Well, maybe I should have posted this somewhere else, but as my post is S2-related, I will leave it right here.
As we all know, Kyocera has closed down the camera business, killing by the way the contax brand and leaving all us stranded (and I had bought two S2, one Aria and one RXII.).
After that some information had come to light as if Cosina would continue the contax brand (really easy to re-badge the Bessaflex and fit a Y/C mount, adding a switch to choose from selective to centre-weighed metering and a titanium cover and hop! that's a Contax, or contaflex, or Zeiss Ikon S3 to you).
But according to french magazine "Reponses Photo" it seems that Sony has interests in the Contax brand (and don't forget that sony manufactures Zeiss lenses under licence for digital cameras). So will we see anything new from contax? At least not in the short term. The same magazine also read that Sony had a little bit of finantial problems so the deal would be delayed, or cancelled sine die. All we can do is wait... and pray...
As technology goes by, I do not think there is much future for the multi-everything film-based (aka traditional) cameras. This market sector has been fully taken over by Digital SLRs (the only exceptions are the Canon EOS I, the Nikon F6 and the Leica R9, the latter enjoying a new easy of life thanks to the DMR), but the rest of traditional cameras are struggling to survive.
But there is a small market sector which still has plenty of future to survive. You've guessed it, the traditional mechanical cameras, of which only the Nikon FM3a, rests of Zenit cameras and entry level Yashica FX-3 clones made in china with Nikon or pentax bayonet. and how about Voigtlander cameras? They sell, and quite well.
Nothing can beat a mechanical camera when it comes to shocks, accidental dropping, and operating in really really harsh environments, and you can rely on them, their reliability and their ability to work without batteries. I remember taking my S2 out of the backpack at 3800 metres height, with a 50 km/h wind and at a temperature of -25 º Celsius. It worked!
And these cameras still sell, and really well. Just take a look around and watch the Nikon FM3a. A lot have been sold, even many of them regard this camera as an obsolete one, but nothing could be further from reality, the FM3a is a great and real workhorse, designed to withstand anything you can throw at it. Who would not like an agreement between Nikon and kyocera to produce the FM3a with Contax mount and looks? I would buy it, for sure! (and I am pretty sure that many people in this forum would buy it as well)
From my previous posts you will already know that my first S2 was bought in 1994 and some time ago the film lever could not be locked in its "rest" position, where it usually clicked, now it remained loose. I took it to my repair shop and was told that all the winding mechanism would have to be changed, at the cost of an arm and a leg (and Yashica Spain would only supply the complete winding gear train). I was sure it was nothing else than a detent spring, whether worn or broken. Armed with three different sized screwdrivers and the original repair manual, I began to take it apart. Within five minutes I found the offending spring, removed it (broke in my hands) and ordered a replacement to Tocad USA. I am waiting for their answer and for the parts, too (just to be sure I ordered two more, just to have plenty available when supplies dry up and the camera is no longer supported).
Best regards and Contax Forever!
Robert
As we all know, Kyocera has closed down the camera business, killing by the way the contax brand and leaving all us stranded (and I had bought two S2, one Aria and one RXII.).
After that some information had come to light as if Cosina would continue the contax brand (really easy to re-badge the Bessaflex and fit a Y/C mount, adding a switch to choose from selective to centre-weighed metering and a titanium cover and hop! that's a Contax, or contaflex, or Zeiss Ikon S3 to you).
But according to french magazine "Reponses Photo" it seems that Sony has interests in the Contax brand (and don't forget that sony manufactures Zeiss lenses under licence for digital cameras). So will we see anything new from contax? At least not in the short term. The same magazine also read that Sony had a little bit of finantial problems so the deal would be delayed, or cancelled sine die. All we can do is wait... and pray...
As technology goes by, I do not think there is much future for the multi-everything film-based (aka traditional) cameras. This market sector has been fully taken over by Digital SLRs (the only exceptions are the Canon EOS I, the Nikon F6 and the Leica R9, the latter enjoying a new easy of life thanks to the DMR), but the rest of traditional cameras are struggling to survive.
But there is a small market sector which still has plenty of future to survive. You've guessed it, the traditional mechanical cameras, of which only the Nikon FM3a, rests of Zenit cameras and entry level Yashica FX-3 clones made in china with Nikon or pentax bayonet. and how about Voigtlander cameras? They sell, and quite well.
Nothing can beat a mechanical camera when it comes to shocks, accidental dropping, and operating in really really harsh environments, and you can rely on them, their reliability and their ability to work without batteries. I remember taking my S2 out of the backpack at 3800 metres height, with a 50 km/h wind and at a temperature of -25 º Celsius. It worked!
And these cameras still sell, and really well. Just take a look around and watch the Nikon FM3a. A lot have been sold, even many of them regard this camera as an obsolete one, but nothing could be further from reality, the FM3a is a great and real workhorse, designed to withstand anything you can throw at it. Who would not like an agreement between Nikon and kyocera to produce the FM3a with Contax mount and looks? I would buy it, for sure! (and I am pretty sure that many people in this forum would buy it as well)
From my previous posts you will already know that my first S2 was bought in 1994 and some time ago the film lever could not be locked in its "rest" position, where it usually clicked, now it remained loose. I took it to my repair shop and was told that all the winding mechanism would have to be changed, at the cost of an arm and a leg (and Yashica Spain would only supply the complete winding gear train). I was sure it was nothing else than a detent spring, whether worn or broken. Armed with three different sized screwdrivers and the original repair manual, I began to take it apart. Within five minutes I found the offending spring, removed it (broke in my hands) and ordered a replacement to Tocad USA. I am waiting for their answer and for the parts, too (just to be sure I ordered two more, just to have plenty available when supplies dry up and the camera is no longer supported).
Best regards and Contax Forever!
Robert
