€5k Swiss cameras with zero electronics

alpa.swiss

25 points·reconnecting··5 comments

I 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.

As 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.

I 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"

A fully mechanical, manual camera system with no autofocus or built-in electronics, easily costing €15k-30k. Still produced in Switzerland.

Well 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

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