A rumour but then I have been right twice before

[sclamb]

As some of you may remember, especailly if you belong to the other Contax group, I wrote of the 100mm f/2.8 Makro Sonnar before anyone else knew it existed (and even argued with those who said it wold be a Planar design!) I also wrote of the 400mm f/4 Tele Apo before anyone else and yes it materialised.

Well, here's a new one for you all. There will be a new Contax digital offering, probably around the D10 price point (and I think N-mount compatible) at the end of this year. My source says it will be announced at Photokina 2003 and in the shops by year-end.

Now my source has always been right. However, I have had this verified by another source. If anyone wants to take a private wager, I am open to taking you money so email me privately.

Remember, you saw it here first!

Simon

 

[dormant]

Wow, an N-mount Contax DSLR under $1500?! You make me drool, Simon!

Ummm, BTW, you mean Canon 10D by "D10," right? Or is this a new Nikon offering that comes after D1X?

 

[msadat]

simon, would i be able to get a trade in for my ND, pls check with your sources (i am not kidding), any more details?=20

 

[hullyjr]

I hope you are right. I love my G system but the appeal of digital is almost irresistable. I want to stay with Contax but their first foray into this media was not a success.

Simon, if I remember correctly, Photokina is every other year so there is no 2003. But anyway, do you have any info on the chip size as wide angles are my favorite lenses?

Jim Hully Boston, MA

 

[sclamb]

Taylor Kim,

Oops, yes I do mean the 10D not D10!!!

Mehrdad,

I will ask but it may well be too ealry to get any sensible answer. That said, I doubt you would get any better trade in than you would get from a dealer, and that won't be much for a discontinued model.

Simon

 

[hdfuhrman]

I agree with Jim. I am not going to jump for Contax; it has to be an excellent product. I want any new D-camera to be independently tested to evaluate its quality before I jump in. The competition for DSLR camera is keen and by the end of the year there may be a greater selection. On another forum, I heard Nikon will upgrading or replacing their DSLR's. Olympus has announced a new 4/3 DSLR. Pentax has a small "ish" camera. Choice is growing, prices are coming down and quality will be rising, full frame sensors for many cameras may be here soon, lenses are being redesigned to work better with sensors.

If Contax will not come out with a digital for G lenses and I must invest in new lenses, I will review all the competition to get what best suits me. As much as I love my G2, I am not married to Contax. Contax will have to win my business by providing a superior product at a competitive price.

Howard

 

[sclamb]

Jim

Hmm, there is no Photokina but I definitely was told that the announcement would be around September and that the release to the market would be around Xmas time. This is information I am getting in the UK so there may be announcements in other parts of the world at different times.

There will also be a dedicated Contax showroom in London towards the end of this year which wil have everything Contax in it.

I do not have any specs as yet but I am sure over the next few weeks I will get some! ;-)

Simon

 

[pops]

I've been relatively quiet since my comment back on Thanksgiving about the ND being discontinued - (which turned out to be true)- and from what I'm hearing now Simon is truly preparing to take sucker bets (I'm hearing $1500-$1600).


Ken

(Why did I get mad and dump all my N equipment at bargain prices? One should never lose their temper over something that can be so stimulating - I'll keep that in mind in retrospect of this website and the recent sequence of events herein)

 

[dirk]

We heard about different rumours, but also with different timetables. What we "heard" is that at the next PMA, which would be spring next year, a Contax N model would be presented with a new chip.

I would be surprised if Kyocera would achieve this time to hit with a new product the shelves BEFORE christmas. I can not remember anymore when this hapened last time

But we heard also many other rumours about Contax and other Zeiss-partners. But as long as we have not a stronger confirmation, we do not want to heaten up the internet world with this. Kyocera pßlanned so many things but then did not deliver, taht we were getting very cautious. But it will be definitely a hot year of announcements.

As a Zeiss fan - and that is why we all use Contax, isn't it - I would watch very close the news section over the next 2 weeks. And I would also look closer to the non-traditional camera-brand-names

Dirk

 

[djg]

All I can say is, any news on the N-lens digital front will always be good news in my book

. Hmm - is Zeiss going to be making bodies? You know what they say - if you want something done right, do it yourself ...

Bring it on!

DJ

 

[pim]

Hhmmm .... non-traditional camera-brand-names..... hmmm I guess that must be a hint....

Pim

 

[sclamb]

Dirk

I quote: "But as long as we have not a stronger confirmation, we do not want to heaten up the internet world with this."

Dirk my dear chap, yes we do! It is what makes life worth living for many of us. Rumour and speculation fill in the time between one outrageously expensive purchase and the next, a time that would be unbearably long without something to fill it ;-)


Simon
Simon

 

[albert4321]

A DSLR from Contax for less than $2000, I would jump on it as I have sunk myself deep into the Contax AF lenses. As long as it has at least 6meg and full frame, it would be good enough for the price for me. After all, I will still shoot films for a long long time.

 

[sclamb]

Albert

You may be asking too much for a full frame sensor in a sub-$2,000 camera. Those sensors are quite expensive.

Simon

 

[msadat]

simon, i will settle for a canon 10d equivalent, if contax can deliver = a caon 10d like camera, they got a winner. i have done test shot nd vs 10d = and pretty much the same (nd jpeg with little processing, 10d raw using = capture one)=20

 

[albert4321]

The 10D is an attractive DSLR. I have considered it given the price/value. Since I have 6 Contax AF lenses. I better stick with the Contax system. Carl Zeiss is reason I dropped my Nikon systems three years ago.

I agree full frame sensor for a sub $2k camera is asking too much now. In time, it will be possible. It may not be the next ND version, but I can always wait until I feel comfortable with $/value.

On the other, 1.3x, like the future R9/R8 digital back, is not too bad. It actually might be better off in image quality especially I have heard all these digital capture issues for wide angle lens. I can be wrong on this one.

 

[hdfuhrman]

Simon,

Your response to Dirk is hilarious:
"Dirk my dear chap, yes we do! It is what makes life worth living for many of us. Rumor and speculation fill in the time between one outrageously expensive purchase and the next, a time that would be unbearably long without something to fill it."

A Great Classic Remark.


Howard

 

[dirk]

Hi Simon,

sorry, this was a misunderstanding. I meant we (as owners of Contaxinfo.com) do not want to put the heat in it by telling it under our name too early.

If the users are doing it, its of course their own decision. So you were not meant with it. But we (in person) can only talk about rumours, if we can be more sure about it than we are it at present time.

I think I am too tired to express it more clearly, just came back from a business trip. But I hope you get the point...

Dirk

 

[sclamb]

Dirk

I understand your point and thanks for clarifying it.

Rgds.

Simon

 

[simonli]

Simon Lamb,

How about a prediction on the next fixed wide angle. How many mm and at what aperture?

SL