Article in German photo journal ColorFoto & Contax future

[dirk]

FYI

there is a small article in the German photojournal "ColorFoto" (03/2005 page 8) about the future of Contax or the lack of it. The author doubts, that there is any hope. He interpretes all available information that Kyocera stays silent because they only want to sell their stock until they announce end of March the end of the Kyocera/ Contax future.

The business year of Kyocera ends March 31st.

According to the article, there was no official information available from Kyocera as to what is the strategy or whether there is at all a future for the Contax brand under the Kyocera roof. This is in line with our experience over last weeks/months.

As you all know, we have not yet got any information regarding the future of Contax from Kyocera. This is surprising us, since there was always a very good communication over the last years until November/ December last year. But there is basically no information flow within the last weeks at all, which is not a good sign for the Contax future I must admit.

Since I am an old Contax fan, I do not give up my hope. But we should be realistic and also aware that as long as there is no official statement against the dead of all Contax systems, this hope shrinks on a daily basis...

Having said this, I wonder what Zeiss would do in this scenario, if Kyocera is leaving the "photo-camera-business" and only focuses on mobile phones with integrated cameras in it.

It would not be in Zeiss' interest, that the Contax system would pass away. So it would be only logic, that they would look for other cooperation partners, to keep at least i.e. the C/Y system alive.

We all know that Zeiss is offering now the Zeiss Ikon produced in cooperation with Cosina. I am not sure, but I think that Cosina played also a role in the production of the Contax S2. If that would be the case, what would be more logical for Zeiss then to make a few meetings more with Cosina and to discus a Contax "S3" (please with spot AND CWM in one body) and designs some new C/Y mount Zeiss lenses too (i.e. my beloved N24-85 with a C/Y mount)?

o.k. I know these are only dreams and we have even no certaincy what will happen over the next 8 weeks, but it is more fun to think about those possibilities then to break out in tears because of this Kyocera silence and all the question marks

Just my 2 cents

 

[jsmisc]

That's interesting Dirk. I wonder if Focus on Imaging in Birmingham at this end of this month may reveal something? I see that Kyocera Yashica and Contax are separately listed on the website as exhibitors.
It makes sense that Cosina had a hand in the S2 in view of the similarity to the FX3. Your ideas for an S3 are very attractive. I could never understand the idiosynchratic notion of having spot metering in one body and CWM in another; perhaps to persuade you to buy both bodies...
New C/Y lenses would be great too and then maybe an S3 digital?
John

 

[spluff]

If anyone gets anything out of either Kyocera or Conatx at the Focus on Imaging show, can they please let me know?

Last year they were obtuse & rude beyond belief. They hardly had a huge crowd of punters clamering for their goods - so refusing to discuss the Contax line was a bit dispiriting.

Still, they can't destroy our dreams

Cheers, Saras

 

[vdipiet]

This is the first time I am reading that my beloved S2 may have been produced by Cosina. That's like saying Bentley cars were produced in a Ford factory. I for one would welcome an S3 with both metering systems -- but it should be a top quality S3, one that will have solidity and great workmanship.

 

[dirk]

Hi Vincent,

please note, I am not sure about the Cosina involvement. But at the end of the day, it does not matter where or from whom it was produced - as long as it meets our quality requirements. I liked my S2 a lot. The shutter was a little too loud, but I could live with it

Regarding the Contax future: There is no official statement there yet. The author states his own interpretation. The main problem is the silence from Kyocera. Kyocera is not listed at the PMA as an exhibitor, which is not good. PMA is the biggest photo show in the US.

Focus in the UK will be interesting. It is 1 week away, maybe until then there is more clearity. I forwarded the article to our contacts with a short translation but have not received a comment yet.

I guess that they are not allowed to say anything. Big things like this whether it is the continuation of product lines or the discontinuation will not be published just by accident and by any random person. So I guess we have to stay patient.

I am afraid Contaxians are already used to this

If it turns out to be true, we have to think how to make the best out of it. Maybe we will find a solution then together with Zeiss...

IMO we should stay cautious and not get in panic. As long as we can take pictures with our current equipment, we can be happy. Everything else will be more clear over the next months - I hope.

 

[dirk]

another thing, just to make it clear:

we will continue with this forum and the "mission" to get things done for our members, no matter what happens with Kyocera.

By the way, within the next weeks there will be also a layout "renovation", to make the look slightly more "modern & elegant"