Contax Bites The Dust

djon said:
I think some are missing a key point: Kyocera's out of the Kyocera-branded DIGITAL business too. NOT just Contax 35.
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Hm, I don't think so much people here are interested in digital P&S cameras :), so it's understandable that we miss this point.

I gave up on a digital Contax G in 2003 and a digital body for my Contax/Yashica mount lenses in 2004. A 645 is far out of my financial reach, even without a digital back.

When the first Zeiss rumors apeared on the net and the first results from the Epson R-D1 apeared online I decided on adding one of those and two lenses to my line up some time in the next two years. Kyocera/Yashica/Contax had nothing to offer for my purposes.

As I've learned it, there are two very important tasks in marketing, telling the world what you have to offer and finding out what people want so you can offer that as well.
Kyocera failed in both! :bang:
 
oftheherd said:
For the latest on this issue, I found this thread on PP&I where PP&I editor Mason Resnick answered with information from Kyocera.
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Ok, I found out what PP&I is and I found the forum, but I didn't find the thread. Could you provide a link?
 
dwpayne said:
Has anyone read the Kyocera press release?

http://www.kyoceraimaging.com/docs/tocad_press_release.pdf

Doesn't look to me like they're biting the dust.
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" Denise Nelson of Kyocera Yashica (UK) Ltd has confirmed today to Ian Andrews of ePHOTOzine that Kyocera has stopped production of all 35mm and Digital Cameras bearing the Kyocera and Contax names. She did, however state that the 645 range would continue in production for the foreseeable future. An official announcement will be released early next week"

It does to me. I guess the deal with ToCAD means they are no longer going to deal directly with the US and instead use them to clear out their remaining inventory.

"To receive your rebate, you must have purchased your Contax product by December 31, 2004 and must submit all rebate documentation by February 1, 2005 to Kyocera Optics, Inc. All Rebate documentation received after February 1st, 2005 will not be honored."

Both the ToCAD agreement and Contax rebate deadline were on February 1st. I don't think it is a coincidence. I guess one would now deal with ToCAD instead of directly with Contax/Kyocera? Maybe they will partner with another manufacturer for some new digital cameras just to leverage the Contax name but they'll likely be junk.

So from what we know (well, it's still hazy) is that production on 35mm manual focus cameras and lenses ended a couple months ago while production on all remaining 35mm autofocus and digital cameras has now ended as well. The fate of the medium format 645 is unclear. It seems production will continue for a while at least. I suspect they do not know themselves. Contax/Kyocera is a screwed up company with poor communication and attitude. The N Digital fiasco is a good example of this. They seem to be quite apathetic. I think they've pretty much been on autopilot since the late 90's.
 
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Uhm, it can be argued that Contax died in 1961 when the rangefinders ceased production. Now I'm no purist about brand names, but it's not unreasonable to make the argument. I'd be more inclined to argue that the '54-ish prototypes (VK-21 & VK-27 are the names I've heard) was when Contax, per se, died. For in this world when you stop growing, you die (are you listening Lieca?)

So to me the SLR's and P&Ss are irrelevant.. The real death was long before I was born...

William
 
wlewisiii said:
Uhm, it can be argued that Contax died in 1961 when the rangefinders ceased production. So to me the SLR's and P&Ss are irrelevant.. The real death was long before I was born...
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Well yes, but that was an entirely different generation and a lot of people like the current generation of cameras such as the N1 and G2. I guess you could say that another generation of Contax has now passed and that the next generation may bring the Contax bloodline to an end once and for all.
 
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Good way to look at it. It's a pity that a name that has always stood for decent cameras always comes to a bitter end though... :(

William
 

TOKYO (Reuters) - Electronics parts maker Kyocera Corp. (6971.OS: Quote, Profile, Research) (6971.T: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Thursday it will pull out of digital cameras, becoming the first Japanese manufacturer to quit a market in which prices have tumbled due to intense competition.

Kyocera, which has less than 3 percent market share in Japan, will end production of existing models this summer and not develop new ones.

"We will be focusing instead on expanding our camera modules business for mobile phones," said a spokesman for Kyocera. The company does not plan to make a formal announcement.


The company does not plan to make a formal announcement? Well okay.
 
Contax Lives?

Contax Lives?

In an odd turn of events… Contax lives? I am not sure if this is saying all of Contax will live or just the 645… but it seems to mean most if not all of Contax will live.

Interesting turn isn’t it? :confused:

http://luminous-landscape.com/pdf/Contax.pdf

Come on G3!

Robert Meyers
 
yossarian said:
As if the Leica and Contax news wasn't depressing enough, several days ago a friend informed me that Krispy Kreme has filed Chapter 11.
Nikon and Dunkin' Doughnuts as exemplars?
"That dog don't hunt'.
yossarian
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Krispy Kreme was just another one of those fads -- like the pet rock. I consider myself somewhat of a dougnut expert (I know a lot of retired cops) and I never could understand what was so special about a Krispy Kreme -- just like after handling a Nikon D70, I can't figure out what the raving is about. Of course I turn 60 this month which may explain my negative attitude.
 
The letter that Robert refers to is certainly a model of ambiguity! When I first read it I sighed with some relief. Then, after reading some less optimistic comments, I looked at it again....the clever omission of anything but T lenses is disturbing. Does only the 645 use the T model lenses? I don't think so because I seem to recall seeing a T on my G lenses (alphabet soup). I suppose that we will find out in time. I also suppose that the English language permits more precision than we have seen from Kyocera or their US repair contractor!

Alan
 
One of the great features of English is its many levels of ambiguity! To avoid ambiguity, we have "legalese." :D

Yes, my Contax G lenses are T* also... I think that Kyocera/Yashica is totally out of the camera business, both film and digital, leaving only camera-equipped cell phones.
 
So, we have Kyocera "concentrating" on digital image capture with cel phones and iPods, bringing street photography to new heights of absurdity. That guy pointing and waving his cel phone isn't just happy, he's taking your picture. Same with the guy dancing sprightly with his iPod, he's a new-gen Cartier-Bresson snapping happy. When do you suppose they will outfit, say, commodes with such capability? Would it sell more toilets? And would people be more or less candid in their use? I'm too cranky contemplating this brave new world ...
 
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Just to add more confusion... Amateur Photographer reports that representitives from Zeiss are in Japan negotiating to buy back the rights to use the Contax name as they want it to live on. They deny that Sony is the preferred choice but say they have various parties that are interested in using the Contax name. Hmmmm...

The press release from ToCAD is puzzling though and Kyocera has yet to confirm anything. Maybe they are discontinuing their film and digital products but have plenty of stock to clear and will use ToCAD to do so. Maybe ToCAD is right and that Contax will continue. What about the story about Zeiss buying back the rights to the Contax name? Communication from Kyocera is non-existant as usual so they are no help.
 
This is a confusing situation, and it would seem that there may be some benefit to Kyocera and ToCAD to obfuscate over the future of their products. If we're patient we'll probably find out what's up... later when it's all over!
 
One can only hope Sony doesn't become owners of the Contax name. The Contax has been dropped by Kyocera because the company was not make a profit with it .
Sony is also in financial troubles....just what we need, a bail out by another company with money problems!
 
Zeiss doesn't have to "buy back" the rights to the Contax name. They already own it. Kyocera were pemitted under licence by Zeiss to use the name when they started manufacturing the line (RTS in 1972) .
I'm not sure how much comfort I take in this nonsense about the law requiring parts/service for 10 years. Consider the RX....it was dropped from the line and re-issued as the RX 11 because Kyocera could no longer obtain the parts necessary for the d.o.f and focus indicator. If you need such a part for your original RX...well it isn't available. Law or no law.
 
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