusing system.

Any type of auto focus system would negate the qualities associated with a rangefinder and would make the instrument an "auto focus" camera.
Click to expand...
AFAIK there's nothing about a rangefinder mechanism that makes it mutually exclusive with an autofocus system. Unless you know otherwise, I'm pretty sure that it can be done.

It's like a DSLR that has AF and a microprism focusing screen. Manual AND auto focusing can be done quite easiliy with such a camera.

larsbc
 
If you'll look up the definition of a rangefinder camera you may change your mind.

Naturally, in a modern world where point & shoot cameras are now called "compacts" and the word "anyways" is accepted as proper English, anything is possible.
 
No reason in the world that a rangefinder camera couldn't have an autofocus option. It can have a rangefinder for the times autofocus falls on it's face.
 
Regardless of whether it's a "viewfinder", a "rangefinder" or an EVF, I want a camera I can hold up to my eye. With the convenience of autofocus, and a manual override. A fold out LCD with lieve view would be nice too, and while I'm writing to Santa, I'd also like a proper aperture ring.

I'm not hung up on a Leica M9 equivalent, I think there are things about it that are anachronistic and backward. I'd like a modern version of the Leica Digilux 2, which has all these things, albeit with a really poor EVF and a low pixel count. If Canon or Nikon produced a retro version of one of their old rangefinder-type cameras with that functionality and good glass, I'd go for it. The Olympus EP-2 isn't far off the mark, but the afterthought EVF is just a half-ars*d solution.

Faugh A Ballagh
 
Then it would be a hybrid. A combination auto focus and rangefinder camera.

I don't think any company is going to waste their time on a camera like this.
 
Ed B said:
If you'll look up the definition of a rangefinder camera you may change your mind.

Naturally, in a modern world where point & shoot cameras are now called "compacts" and the word "anyways" is accepted as proper English, anything is possible.
Click to expand...
A camera that has a rangefinder built into it is a rangefinder. If it is also capable of AF, I think it could still be called a rangefinder.

IMO of course.

larsbc
 
Ed B said:
Then it would be a hybrid. A combination auto focus and rangefinder camera.

I don't think any company is going to waste their time on a camera like this.
Click to expand...
I agree with you on that point. Personally, I'd just like to see an EVF camera with the dimensions of a rangefinder, and small lenses.

I find the Panasonic G1's EVF and AF to be plenty good enough for me to compose and focus with. I'd just like to see it in a smaller package for me to justify buying it.

larsbc
 
Ed B said:
Then it would be a hybrid. A combination auto focus and rangefinder camera.

I don't think any company is going to waste their time on a camera like this.
Click to expand...
Well, the G10 I use now has most of these features; all we need is a better viewfinder and the aperture ring which could be adopted from the S90 control ring. It's not that big a leap. I don't care if it doesn't have interchangeable lenses; if I want system flexibility, I'll use my DSLR.
--
Faugh A Ballagh
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Keyboard shortcuts

f
Forum
m
My threads
Mobile site
About
Editorial content
Cameras & Lenses
Community
All content, design, and layout are Copyright © 1998–2025 Digital Photography Review All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction in whole or part in any form or medium without specific written permission is prohibited.
When you use DPReview links to buy products, the site may earn a commission.
©GPS Media - Guides, Products, Services.
Back
Top