Leica sank too much in the M8. It's a dog. Too bad.
Two words: Zeiss Ikon.
As to the OP - I'm not sure how much the Contax name is worth nowadays.
It's simply a brand and it's been bandied about, bought and sold so much etc. that I think it's lost its "Zeiss lineage" and its cachet.
In fact, with the resurrection of the Ikon label via Cosina - I think Zeiss has already made a decision with regard to film RFs.
Not to deny that they might "resurrect" the Contax label as a brand for a new line of digis?
IF they have to go digital the game is over, they already have a large business just with their lenses; it is, will/can they remain in the now small field of 135 mm cameras, and there the slr field is the one most endangered.I think the name Contax still carries some considerable marketing weight. Whoever owns it.
If Zeiss partners with the right niche company (maybe ricoh?) and release a new Digital Contax RF (with plenty of nods to the classic one), I am sure Leica will have a cold sweat.
IF they have to go digital the game is over, they already have a large business just with their lenses; it is, will/can they remain in the now small field of 135 mm cameras, and there the slr field is the one most endangered.
Film is undergoing a natural valley; digital is riding a natural, but non-sustainable wave. Part of the equation is for film to be able ride it out till the digi bubble bursts.
Another part is for major companies not to pull a Canon and bail out; the Leica concern is doing their best, as is Nikon.
Will the Zeiss concern do the same?
I wish they would without needing a Japanese partner, but the Japanese near fanatical love of cameras is not a bad thing.
Bobby
While going through a site, (I think it is in this site somewhere) by a gent who probably forgot more about cameras than I will ever know, he made a remark that the Japanese are very good, due to their system at making a lens that is very, very good; whereas again due to their system they lack the individualist touches that make Leica lenses and top German Zeiss lenses, as incredible as they are.Back to Zeiss, why do you wish them to not have a Japanese partner? Seems like an ideal one to me. Especially as Japanese still loves *film* cameras
While going through a site, (I think it is in this site somewhere) by a gent who probably forgot more about cameras than I will ever know, he made a remark that the Japanese are very good, due to their system at making a lens that is very, very good; whereas again due to their system they lack the individualist touches that make Leica lenses and top German Zeiss lenses, as incredible as they are.
I read of the effort in designing the new R8 Leica, and then read that the Zeiss Ikon, under the skin is still basically Cosina Bessa.
For Zeiss to sell an slr, they would need an edge such as the one that Leica has, theirs are made in Europe.
Does that mean that Asians make bad cameras, no, Canon, Nikon, Topcon disproved that decades ago, but it is a psychological edge, (especially at the prices they sell for) and the very best Zeiss lenses ARE still made in Germany.
Bobby
PS--This is the gent who said that Ricoh, made the forever best 135mm point and shoot camera in history.
Are you ignorant by birth or is it a learned trait?What aload of bull.... What system, that hinders the Japanese people to make a exceptional lens/camera, are we talking about here? Political system, Economical system? Immune system? Or is the basis of this "observation" in the system of thought that atrributes certain deficiencies to certain peoples, as did a school of thought some 50-odd years ago?
Jaap Jan
Are you ignorant by birth or is it a learned trait?
In Japan you follow the system, respect for elders is primary, you do it as you are told, you do not challenge the system.....
Are you ignorant by birth or is it a learned trait?
.In Japan you follow the system, respect for elders is primary, you do it as you are told, you do not challenge the system.
Try looking up the word except from which exception is derived
You are the only one who even considered this point: "Or is the basis of this "observation" in the system of thought that atrributes certain deficiencies to certain peoples,"
I don't know what caused your schizophrenic reaction, but try overcoming it.
Bobby
PS--When it comes to digital cameras, you don't think Canon and Nikon have a similar psychological edge?
Oh, oh, stereotypes - aren't they just so damned stupid!
Until you are raised in a group of stubborn Germans, you do not know just how accurate they can be.Hmmm...there are folks I know of who would say these same "characteristics" are very Germanic....
Oh, oh, stereotypes - aren't they just so damned stupid!
Since I am German, I am not really sure what to think of some of the statements on this thread. However, I just wanted to point out that there are inferior products made in Germany too, just like any other country. I am amazed at how anyone could so easily define millions of people, either based upon geography or language . . . it defies logic.
Now that you bring that up, there was a show on cable just a week or so ago, about the samurai sword and how it is made; without going into the details of why it is better, even when a modern sword was made similarily as effective, in killing power anyway; it takes a life-time to be able to become a master Japanese samurai sword maker, and each "student" goes through decades of being trained to do it exactly as told.I try to learn all I can
Aaah, that system. That system didn't prevent the Japanese to create the Katana, which I am told (I am not remotely an expert), was/is a sword that in it's characteristics was without peer in Germany, Spain , France or anywhere else in Europe, a sheer metallurgical marvel. Some Japanese exceptional blacksmith must have ignored the "system" there, you think???
This is because you have preconceived notions of what is being said.I always get like that when a complete country of people is deemed inapt or incapabeble of achiving something. I was under the impression the Japanese already made exceptional lenses (Fujinon, Hexanon) and I'm pretty sure so will the Chinese in 20 years time, given half the change.
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