PIXII Rangefinder Camera Launches, Aimed at Smartphone Upgraders, No Memory Card Slot or Screen
As if the new Zeiss ZX1 and the Zenit M weren't surprising enough, there's another intriguing new camera in town in the shape of the rather oddly named PIXII.
This appears to be a French initiative that's just soft-launched with an on-trend teaser-based website. Unfortunately, in this current age where seemingly every new photographic product is leaked, yes, you've guessed it, the full details of the PIXII have already been leaked, including their entire financial business plan, courtesy of Leicarumors.
Aimed at smartphone photographers looking for a more affordable camera to upgrade to, the styling of the new PIXII is certainly refreshing, coming across like a miniature rangefinder on steroids that uses Leica lenses, hence the rumour site coverage.
It remains to be seen if this two-man team can actually bring the PIXII to market after being in development for the last 3 years, but the launch of their new website certainly seems to suggest that they're getting closer to their goal. Bonne chance!
Update: PIXII have now released a press releases and official product shots of their new rangefinder camera (pictured above).
From Leica Rumors
PIXII Press Release
October 2018, 18
PIXII unveils the first camera designed to reveal photographs on a smartphone display
PIXII innovates by moving the software of the camera into a mobile app for boosting its extensibility. The camera features an original rangefinder viewfinder and uses Leica M compatible lenses.
Besançon, FRANCE. PIXII SAS unveils the first camera designed to reveal its images on a smartphone display.
"The digital camera hasn't changed much since the 90s. But now the new generation is learning photography with a smartphone : who understands why a camera still needs to bother with a screen or an SD card?" starts David Barth, the creator of Pixii.
Pixii is a genuine standalone camera. It records raw images and gives full manual control over the capture settings to the photographer. At the same time it communicates with a mobile application which develops and reveals images on the smartphone screen. The photo can be edited or shared as soon as it is taken.
"Photographers know that lenses are generally safe values. However, the software and the screen of a camera quickly get outdated. Instead, we can offer exceptional extensibility and durability by virtualizing the camera software and using the performance of smartphones and their display. " adds the founder.
Designed for the new generation, Pixii also draws the attention of more experienced photographers looking for the unique experience of a rangefinder camera.
"There are pictures you cannot take with a smartphone: the sensor is too small, the lens is fixed and most of all: there is no viewfinder." says Melric Artus, Principal Engineer.
Pixii is an interchangeable-lens camera with an M-compatible mount. It gives access to very high quality lenses from renowned manufacturers such as Leica, Zeiss or Voigtlander. Its other essential feature is the rangefinder system integrated into its optical viewfinder: the focus is selected by matching two shifted images of the photographed scene.
"Having manual control and an optical rangefinder is part of the quest for the Grail for enthusiasts" says David Barth. "This is the path I followed to go beyond the smartphone and then photography started to make sense to me."
Pixii was unveiled around Photokina in September and attracted the interest of many observers. It is still in the testing phase with photographers from different backgrounds.
The price and date of commercial availability will be confirmed in the coming weeks.
About PIXII
PIXII SAS is a startup developing a new radical, contemporary, rangefinder camera.
The company was created by David Barth and a team of specialists in optics, micro-mechanics and electronics. David brings 20 years of experience in the software industry up until recently at Ubuntu or LaCie.
Our ambition is to offer innovative and inspiring tools for all image enthusiasts.
Specifications
Model
Pixii Camera (A1112)
Connected digital camera with rangefinder viewfinder
Viewfinder
Optical viewfinder with coinciding rangefinder (magnification 0,67X)
LED backlit framelines with exposure indicators
Automatic parallax correction
Automatic led intensity adjustment
Framelines for standard prime lenses: 40/50mm, 28/35mm
Sensor
CMOS sensor, 5.5µm pixel pitch
12-bits sampling rate, and high dynamic range (60-90dB)
Global electronic shutter
Native gain: ISO 200, programmable from 100 to 6400 ISO
RGB color matrix, optimized with micro-lenses
IR filter, no low-pass < 1.0mm
Lens
Interchangeable lens system
Manual focus and aperture control
M compatible lens mount, also compatible with M39/LTM lenses (with adapter)
Dark chamber designed to fit collapsible lenses
BODY
Machined aluminium body
Finition: silver anodized, gray, matte black lacquer, carbon titane (special order)
ISO accessory shoe, tripod socket A ¼, lugs for carrying strap
Dimensions : 138x79x33mm
Weight: approx. 460g (incl. battery)
CONTROLS
Manual shutter speed selector
Automatic speed mode
2 stage shutter button: exposure metering/lock, shutter release
Quick ISO selection, white-balance and supplementary settings via integrated menu
OLED control screen
SYSTEM
ARM processors (2) with integrated FPGA accelerator
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n connectivity, Bluetooth LE 4.2 (upgradeable to 5.0)
8Go or 32Go internal storage
POWER
Li-ion 7.4V battery, 1000mAh capacity, model NP-FW50
Integrated USB charger
Programmable suspend and power off timer
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