Nice, would love such a thing, but actually that's what my Canon does behind my Contax lenses, so no need for a new camera ( ok, mine does not have >12MP and no live view and no 6400ISO, but that's my fault ) I don't think that Zeiss or whoever would still think to resuscitate the Contax name will do it on the old C/Y mount basis, nor even the Contax N basis. It will either be something totally new or would fit some of the mounts already available for the new Zeiss lenses but I would guess a new mount with AF. That is IF somebody does come up with a new toy.
I could see Zeiss bringing back the Contax line, most likely as a ZC lens line and a film SLR a la Zeiss Ikon RF (Based on the Cosina/Voigtlander Bessaflex TM, but with better build and VF).
A DSLR would be an outside possibility but expect a Zeiss Ikon Digital long before any Contax Digital.
Kyocera no longer has the license to the Contax brand.
If Zeiss does bring back the Contax name, I suspect that Cosina might be involved in some way. I also suspect, however, that other partners would be involved as well (we can speculate -- Phase One/Leaf/Kodak/Sinar/Fuji/others?).
It is quite possible that the long-rumoured and speculated Zeiss Ikon digital rangefinder, could carry the Contax designation. Contax did start, after all, as a rangefinder.
I think it is fairly safe to say, however, that a Zeiss/Contax digital rangerfinder or DSLR will cost quite a bit more than US$1500.
Lotusm50 wrote:
Kyocera no longer has the license to the Contax brand.
If Zeiss does bring back the Contax name, I suspect that Cosina might be involved in some way. I also suspect, however, that other partners would be involved as well (we can speculate -- Phase One/Leaf/Kodak/Sinar/Fuji/others?).
It is quite possible that the long-rumoured and speculated Zeiss Ikon digital rangefinder, could carry the Contax designation. Contax did start, after all, as a rangefinder.
I think it is fairly safe to say, however, that a Zeiss/Contax digital rangerfinder or DSLR will cost quite a bit more than US$1500.
As far as I'm aware, Kyocera's still got the license for a little over a month, Zeiss gets their name back on Jan 1.
I'd expect a price in the $2500-3k range for a digital RF from Zeiss. Less for the SLR unless it happened to be FF. The real problem is that Zeiss & Cosina would need a partner to develop the processing system and software UI, which neither company is equipped to do. And it needs to be a reliable partner (I'd suggest Mamiya, as they could use the technology developed for the ZD camera/back). Sensors would be another issue unless they decided to go with either of the common Sony CCD sensors (The 6.1MP and 10.5MP DX sensors used in many Nikon, Pentax, Sony, Minolta and Epson cameras) but that would necessarily cost them high ISO performance. Sony's 12MP DX or 24MP FF sensors would also be possibilities along with custom Kodak sensors a la Leica.
mawz wrote
As far as I'm aware, Kyocera's still got the license for a little over a month, Zeiss gets their name back on Jan 1.
My understanding is that it happened already. Regardless, a few months here or there, isn't going to matter.
mawz wroteI'd expect a price in the $2500-3k range for a digital RF from Zeiss. Less for the SLR unless it happened to be FF. The real problem is that Zeiss & Cosina would need a partner to develop the processing system and software UI, which neither company is equipped to do. And it needs to be a reliable partner (I'd suggest Mamiya, as they could use the technology developed for the ZD camera/back). Sensors would be another issue unless they decided to go with either of the common Sony CCD sensors (The 6.1MP and 10.5MP DX sensors used in many Nikon, Pentax, Sony, Minolta and Epson cameras) but that would necessarily cost them high ISO performance. Sony's 12MP DX or 24MP FF sensors would also be possibilities along with custom Kodak sensors a la Leica....Show more →
The need for other partners in addition to Cosina -- particularly on the digital side -- is clear, and why my speculative list of the partners are all specialists in digital. I don't think that Mamiya is a good choice. They have been having a lot of challenges with their own product and have turned to both Leaf and Phase One as partners. Digital, unfortunately, is not proving to be Mamiya's specialty. I have a feeling, but don't know, that if Zeiss does build a digital camera they would go to Kodak or Dalsa for their sensor. I don't think that a commodity Sony (or Samsung) sensor would meet their needs and would that they would prefer to go for a different look than is available will the common, mass-market DSLR's. This route would be not unlike Leica, as you suggest.
Lotusm50 wrote:
My understanding is that it happened already. Regardless, a few months here or there, isn't going to matter.
The need for other partners in addition to Cosina -- particularly on the digital side -- is clear, and why my speculative list of the partners are all specialists in digital. I don't think that Mamiya is a good choice. They have been having a lot of challenges with their own product and have turned to both Leaf and Phase One as partners. Digital, unfortunately, is not proving to be Mamiya's specialty. I have a feeling, but don't know, that if Zeiss does build a digital camera they would go to Kodak or Dalsa for their sensor. I don't think that a commodity Sony (or Samsung) sensor would meet their needs and would that they would prefer to go for a different look than is available will the common, mass-market DSLR's. This route would be not unlike Leica, as you suggest.
Frankly, I don't think they'll have much choice other than Sony, simply for economic reasons. The Sony sensors (apart from the FF 24MP one) are proven performers available at faily low costs. And as the differences in rendering between Nikon, Sony/Minolta and Pentax cameras based on those sensors attest, they should be able to pull off a unique look. I'd say one possibility for Zeiss/Cosina would simply be to eliminate the AA filter in front of the sensor.
Sony is the only open supplier of 35mm and DX sensors with a proven track record (Kodak's products have not proven viable on the market, with the arguable exception of the M8 sensor. Dalsa's done no 35mm-format sensors). And don't forget Zeiss already has a business relationship with Sony.
mawz wrote
Sony is the only open supplier of 35mm and DX sensors with a proven track record (Kodak's products have not proven viable on the market, with the arguable exception of the M8 sensor. Dalsa's done no 35mm-format sensors). And don't forget Zeiss already has a business relationship with Sony.
I think that is precisely the reason the won't use a Sony chip -- there is less scope for differentiation from all those other brands that use the chips. I think the only way they use a Sony chip is if the product is de facto a Sony product with the Zeiss/Contax name attached -- that is a possibility, given the relationship, but I think unlikely.
Dalsa and Kodak both make 35mm FF size sensors. They have catalog listings for them. They are, after all, just half of one of their MF digital back chips -- and this doesn't preclude either manufacturer doing a custom version or design for Zeiss. Whether either manufacturer has a proven 35mm chip in the market is irrelevant. Zeiss has publicly suggested that current chips are inadequate. So whatever chip they do use, it will probably not have been used before. Rest assured that Zeiss will thoroughly test and prove any chip itself before using it in any camera they produce. Merely having been used by Nikon, Pentax or Sony before does not mean it's good enough for Zeiss.
Probably Zeiss Ikon Digital will came befor Contax DSLR Digiatal
• Digital, Full Frame, Some MegaPixel more than 12 (Could be Sony or something New)
• New Mount (New Lenses)
• I will ask compatibility with CY (Like Canon), if possible Automatic transmission for Diaphrams
• Wievfinder 100% frame coverage
• Focusing Screen: Split Screen, microprism...for manual focus off course
Maybe Someone can do a DIGITAL Back for Contax Yashica...
I know, too much dream togheter, also other dream different from Digital Camera
Why bring back a camera so that the old manual focus can be used. How much of a market is there for this. Apart from FM Alternative gear members, how many others would want such a product.
Photographers are more interested in 20+ megapixels and the ability to shoot 8 fps to capture 40 frames so they may get one usable frame if they get lucky. The majority of the world is happy using a Canon XSi or 50D or Nikon D90 as it has more megapixels and is economical.
A giant like Sony had a tough start but is gaining market share slowly. Zeiss optical for the SLR group has nowhere near the finanacial strength Sony has. Zeiss has a snowball's chance in hell if they decide to bring back a manual focus capable SLR or digital camera.
Instead, if they focus their resources on the Sony mount (as they have started already), they may get more sales/revenue.
Now if they would bring back the 645 or similar system .... ohhhhhh... they could compete with some of the other players like Hassy and Mamiya
The idea of a digital rangefinder for around $2k that could use G-mount would be nice.
But reality kicks in......Contax is gone.... let it go.... RIP
It sounds like what you want is the A900, as it fullfills all your requirements except for live view and price, and the Zeiss ZA lenses are newer, allegedly better designs, with more primes on the way. Four years ago, when the rumblings of Sony dslr began, it was understood by many that Sony was going to enter the market with Zeiss lenses to appeal to the market that would be interested in a contax-like camera.
pascal03 wrote:
Why bring back a camera so that the old manual focus can be used. How much of a market is there for this. Apart from FM Alternative gear members, how many others would want such a product.
Photographers are more interested in 20+ megapixels and the ability to shoot 8 fps to capture 40 frames so they may get one usable frame if they get lucky. The majority of the world is happy using a Canon XSi or 50D or Nikon D90 as it has more megapixels and is economical.
A giant like Sony had a tough start but is gaining market share slowly. Zeiss optical for the SLR group has nowhere near the finanacial strength Sony has. Zeiss has a snowball's chance in hell if they decide to bring back a manual focus capable SLR or digital camera.
Instead, if they focus their resources on the Sony mount (as they have started already), they may get more sales/revenue.
Now if they would bring back the 645 or similar system .... ohhhhhh... they could compete with some of the other players like Hassy and Mamiya
The idea of a digital rangefinder for around $2k that could use G-mount would be nice.
But reality kicks in......Contax is gone.... let it go.... RIP...Show more →
Well, I think there could be other possibilities, Digital Era is only at the beginning in my opinion.
There also a lot of person that don't need autofocus to get good image. There are people that want to get the highest image quality without buying USD $15.000 for a Hassy Digital Back.
I think that Canon has a lot of incoming for all the Manual focus users that buy their Camera (also these user buy usually 5D and not 50D)
Contax Brand can be still actractive in my opinion, Rangefinder but also dSLR.
And I don't want any motor in my lenses...
douglasf13 wrote:
It sounds like what you want is the A900, as it fullfills all your requirements except for live view and price, and the Zeiss ZA lenses are newer, allegedly better designs, with more primes on the way. Four years ago, when the rumblings of Sony dslr began, it was understood by many that Sony was going to enter the market with Zeiss lenses to appeal to the market that would be interested in a contax-like camera.
Unfortunately the ZA lenses are pricey and limited in scope. The interest in a C/Y mount DSLR for me is because of the excellent and comprehensive lens line available for reasonable (and occasionally not so reasonable) money. The only really ridiculously priced lens in the Contax line that I'd be interested in is the 21/2.8 and I expect it to drop in price as the ZE version becomes more common.
The Sony's an interesting body (Although I don't like the ergonomic changes to the grip from the A700, I prefer the A700's larger grip) but the lens lineup just doesn't work for me at its current costs and selection. I'd have a different take if Sony and Zeiss had produced a lens line as comprehensive as Zeiss has with the ZF line, which essentially covers all my needs except a 135 (which ZA has). If I was starting from scratch and buying new, I'd likely buy almost entirely ZF lenses (I'd skip only the 35/2 and 50/1.4 in favour of the Voigtlander 40 and 58 and I'd be looking at the CV 125 or Nikkor 135DC to cover 135)
jjlphoto wrote:
There was a rumor floating around that after talks between PhaseOne and Kyocera broke off, Kyocera destroyed all the Contax dies and molds. Shame
Yes, that is the rumour. No confirmation if it is actually true, or who started spreading it. However, if is true and I were a Kyocera shareholder, I would be pissed off at the flagrant destruction of value
I'm sure that Phase One regrets their board not approving the deal with Kyocera (as also rumoured). Their eventual consolation "partnership" with Mamiya is clearly several rungs down the desirability ladder compared to the potential of the Contax/Zeiss deal.
