Will there be a new Contax?

[EdwardKaraa]

Then why didn't Zeiss just forget about the name instead of aquiring it?

Aquiring it? If I understand correctly, it has always been theirs. They just had to wait for the contract with Kyocera to expire. The name may or may not be used again, but only if Zeiss starts to make cameras that are not RF (an eventual RF digital will be called Zeiss Ikon, I guess).

 

[jsrockit]

Got ya Edward. Didn't realize it was on loan only.

 

[gavinlg]

3 years ago if I had suggested that fujifilm was going to bring out 2 modern 'rangefinder style' autofocus digital cameras, one fixed lens 35mm f2 model resembling a modern hexar AF, and one interchangeable lens model with 3 fast primes, I would have been shot down by a giant chorus of "it's a niche market - they'd never produce such a thing!"

And yet, here we are! I would love to see contax start back up again - I loved their cameras. They had the sexiest and most ergonomic SLRs out of ANYBODY!

 

[al1966]

Its a name with a lot of history so it would be good to see it back, being sensible they could get Sony to crate a higher end Nex model to hold the name. If not then perhaps another mount µ43 perhaps. Herd game to create a new mount and quite a risk, of course maybe they have an M mount digital in the pipeline that would put the cat amongst the pidgins if it was a lower price than the M9. Personally it does not affect me I have taken more rolls of film in the 9 months than I have taken digital shots.

 

[135format]

The thing about Contax is that it has always had zeiss lenses and that is what really sold them. I think it will definitely come back but I just don't know in what form.
However, since Zeiss has the ZI it wouldn't make sense for a film rangefinder. So it has to be either a digital slr which I don't think it would be because Nikon and Canon have that market sewn up and Zeiss already make lenses for them which leaves a digital compact format of some size or a film camera. Well the market is flooded with digital compacts which leaves the niche market of film. Contax always were a niche product and what better way to come back than with a niche medium cost film camera which would appeal to a lot of film users cos they can use Zeiss lenses. It makes sense to. And Voigtlander (or anyone else) can make them to complement the ZI. If it uses the old C/Y mount all the better.

I also think that specifically targetting the black and white market would be a good move.

p.s. there is one option which I forgot which is a digital rangefinder. Not sure about that one. Since Zeiss are already making the ZI lenses it might make sense but if its full frame it would be in direct competition with Leica and who would make it? Sony? That might be very appealing (except to Leica!).