The Reflex S camera has gone public with a now fully funded Kickstarter with 26 days to go as of posting. The camera is a modular unit with some unique features. First is the I-Plate interchangeable lens plate. The camera can take one of any of four lens plates. The options are: universal M42 mount, Nikon F, Olympus OM. Canon FD and Pentax PK. Kickstarter backers can choose any one of these plates, or order more mounting options as extras. This gives the camera a good selection of glass out of the gate.
Second, the removable back. Like many medium format cameras, this camera allows you to remove the loaded film in a cassette with dark slide. This makes it possible to change film in the middle of a roll. One would need to buy more of the backs to do a swap.
Third, the camera has not only a flash with three power levels built in, but also a continuous light LED lamp, also with three power levels.
And fourth, if the project makes the stretch goal of £150k, an Arduino based Bluetooth LE option will be added to each camera to push camera settings to a phone or tablet (Bluetooth LE is commonly available on recent devices). This really modernizes the camera, while maintaining the full manual operation. The electronics simply saves your exposure parameters to your phone, which you can conveniently use later to recall the settings used to take a shot.
One unique aspect of this project is that the plans and CAD diagrams for the parts of the camera will be made available publicly. This means that parts can be fabricated by anyone with access to a 3D printer or 3D printing service.
As for price, a pledge of £350 or more gets the Early Bird special for one camera body (around $460 at this time). The price rises £49 once the 250 options for this reward level are taken. A camera with refurbished prime lens is £439 for the Early Bird backers, also limited to 250 backers. Beware that the pledge amounts are taken on the close of the campaign, so currency fluctuations may change the effective price of a reward if you are not buying in British Pounds.
There are also a selection of accessories, such as straps and even Silberra film being offered separately and combined with offers.
As with all Kickstarters, once they take your money, a certainty now, the risk is in whether the project can deliver.
