Contax brand is not dead..just sleeping

[Jim Evidon]

I received an e-mail reply from Carl Zeiss AG clearing up some confusion over the breakup of the Zeiss-Kyocera partnership and the future of the Contax G and the Contax brand name. In short, Zeiss owns the name and it does have a future. 😀 The Contax G camera, not the brand name is a Kyocera product and they will so with it what they will. 😡 What follows is a copy of the e-mail received from Herr Mueller of Carl Zeiss AG.
********************
Dear Mr. Evidon,

We are coming back to your e-mail dated August 24, 2005.

The name is our's. And it will have a future. The camera designs are
Kyocera's and so are the decisions on their future.

Best regards,
____________

Carl Zeiss AG
Geschäftsbereich Photoobjektive/Camera Lens Division
Manager Marketing

K o r n e l i u s J. M u e l l e r

73446 Oberkochen, Germany
Tel/Phone: +49 73 64-20-2687
Mobile: +49 171 55 10 747
mailto: ko.mueller@zeiss.de
http://www.zeiss.de/photo; www.zeiss.com/photo; www.zeissikon.com;
www.digiprimes.com

 

[peter_n]

Will they put that name on the new Zeiss RF camera that keeps being delayed?

 

[aizan]

that would be pretty cool, but the marketing heads won't let it happen. they're psycho for consistency.

 

[peter_n]

Pardon my ignorance, but what is inconsistent? Does the name have to go on a specific type of camera?

 

[Socke]

Hm, if somebody names a rangefinder or SLR Contax, I'd expect it to take the Contax lenses I own. So a new name for a camera with a different lens mount seems sensisble to me.

I gave up on a digital Contax G a long time ago :-(

 

[aizan]

it would be inconsistent if they changed the name of the camera. that's a big no-no.

 

[VinceC]

>>if somebody names a rangefinder or SLR Contax, I'd expect it to take the Contax lenses I own. So a new name for a camera with a different lens mount seems sensisble to me.<<

I agree. It should have the Contax S mount of the 1930s - 1960s. : ) ... or, interestingly, offer a reasonably priced adapter to put the original Contax lenses onto the new Contax M-mount camara. Seems like it would be somewhat harder to make an adapter for a Contax G lens.

>>it would be inconsistent if they changed the name of the camera. that's a big no-no.<<

This is going to be a low-volume product, possibly even a loss-leader. The Contax name wasn't available when the camera was in early development close to a year ago; now it is. The email seems to imply Zeiss has plans for the Contax name. They are also well tuned into their historic roots. Reflagging the camera as a Contax (or, waiting to reflag the digital version as a Contax) could probably survive the short-term marketing faux pas. Companies readjust their marketing strategies all the time (Anyone for a Classic Coke?)

 

[RObert Budding]

Perhaps the Contax name will soon appear on a camera phone. It sure does seem as if all future development of the Kyocera Contax cameras are dead, even if the name is not.

Robert

 

[Jim Evidon]

Zeiss had ,for many years, produced cameras under both the Contax and Zeiss Ikon brand names. The Ikon name used for their medium format roll film cameras, has not been used for many years, so it makes sense for them to revive the name for an entirely new camera such as the rangefinder model recently introduced. If they do re-introduce the Contax brand, I suspect that itwill also be an entirely new product. For instance, they could reserve the Ikon name for the rangefinder and come out with a SLR or even an up to date digital line that bears the Contax brand. At this time all we can do is speculate. So let's be satisfied with our G's and wait to see what they do.

 

[Doug]

There are already at least five different incompatible lens mounts used by Contax cameras, both RF and SLR. So it's already inconsistent, and we need to specify which Contax we're talking about. I think it makes all kinds of sense to give the new Zeiss-Ikon RF camera the famed Contax name, tying it back to an historic RF predecessor. Retro is "in" nowadays... and the name has value.

I wonder, as the introduction of the new camera is further delayed, if it's getting more likely to carry the Contax name. Didn't Kyocera retain the use of "Contax" only for the 645 camera sales through the end of this year? It may be that after the end of 2005 the name will be available again for Zeiss to use.

 

[RObert Budding]

I'm just a bit frustrated with Kyocera and with Zeiss's inability to move this forward.

What I'd love to see:

Zeiss should cut a deal to take over the Kyocera Contax business and all patents and intellectual property. It can't cost much as Kyocera has shown by their actions that there isn't much economic value there.

First they should build an APS sized sensor DSLR that accepts the old CY mount lenses. Also build a new line of AF CY mount lenses that only work with this new camera.

Just kill the N-mount unless they plan to launch a 35MM-sized full frame sensor DSLR at some point.

How about that Digital G-series camera? Something for the AF crowd. The manual focus users could get their's with a Zeiss Ikon digital M-mount camera body.

The Contax 645? Great camera, but not much benefit to investing as most pros have gone digital. The Contax 645 II that is rumored to be on the drawing bpard? It would be nice, but I doubt it makes any financial sense.

I still like film, but I doubt anyone will invest in new film cameras.

And I can still dream. Damn, I love that Zeiss glass!

Robert

 

[Socke]

I'm just a bit frustrated with Kyocera and with Zeiss's inability to move this forward. [/QOUTE]

I'm too!

[QOUTE]
What I'd love to see:

First they should build an APS sized sensor DSLR that accepts the old CY mount lenses. Also build a new line of AF CY mount lenses that only work with this new camera.

Too late! I have a Canon now 🙂

Just kill the N-mount unless they plan to launch a 35MM-sized full frame sensor DSLR at some point.

But not until they have a 35/1.4!

How about that Digital G-series camera? Something for the AF crowd. The manual focus users could get their's with a Zeiss Ikon digital M-mount camera body.

YEAH!

The Contax 645? Great camera, but not much benefit to investing as most pros have gone digital. The Contax 645 II that is rumored to be on the drawing bpard? It would be nice, but I doubt it makes any financial sense.

The 645 is nice with a digital back! If there is a MkII, then probably with better/faster AF. If you like Zeiss lenses on MF and want a digital option, the Contax 645 is still your best choice.

I still like film, but I doubt anyone will invest in new film cameras.

And I can still dream. Damn, I love that Zeiss glass!

Robert

Same here but I haven't used my RTS and 167MT in a year, the G2 on the other hand gets at least weakly use.

 

[RObert Budding]

Zeiss needs to get moving! I can buy a Sony Digicam and get a low-end Zeiss lens or I can use an adapter and use CY mount lenses on a Canon body. Not very good choices! Oh, yes, I forgot - I can use a digital back on a Contax 645.

I really love the designs of Kyocera Contax cameras. Could have been a great platform for DSLR's.

Robert

 

[djon]

Shutter lag made Gs less attractive even than digicams...bad engineering.

Contax was never much after Nikon took over, concept-wise.

 

[jdos2]

Shutter lag made Gs less attractive even than digicams...bad engineering.

Contax was never much after Nikon took over, concept-wise.

"Shutter lag?"

Whatchoo talkin' 'bout, djon?

Seriously- both my FAULTY G2's had less than 1/10'th second lag from the prefocused position at which I learned to use 'em.

So... Shutter lag? Heck, my MP has a farther stroke to activate the shutter- to make IT go off faster means I have to jerk the camera- a bad thing.

Only thing wrong with 'em, from my perspective, was their inherent need for all the ones that passed my way (2) to go back to NJ for repeated fixing.

I'd still love one that doesn't need repair. Someday. Got a Noc (plus other stuff) for the last one I had (black). Very pretty.

 

[Jim Evidon]

Doug (post #10),
According to the e-mail I got from CZ AG, the Contax name is their to do with what they wish now. It is only the Contax branded Kyocera cameras over which they have no control. It's moot anyway, since Kyocera shut down production.

Re: shutter lag(?): There is none. I understand that the GI had a focus lag and the one I tried was such an example. So I bought a G2. The shutter is very quick; a lot quicker than my digital Olympus C8080 or my Nikon digital or my Nikon 8008 film SLR. If you want the G2 to be instantaneous, just give up it's convenient and unique (for a RF camera) auto focus feature, go to manual focus, use it like any other RF camera and you have "O" shutter lag. It's not a problem.