What's coming on Dec 21?

[ZeissFan]

I suspect it will be a new SLR system, probably manufactured under license by Cosina.

Or it will be Carl Zeiss lenses available in the popular Japanese SLR mounts, also manufactured under license by Cosina. That would mean goodbye crappy kit lens (not that I own one).

Well, we'll know in three days.

 

[Avotius]

They already do - you just need to buy the adapters.

yeah, but those adapter kinda suck, I never really careed for using them

 

[Rico]

Interchangeable-lens camera-phone from Nokia with Contax/Yashica mount.

 

[darkkavenger]

a rangefinder system that goes on top of SLR systems and allows the mounting of their new lens : Carl Zeiss T* Vario-Hologon 1.5/10 ASPH

 

[sdai]

If they're smart enough, that would be some Zeiss glass come with major Japanese mounts, be it EOS or F. Anything else is pure waste of time and energy.

 

[peterc]

If they're smart enough, that would be some Zeiss glass come with major Japanese mounts

This was my first guess when I saw the teaser. It would really open up a lot of market to Zeiss.

Peter

 

[phototone]

It says "Millions of SLR photographers will discover a new dimension....."

My speculation is that whatever it is, it is for "SLR" photographers., which means either a new series of lenses for SLR's, or a new SLR system (camera and lenses). It may not even be for 35mm, as Zeiss makes the lenses for some of the Hassy 120 size SLR's. You need to take that into consideration. Perhaps a new line of digital back optimized lenses for Hassy bodies.

 

[peterc]

It may not even be for 35mm,

I guess it depends on how much glass they're geared up to sell. Who knows, Sony could be releasing a dSLR.

Peter

 

[beethamd]

Cosina already make C/Y mount lenses so I think perhaps that Cosina would now be able to offer Zeiss branded C/Y lenses in addition to other Zeiss branded SLR lenses. This is all very interesting.

 

[Mazurka]

Apparently the Ai-S and M42 versions are the only Voigtlander SL lenses in series production. http://www.cosina.co.jp/seihin/voigt/v-lens/sl/zaiko/index.html
Besides, Zeiss admits Kyocera still has the exclusive rights to the Contax license for another several years, so I don't think Cosina will make Zeiss lenses for the C/Y mount even though the lenses themselves don't say "Contax."

The Sony dSLR is a possibility, but there are no corrseponding teasers or announcements on the Japanese Sony site (or Hasselblad site for that matter.)

 

[anselwannab]

Leverage the Ikon body and make it into an SLR, just like they did for the early SLRs? At the same time announce that the upcoming digital camera is going to be a back that can go on the Ikon or the SLRikon???(Outside chance)

I wonder what kind of contract Cosina has with Epson for the RD1. If there is a non-compete, maybe Zeiss can come out with a digital Manual Focus SLR based on the Ikon first. (Way outside chance.)

Probably wide lenses for EOS, but MF. (Where I'd put my money.)

It would be interesting to do an experiment where people who post on these speculative discussions are tested to see if they can understand when a question is rhetorical.

 

[Trius]

Kyocera may have the license for a few years, but arrangements can be made to terminate such a license. I'm not speculating per se, just pointing out that such things are done in business all the time. Money is money.

Earl

 

[Mazurka]

Kyocera may have the license for a few years, but arrangements can be made to terminate such a license. I'm not speculating per se, just pointing out that such things are done in business all the time. Money is money.

That's exactly what I expected Zeiss to do some months ago, shortly after Kyocera's pull-out. I even speculated that the digital version of the Zeiss Ikon might revive the Contax name. But in light of this statement issued as late as Sept, that won't be happening anytime soon. http://www.zeiss.com/C12567A8003B58B9/ContentsWWWIntern/6DDDFEBAA94C63B6C12570740040C246

 

[Trius]

That's exactly what I expected Zeiss to do some months ago, shortly after Kyocera's pull-out. I even speculated that the digital version of the Zeiss Ikon might revive the Contax name. But in light of this statement issued as late as Sept, that won't be happening anytime soon. http://www.zeiss.com/C12567A8003B58B9/ContentsWWWIntern/6DDDFEBAA94C63B6C12570740040C246

I don't view that statement as definitive beyond today... since it hasn't been updated today. All they are saying is that they can't say anything more about the Contax brand ... until they say something new about it.

Earl

 

[waterlenz]

What is the object at the left edge of the frame on the CZ webpage refered to above?
Tom

 

[Mazurka]

Okay, I'll rephrase what I've said: I don't believe they'll "say anything new about it" anytime soon, and certainly not this Wednesday which is, after all, what the teaser's about. 😛

I also expect Zeiss to drop a little hint if they have any plans about the future of Contax. For example, the ZM lenses being designed "with digital application in mind" is taken by most people to be a hint about a digital RF.

And don't forget even the Zeiss Ikon took more than 1 year from announcement to delivery.

 

[leafy]

What is the object at the left edge of the frame on the CZ webpage refered to above?
Tom

Looks like either a mobile phone or PDA to me.

 

[Trius]

Mazurka: FWIW, I agree with you; I don't really think the announcement on the 21st will be about Contax either. But Zeiss is capable of surprising, so I don't think it could be ruled out 100%.

Earl

 

[bobofish]

Now I'm dissappointed...it looks like that little thingy on the left of the announcement picture is something from the N Series Nokia phones.
http://www.nokia.com/nseries/index.html?prod=N90&lang=de&country=DE

I hope that's not what it is...because as we all know, as cool as a phone with a camera could be, a cool camera with bitchin lenses is better.

I've been thinking about how since Contax is gone and Hasselblad has all but stopped production on their 6x6 cameras (the new autofocus ones take Fuji lenses, most people know) and Rollei is not really a thriving concern, Zeiss would be looking for other, somewhat more guaranteed platforms to put their lenses on.

It occured to me that the Zeiss Ikon might simply be an experiment to see what they could do with producing new platforms for their lenses...I don't think anybody really labors under the illusion that a rangefinder, even a digital, could make or break a company in this day and age.

Of course we can still hold out hope, and even if Wednesday's announcement isn't what we all hope it is, maybe it's a sign that they are indeed working things through, maybe next year some great things will come out.

A full-frame alternative to Canon is certainly something a lot of people would go for. Nominally speaking, in these days of mergers and alliances, perhaps Sony could convince their nominal partner Nikon to produce a platform for Zeiss lenses branded as Sony cameras...who knows.

Then there's always the possibility (now I'm dreaming a bit) of a camera using Sony's sensors, KonicaMinolta's Autofocus expertise, and Zeiss glass.

We'll have to wait and see! Either way, we are the humble hamsters of Zeiss's marketing buzz...we are buzzing away.

 

[Frank Granovski]

Maybe Zeiss bought Nikon? Then all Nikon cameras will be called Zeiss-Nikon. Could be.