4 ms·
€5k Swiss cameras with zero electronics
- reconnecting 9mo agoA fully mechanical, manual camera system with no autofocus or built-in electronics, easily costing €15k-30k. Still produced in Switzerland.
- plambertz 9mo agoI joined ALPA in March last year as managing partner and I’m also an active artist and photographer. The fully mechanical design is not retro chic. It’s a choice for certain photographic disciplines where precision and physical control matter more than speed or automation. E.g. architecture, landscape, art etc. ALPA is a very small, niche manufacturer producing low volumes in Switzerland with tight mechanical tolerances and a focus on serviceability. It’s not intended as a general-purpose system. That’s by design. Happy to add context if needed.
- glimshe 9mo agoAs an amateur photographer, I can't see the scenario in landscape photography (the page pictures a beach) that would require extreme precision. Is it for measurements? This is a serious question. I can understand the appeal of a well machined, mechanical instrument, but not the precision and "control" angle.
- anfractuosity 9mo agoI remember speaking to ALPA at a photo show, from what I recall the cameras also have very fine metal shims to align the camera to a digital back. Do they manufacture the optics themselves too? Not sure I realised that. Edit: just found this "ALPA cooperates with the acknowledged best manufacturers of large format lenses"
- plambertz 9mo ago[dead]
- JustFinishedBSG 9mo agoWell according to the website you cannot buy a fully mechanical lens anymore so it doesn’t appear to be true that they sell cameras with zero electronic anymore
- plambertz 9mo ago[dead]
- deleted 9mo ago[deleted]