Kickstarter "Reflex" 35mm SLR and other KS fiascos: With decent mechanical SLRs piling up in thrift stores, what is the need to finance an overpriced re-do of a 1970's design? There...

radiojohn

With decent mechanical SLRs piling up in thrift stores, what is the need to finance an overpriced re-do of a 1970's design? There also seem to be other Kickstarter photo oddities. Perehaps at least one swindel.

AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

With Dianas and Holgas selling for triple digit prices, nostalgia replica versions of a TLRs and Polaroids going for more than twice the price of the original models still available used, and prices of upward of $200 for a glorified remote shutter button, it would seem that there's easy money to be made. I think my next project will be a "no film" box camera. Just a box. If I put a little brass and leather trim on it, I should be able to top out somewhere in the $400 range.

Andy

BebuLamar

radiojohn wrote:

With decent mechanical SLRs piling up in thrift stores, what is the need to finance an overpriced re-do of a 1970's design? There also seem to be other Kickstarter photo oddities. Perehaps at least one swindel.

If they actually redo a 70's design it's not as bad. They tried to do the interchangeable mount which eliminates the ability to stop the lens down at moment of exposure. They tried to put a cheesy built in flash in the thing. Using the Arduino processor to control the shutter is also a bad idea. Much worse than a 70's camera.
Nevertherless what film shooters need is film and processing not cameras as most of them have more cameras they would need in their lifetime.

User ID

AndyH wrote:

.......
would seem that there's easy money to be made. I
think my next project will be a "no film" box camera.
Just a box. If I put a little brass and leather trim on
it, I should be able to top out somewhere in the $400
range. - - Andy

Don't laff at yourself. Have you ever seen the
actual prices of ready-made pinhole cameras ?
Your $400 estimate is in the ballpark.

.

AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

User ID wrote:

Don't laff at yourself. Have you ever seen the
actual prices of ready-made pinhole cameras ?
Your $400 estimate is in the ballpark.

.

Exactly what I was thinking. I’m a pretty good woodworker, but those dang pinhole plates and film holders are expensive!

Andy

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

radiojohn wrote:

With decent mechanical SLRs piling up in thrift stores, what is the need to finance an overpriced re-do of a 1970's design? There also seem to be other Kickstarter photo oddities. Perehaps at least one swindel.

Well, it's not really a 1970's design. External appearance, yes. But it has some very interesting features you won't find on any 70's camera.

BebuLamar

rook2c4 wrote:

Well, it's not really a 1970's design. External appearance, yes. But it has some very interesting features you won't find on any 70's camera.

It has feature I don't want.

radiojohn

I HAD to snap up the classic 1970's beginner kit -like new- for $20 recently. A Mamiya SLR with 50mm lens, off brand 135mm and off brand 35mm in a big boxy faux leather fitted case and, of course, wide strap. This model had dual metering: center weighted and spot. Both stop-down, of course! I have a framed magazine ad for this camera that reads "You can make twice as many exposure errors with this camera than any other." (or something similar). They were trying to be clever.

The utter simplicity of these cameras was wonderful.

StanMac Loc: Tennessee

BebuLamar wrote:

. . . . . Nevertheless what film shooters need is film and processing not cameras as most of them have more cameras they would need in their lifetime.

True, oh so true! I have a compulsive disorder - I feel compelled to purchase complete series of cameras (I need help!). I’m still looking for a reasonably priced Pentax KX to complete my K-series.

Stan