ToCAD America Inc. to Distribute Contax Digital, Film-based and Carl Zeiss T* Lens Products
Somerset, New Jersey – January 20, 2005: Kyocera Optics Inc., the North American Imaging subsidiary of Kyocera Corporation, is pleased to announce the appointment of ToCAD America Inc., headquartered in Parsippany, NJ, as the new distributor of the renowned Contax digital and film-based camera product lines including the Carl Zeiss T* lens line. The new distribution agreement becomes effective on February 1, 2005.
As part of Kyocera Corporation's Optical Equipment Division's previously announced restructuring and streamlining of its worldwide imaging business operations, the company will sharpen its focus on three key sectors: Contax cameras and Carl Zeiss T* lens product lines, the camera phone module, and the OEM DIgital Still Camera and components businesses. Additionally, Kyocera will continue to enhace and leverage its breakthrough RTUNE imaging technology which has set the standard for digital camera performance.
"We are extremely pleased and excited to announce the new distribution agreement and partnership between Kyocera and ToCAD America Inc." stated Ben M. La Marca, President of Kyocera Optics, Inc. "Kyocera selected ToCAD America Inc. based upon its outstanding reputation and business relationships in the photo specialty dealer and mass retail channels, its other outstanding complementary product lines that serve the high end photography customer segments, and its commitment to strengthen and expand the Contax brand and line. We look forward to working with and supporting the ToCAD America team as they launch the Contax business leading up to PMA. The Contax line serves the most demanding customers who require the highest image quality spanning the prosumer, serious amateur, and professional photographer segments and we are confident that ToCAD America will continue the Contax tradition for outstanding customer service."
“We are very excited about the new distribution partnership with Kyocera and the Contax product line and we are anxious to get started” said Richard Darrow, President of ToCAD America Inc. “The prestigious Contax camera line is the perfect match with our other outstanding product lines including Hakuba, Velbon, Sunpak, GE/Sanyo, and ZERO Halliburton. Also, we are very excited to have some of the key members of Kyocera Optics, Inc., who had responsibilities for the sales, marketing and service components of the Contax business, join the ToCAD America team as part of our new distribution agreement with Kyocera. This will greatly help to assure a smooth and seamless transition of the Contax business for our customers and dealers.”
The Contax line including the launch of the new Contax i4R digital camera model that features the revolutionary RTUNE imaging technology will be showcased at ToCAD America’s PMA booth number 4462.
Kyocera Optics, Inc., is the imaging arm of Kyocera Corporation serving North America that brings you the Kyocera Finecam, Contax, Carl Zeiss and Yashica brands of Digital Still Camera, Medium Format, Rangefinder, SLR, and 35mm P/S cameras, lenses, and accessories. Our product lines serve the
consumer, prosumer, serious amateur and professional photographer customer segments and are sold via the photo specialty dealer and mass retail channels. (www.kyoceraimaging.com)
Kyocera Corporation, parent and global headquarters of the Kyocera Group, was founded in 1959 as a producer of advanced ceramics. By combining these engineered materials with metals and plastics, and integrating them with other technologies, Kyocera has become a leading supplier of telecommunications equipment, cameras, laser printers, copiers, solar energy systems, semiconductor packages and electronic components. During the year ended March 31, 2004, the company’s net sales totaled $10.969 Billion with net income of $654.673 Million. Kyocera Corporation trades on the NYSE, Tokyo, and Osaka stock exchanges under the symbol “KYO”.
ToCAD America Inc., a subsidiary of Japan’s ToCAD Energy Co. Ltd., markets its products nationwide through photo and video specialty dealers, catalogs and national chains. In addition to photographic products, ToCAD is a world-class leader in the manufacture of rechargeable NiCad, Nickel Metal Hydride and Lithium Ion batteries for camcorders, cellular telephones and private label applications.
(www.tocad.com)
Somerset, New Jersey – January 20, 2005: Kyocera Optics Inc., the North American Imaging subsidiary of Kyocera Corporation, is pleased to announce the appointment of ToCAD America Inc., headquartered in Parsippany, NJ, as the new distributor of the renowned Contax digital and film-based camera product lines including the Carl Zeiss T* lens line. The new distribution agreement becomes effective on February 1, 2005.
As part of Kyocera Corporation's Optical Equipment Division's previously announced restructuring and streamlining of its worldwide imaging business operations, the company will sharpen its focus on three key sectors: Contax cameras and Carl Zeiss T* lens product lines, the camera phone module, and the OEM DIgital Still Camera and components businesses. Additionally, Kyocera will continue to enhace and leverage its breakthrough RTUNE imaging technology which has set the standard for digital camera performance.
"We are extremely pleased and excited to announce the new distribution agreement and partnership between Kyocera and ToCAD America Inc." stated Ben M. La Marca, President of Kyocera Optics, Inc. "Kyocera selected ToCAD America Inc. based upon its outstanding reputation and business relationships in the photo specialty dealer and mass retail channels, its other outstanding complementary product lines that serve the high end photography customer segments, and its commitment to strengthen and expand the Contax brand and line. We look forward to working with and supporting the ToCAD America team as they launch the Contax business leading up to PMA. The Contax line serves the most demanding customers who require the highest image quality spanning the prosumer, serious amateur, and professional photographer segments and we are confident that ToCAD America will continue the Contax tradition for outstanding customer service."
“We are very excited about the new distribution partnership with Kyocera and the Contax product line and we are anxious to get started” said Richard Darrow, President of ToCAD America Inc. “The prestigious Contax camera line is the perfect match with our other outstanding product lines including Hakuba, Velbon, Sunpak, GE/Sanyo, and ZERO Halliburton. Also, we are very excited to have some of the key members of Kyocera Optics, Inc., who had responsibilities for the sales, marketing and service components of the Contax business, join the ToCAD America team as part of our new distribution agreement with Kyocera. This will greatly help to assure a smooth and seamless transition of the Contax business for our customers and dealers.”
The Contax line including the launch of the new Contax i4R digital camera model that features the revolutionary RTUNE imaging technology will be showcased at ToCAD America’s PMA booth number 4462.
Kyocera Optics, Inc., is the imaging arm of Kyocera Corporation serving North America that brings you the Kyocera Finecam, Contax, Carl Zeiss and Yashica brands of Digital Still Camera, Medium Format, Rangefinder, SLR, and 35mm P/S cameras, lenses, and accessories. Our product lines serve the
consumer, prosumer, serious amateur and professional photographer customer segments and are sold via the photo specialty dealer and mass retail channels. (www.kyoceraimaging.com)
Kyocera Corporation, parent and global headquarters of the Kyocera Group, was founded in 1959 as a producer of advanced ceramics. By combining these engineered materials with metals and plastics, and integrating them with other technologies, Kyocera has become a leading supplier of telecommunications equipment, cameras, laser printers, copiers, solar energy systems, semiconductor packages and electronic components. During the year ended March 31, 2004, the company’s net sales totaled $10.969 Billion with net income of $654.673 Million. Kyocera Corporation trades on the NYSE, Tokyo, and Osaka stock exchanges under the symbol “KYO”.
ToCAD America Inc., a subsidiary of Japan’s ToCAD Energy Co. Ltd., markets its products nationwide through photo and video specialty dealers, catalogs and national chains. In addition to photographic products, ToCAD is a world-class leader in the manufacture of rechargeable NiCad, Nickel Metal Hydride and Lithium Ion batteries for camcorders, cellular telephones and private label applications.
(www.tocad.com)
N
NoTx
Guest
I guess we will see at PMA. Only a very short time... frustrating wait. If the go and start announcing some new film based gear... and we will see what gear they display.
Wish us all luck!
Wish us all luck!
S
Socke
Guest
IMHO they'll push their consumer digital compacts. I've stopped dreaming of a digital G2 or RX a long time ago. So I've got what I need from Contax and wait for a digital Zeiss Ikon
N
NoTx
Guest
I would have liked to have seen the G3 that was developed. And maybe a few new lenses, like maybe an 18mm or a 25mm or a 75mm. And maybe the 85/2 being designed for the Ikon. Oh... and the long awaited 135mm would have been nice (even if f/4).
yossarian
Well-known
Muddying the water...
Muddying the water...
Greetings to all,
This is my first post, and I hate to add a note of discord, but according to the German site Photoscala,
Kyocera will likely cease ALL camera production, preferring to concentrate on modules for use in phones.
As I'm only 50 miles from Orlando, I'll be attending PMA, where I hope to get more detail on this and other matters of interest to RFF members.
A tangential note--Leica may be breathing easier now that pricing is out on the ZI RF (from B&H). Body: $1617;
Lenses: 15/2.8 $3796 (!); 21.2.8: $1307; 25/2.8: $1152; 28/2.8: $1042; 35/2.0: $1042; 50/2.0: $1824 (clearly a typo--they must have meant $842); and finally, the 85/2.0: $2759. As a decades-long Zeiss enthusiast, I have to say there's NO way the 85 can compete with the Summicron 90/2.0 Asph at that price. It all makes the R3A/R2A look better and better. Besides, Zeiss won't have that cool 40mm.
I've been visiting you guys for about a month and have had great fun reading all the posts. This site has the brightest bunch of people I've found in one place on the web.
Regards,
"yossarian"
Muddying the water...
Greetings to all,
This is my first post, and I hate to add a note of discord, but according to the German site Photoscala,
Kyocera will likely cease ALL camera production, preferring to concentrate on modules for use in phones.
As I'm only 50 miles from Orlando, I'll be attending PMA, where I hope to get more detail on this and other matters of interest to RFF members.
A tangential note--Leica may be breathing easier now that pricing is out on the ZI RF (from B&H). Body: $1617;
Lenses: 15/2.8 $3796 (!); 21.2.8: $1307; 25/2.8: $1152; 28/2.8: $1042; 35/2.0: $1042; 50/2.0: $1824 (clearly a typo--they must have meant $842); and finally, the 85/2.0: $2759. As a decades-long Zeiss enthusiast, I have to say there's NO way the 85 can compete with the Summicron 90/2.0 Asph at that price. It all makes the R3A/R2A look better and better. Besides, Zeiss won't have that cool 40mm.
I've been visiting you guys for about a month and have had great fun reading all the posts. This site has the brightest bunch of people I've found in one place on the web.
Regards,
"yossarian"
Welcome, yossarian! Except for the 15mm (which Leica doesn't compete with) and the 85mm, both made in Germany, the others seem to seriously undercut Leica prices... And if we realistically expect quality to at least equal the Contax G lenses, at these prices I'd be tempted to buy a couple. Leica can perhaps feel a bit of (temporary?) comfort in not having immediate competition for the 28 Summicron, the Noctilux, and the Summiluxes.
I too had heard (from Bob Shell) that the Contax SLRs and G and their lenses were out of production now. Perhaps there's still product in the distribution pipeline. Maybe you'll hear more info on this at PMA!
I too had heard (from Bob Shell) that the Contax SLRs and G and their lenses were out of production now. Perhaps there's still product in the distribution pipeline. Maybe you'll hear more info on this at PMA!
yossarian
Well-known
Hasselblad gouge factor
Hasselblad gouge factor
Hi Doug,
I suppose I was put off by how much higher the prices will be in the US as compared to Japan (you can find that info at cosina.co.jp) as well as how much higher they are than the Voigtlaender-badged lenses.
You brought up a matter I'd like to pursue. What's going on with Bob Shell these days? I met and spoke with him at a couple of shows several years ago, and found him to be very free and forthright with his extensive knowledge. I have only the haziest info regarding the incident with the model (and don't care to delve further into it). Although I can't really say I know him, I lke Bob and wish the best for him. Where can one find him?
I'm excited about this PMA. With all the pre-release info I don't know if that means that all the cats are out, or if it's gonna be a huge bash. Personally, I'll be trolling the back-alley displays looking for the oddball stuff.
Gee...wouldn't it be nice if Nikon had their black SP there...
Actually, I'd be happy with another all-mechanical Voigtlaender R with the 1:1 mag finder.
I will dutifully report anything I find which is really off the wall.
Hmm...a digital Canon P anyone...?
Just dreamin'...
Hasselblad gouge factor
Hi Doug,
I suppose I was put off by how much higher the prices will be in the US as compared to Japan (you can find that info at cosina.co.jp) as well as how much higher they are than the Voigtlaender-badged lenses.
You brought up a matter I'd like to pursue. What's going on with Bob Shell these days? I met and spoke with him at a couple of shows several years ago, and found him to be very free and forthright with his extensive knowledge. I have only the haziest info regarding the incident with the model (and don't care to delve further into it). Although I can't really say I know him, I lke Bob and wish the best for him. Where can one find him?
I'm excited about this PMA. With all the pre-release info I don't know if that means that all the cats are out, or if it's gonna be a huge bash. Personally, I'll be trolling the back-alley displays looking for the oddball stuff.
Gee...wouldn't it be nice if Nikon had their black SP there...
Actually, I'd be happy with another all-mechanical Voigtlaender R with the 1:1 mag finder.
I will dutifully report anything I find which is really off the wall.
Hmm...a digital Canon P anyone...?
Just dreamin'...
scottgee1
RF renegade
Forgive me, but there's no other way to say this . . . Bob has only recently come out of his shell.
OK, there were lots of other ways, but . . .
http://www.bobshell.com
On a very serious note, the "incident with the model" was/is far more than that. The model was also his wife, the police determined she was murdered and Bob is a suspect. He writes about his Kafkaesque experiences at the aforementioned URL.
On that bizarre note, Yossarian, welcome to RFF! BTW, how are Milo and Major doing these days?
/ScottGee1
OK, there were lots of other ways, but . . .
http://www.bobshell.com
On a very serious note, the "incident with the model" was/is far more than that. The model was also his wife, the police determined she was murdered and Bob is a suspect. He writes about his Kafkaesque experiences at the aforementioned URL.
On that bizarre note, Yossarian, welcome to RFF! BTW, how are Milo and Major doing these days?
/ScottGee1yossarian
Well-known
Catching (22) up
Catching (22) up
Doug,
Milo is still trying to work out the chocolate-covered cotton (it is rumored McDonalds is interested), and the major has yet to make his first flight. BTW, Orr is living the good life in Sweden, where he is a test pilot for Saab. Danby has been teaching motivational speaking, but I am not at liberty to name any of his clients.
On a more serious note, I am disheartened to learn of Bob's ordeal, and don't believe for a second he's guilty of anything except lousy luck and overzealous cops (subjects I know a thing or two about).
I've enjoyed the chat. Now I must find a way of getting my over-eager inner child to let me get some sleep in preparation for the show.
Catching (22) up
Doug,
Milo is still trying to work out the chocolate-covered cotton (it is rumored McDonalds is interested), and the major has yet to make his first flight. BTW, Orr is living the good life in Sweden, where he is a test pilot for Saab. Danby has been teaching motivational speaking, but I am not at liberty to name any of his clients.
On a more serious note, I am disheartened to learn of Bob's ordeal, and don't believe for a second he's guilty of anything except lousy luck and overzealous cops (subjects I know a thing or two about).
I've enjoyed the chat. Now I must find a way of getting my over-eager inner child to let me get some sleep in preparation for the show.
yossarian
Well-known
"My bad"
"My bad"
Sorry, Scott-guess I should pay closer attention to who's writing. My apologies for the mix-up.
"My bad"
Sorry, Scott-guess I should pay closer attention to who's writing. My apologies for the mix-up.
scottgee1
RF renegade
Man, you need some sleep! Nevermind about Huple's cat! He's long gone!!
/ScottGee1 . . . or am I Doug . . . ? You're not the only one who needs some sleep . . .
/ScottGee1 . . . or am I Doug . . . ? You're not the only one who needs some sleep . . .
Last edited:
One other thing I could add, I guess, is that Bob Shell seems to be the only well-connected guy saying that Kyocera's Tomioka plant has stopped production of Zeiss lenses, and that all the amateur/pro level camera gear is out of production. If this is true, then others who know about it might have been urged to keep mum until Kyocera makes official announcements. PMA might be a reasonable time for that...
Zeiss's new manufacturing relationship with Cosina does seem to support the info, as otherwise I think these new M-mount products would logically have come from Kyocera under the Contax name.
Have fun at the show!
Zeiss's new manufacturing relationship with Cosina does seem to support the info, as otherwise I think these new M-mount products would logically have come from Kyocera under the Contax name.
Have fun at the show!
yossarian
Well-known
Just back from day 1 of PMA. The ToCad folks insist the Contax line will continue, or else "we wouldn't be here". It sounded like corporate doggerel to me, so I ran the whole thing by a friend who's usually in the know, and he says that no Contax cameras are presently being manufactured. I espied Roger Hicks, and being the brash little bastard I am chased him down to see if he knew whether Voigtlaender was at the show. He indicated that he hadn't found them up to that point, but was inclined to believe they would not be there. Rats!
Aside from an astonishlingly beautiful model that Robert Farber was trying to shoot at the Canon display, it (PMA) was a bit disappointing. I'm returning tomorrow just to see if she's there...
"We took some pictures of the native girls, but they weren't developed; but we're going back again in a couple of weeks". (Groucho Marx)
yossarian
Aside from an astonishlingly beautiful model that Robert Farber was trying to shoot at the Canon display, it (PMA) was a bit disappointing. I'm returning tomorrow just to see if she's there...
"We took some pictures of the native girls, but they weren't developed; but we're going back again in a couple of weeks". (Groucho Marx)
yossarian
What the ToCad guy said would be true if the only Contaxes left in the line were P&S or digital... Thanks for the report... Have fun at PMA tomorrow too!
gabrielelopez
Established
Hi to everyone...the Photoshow is near, here in Italy, and the companies will be there..Anyway everyone here agrees that the Contax line we see around is just stock material....no new ones are being produced.
Too bad I just decided to buy a Contax G recently... :bang: Anyway I'll keep you updated.
It's not a lot of time that I write to this forum, as you see, but I read a lot...I just hope to be able to find the time to write more and more in the future...i's the funniest and nicest forum ever seen!
bye!
Too bad I just decided to buy a Contax G recently... :bang: Anyway I'll keep you updated.
It's not a lot of time that I write to this forum, as you see, but I read a lot...I just hope to be able to find the time to write more and more in the future...i's the funniest and nicest forum ever seen!
bye!
N
NoTx
Guest
It would seem a waste of ToCADs time to take on another system of point and shoots, while getting multiple professional level series, makes a lot of sense. We will have to wait and see. I am not sure we will see any improvement in the G series... but the 645? I would expect it.
Either way, I hope we get a G3, but do not expect in a minute it will/if is, could be, digital.
Either way, I hope we get a G3, but do not expect in a minute it will/if is, could be, digital.
Double Vision
Member
With the long-running Contax rebate promotions finally at an end I suspect they have successfully cleared out their remaining inventory. I doubt we will ever see anything along the lines of the N1 or G2 again. Now I wish I had bought one (or both) of those models during the promotion. :bang:
gabrielelopez
Established
The simple continuing of the actual lines is more than enough for Contax...
In less than a Week Italy will meet the annual Photoshow...Contax will be there and I will update you..
Ciao!
In less than a Week Italy will meet the annual Photoshow...Contax will be there and I will update you..
Ciao!
I saw an N1 with the 35-70 or 85 vario sonar in new condition the other day at a local camera store. I think they were asking something like 1000 or 1200.00 for it. Most likely its still there.