The release of the Analogue aF-1 compact camera – which initially was planned to be produced by the end of last year – has been delayed while its developers fine-tune the pre-production prototypes.
In an email sent out to subscribers, its Amsterdam-based creators said the camera was currently in pre-production, but problems identified in prototypes so far have necessitated delays before the camera can go into full production.
Analogue said it would not “share a delivery date” but would send out more updates as improvements were made.
“When we first announced the aF-1, we genuinely believed we could bring it to market much sooner. Looking back now, that simply wasn’t realistic. If we had known then what we know today, we definitely would have planned some things differently, the team, which is led by Ralph Tilon, said in the update.
“Over the past year and a half, we’ve invested far more time, money, and energy than we ever expected. Not because we have to, but because we genuinely want to build a camera that deserves to exist.
“We’ve learned that building a camera has its own schedule,” the update said. “Rather than continuing to move deadlines, we’d rather keep working, keep sharing meaningful progress, and announce a delivery timeline once we’re confident we can stand behind it.”
The aF-1, announced in January 2025, is a compact 35mm camera with Lidar-based autofocus and a sliding front panel like the Olympus XA or Mju-II. The camera features a 35mm f/2.8 lens and an inbuilt lens. It was a surprise announcement alongside other recent new compact cameras such as the Pentax 17 and the Rollei 35AF.
Designed by the team who also run the camera shop Analogue in Amsterdam, the camera is being manufactured in China. The camera is already available to pre-order for €450 (£390/$512), though the latest update makes it clear that there is, as yet, no confirmed release date.
Earlier this year, Analogue had published another update that said delays in production were caused by modifications to the camera’s auto-focusing unit.
Analogue said: “In about two weeks, we’ll be travelling back to China for another engineering review with our manufacturing partner. We’ll continue sharing updates as we move through the next stage of development and pre-production.”
I'm a New Zealander who has been living in London since the mid-1990s, shooting film seriously since the year 2000. Kosmo Foto was launched in 2012 and has since become a film brand, with the release of my first films Kosmo Foto Mono 35mm (2017) and Kosmo Foto Mono 120 (2019).
I’m doing everything I can to promote film photography in the 21st Century, and help it survive and thrive. If you want to write something for Kosmo Foto, please drop me a line at foto.dowling@gmail.com.
After the Reflex camera disaster which cost many of us a lot of money, I wasn’t really surprised that af-1 was having difficulties. Making a new camera requires know-how and equipment that is not readily available.
I wish the makers well and hope that they do get their camera produced. I for one will wait for it to come to market before I spend any money on it.