I saw this announcement on the photo.net forum so I thought I'd pass it along here.

www.cosina.co.jp/

It's in Japanese but you can see a picture of it on the top banner....for those of you interested.

-- Jim Tardio (jimtardio@earthlink.net), February 15, 2002

Answers

Naturally, I got the link wrong. Try this....

http://www.cosina.co.jp/

-- Jim Tardio (jimtardio@earthlink.net), February 15, 2002.

Looks like PMA is going to be full of suprises this year.

-- Josh Root (rootj@att.net), February 15, 2002.

Well it is about time! I don't know why they didn't do this to start with. Does this mean there will be a set of M VC lenses? Typical now that I have just bought my VC 21mm with screw mount.

-- Robin Smith (smith_robin@hotmail.com), February 15, 2002.

From what I could see, metal body and M mount. Things could get interesting. Now I believe the M7 rumors more that ever, since Cosina seems to be the one really putting the pressure on Leica.

-- Glenn Travis (leicaddict@hotmail.com), February 15, 2002.

I don't think the M7 is a just a rumor... at least not anymore. There are a number of reputable dealers taking pre-orders for it and we also have the part numbers now: 10503 for black and 10504 for silver. The Bessa R2 sounds like an awesome M backup camera...

-- Anon Terry (anonht@yahoo.com), February 15, 2002.

Does anyone happen to know (e.g., if you read Japanese) whether the Bessa R-2 is aperture priority (the Bessa-R isn't, right?)? That would make things really interesting vis-a-vis the M7...

-- william carter (wmc@po.cwru.edu), February 15, 2002.

I don't know if the R-2 is an aperture priority camera...I doubt it...but Cosina does make the FE-10 for Nikon, and that is aperture- priority. It's probably only a matter of time until Cosina produces one for the Bessa line.

-- Jim Tardio (jimtardio@earthlink.net), February 15, 2002.

If The R2 is a Bessa with the M bayonet mount which looks like on the pix, I'd be among the first in the shops to look at it.

And.... Well, we'll see. Xavier.

-- Xavier d'Alfort (hot_billexf@hotmail.com), February 15, 2002.

aperture priority

The Bessa R is just like the Leica M6 - Manual, "match diode" metering. Aperture priority implies exposure automation, ala the Hexar RF or Leica M7, and there's not enough information about the Bessa R2 to say that yet.

-- Godfrey (ramarren@bayarea.net), February 15, 2002.

Sounds good. I'm excited for Cosina no doubt! :D

-- Alfie Wang (leica_phile@hotmail.com), February 15, 2002.

The page is also available in English, but infuriatingly there is nothing on the R2. I emailed them for more info. Does Cosina have a tie up with Leica? Interesting. I still think the Voigtlander is just a badge, and the camera should be called Cosina, but I doubt if anyone agrees. Just buy the name and slap it on. No, of course this doesn't affect picture quality. I'm sure it will enthuse many more people to get rangefinders.

-- David Killick (dalex@inet.net.nz), February 15, 2002.

David: I have the Voigtlander Bessa L, except it is labelled COSINA 107 SW and the lenses say COSINA L 25 mm 4 & Cosina L 15mm F4.5 MC ASPHERICAL

Here in Singapore, I have not seen the body for sale new as a Voigtlander.

I tried the link several times and have not seen the picture? Am I doing something wrong?

CHEERS

-- RICHARD ILOMAKI (richardjx@hotmail.com), February 16, 2002.

Jim: (Sorry You are not David)

I just tried the link again and there it was, where it was not this morning.

More evidence there IS a twilight zone.

Cheers

-- RICHARD ILOMAKI (richardjx@hotmail.com), February 16, 2002.

Going to the Cosina page.....

Anybody take a look at the 90mm 3.5 Apo-Lanthar?? Could be a great (light!) travel lens!

-- Todd Phillips (toddvphillips@webtv.net), February 16, 2002.

Todd- It is a great lens. It has been available for awhile and I use it on my M6 and my CLE. It takes great images. There is an optical review of it on Erwin Puts site which also gives it very high marks.

-- Steve Rosenblum (stevierose@yahoo.com), February 16, 2002.

I too visited the Cosina page. We have to wait until April 1 to get our greedy little hands on the Bessa R-2.

-- Alex Shishin (shishin@pp.iij4-u.or.jp), February 17, 2002.