Contax SLR Users Unite!!!!
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chrysoveil
New Member
Wow, writing this post alone brings back memories! 
I bought my Yashica T5 (which I still keep for memories sake) 9 years ago. I wasn't serious in photography back then. I just bought it coz the forums wrote good things about it.
The T5 is not much of a looker and having just a fixed lens (when everyone else bragged about zoom range, compactness, style etc), isn't much to brag about. But when the photos were compared with those taken with other compacts, the T5 produced sharper and more colourful photos.
Then I got the opportunity to look at some photos taken by real Zeiss SLR lenses, I was blown away. And I was a diehard Zeiss fan ever since.
I was what they call a poorman Zeiss user. I used a Yashica camera body which cost next to nothing and spent my money on several Zeiss lenses. The usual cheaper ones like 50/1.4, 28/2.8, 35/2.8, 100/3.5 and 135/2.8.
I got my G1 + 45/2 several years later. The 45/2 was one helluva lens.
Well those were the film days for me. Sold nearly all my Contax and Yashica stuff. But I retain a strong interest in quality lenses.
I'm currently on 'stand-by' mode. No digital SLRs at the moment. I hope the days where quality lenses play a bigger role will come again.
I bought my Yashica T5 (which I still keep for memories sake) 9 years ago. I wasn't serious in photography back then. I just bought it coz the forums wrote good things about it.
The T5 is not much of a looker and having just a fixed lens (when everyone else bragged about zoom range, compactness, style etc), isn't much to brag about. But when the photos were compared with those taken with other compacts, the T5 produced sharper and more colourful photos.
Then I got the opportunity to look at some photos taken by real Zeiss SLR lenses, I was blown away. And I was a diehard Zeiss fan ever since.
I was what they call a poorman Zeiss user. I used a Yashica camera body which cost next to nothing and spent my money on several Zeiss lenses. The usual cheaper ones like 50/1.4, 28/2.8, 35/2.8, 100/3.5 and 135/2.8.
I got my G1 + 45/2 several years later. The 45/2 was one helluva lens.
Well those were the film days for me. Sold nearly all my Contax and Yashica stuff. But I retain a strong interest in quality lenses.
I'm currently on 'stand-by' mode. No digital SLRs at the moment. I hope the days where quality lenses play a bigger role will come again.
chrysoveil
New Member
I took some photos of my Contax gear just for the memories. Sold most the stuff except the Yashica & CZ 50/2.8 lens.
fuwen
Senior Member
Wow! Now the Zeiss latest SLR lenses are available in ZF, ZS and ZK mount, ie Nikon, M42 and Pentax mount. Hope the day with Contax C/Y mount is coming soon!
http://www.zeiss.com/c12567a8003b58b9/Contents-Frame/858dbbbbd2fb78a6c125711800592377
http://www.zeiss.com/c12567a8003b58b9/Contents-Frame/858dbbbbd2fb78a6c125711800592377
fuwen
Senior Member
creampuff
Senior Member
Why would Zeiss or any other company produce a lens for the Contax/Yashica mount when Kyocera has stopped producing Contax cameras and exited the photographic business altogether about 3 years back?
http://www.contaxcameras.co.uk/
http://www.contaxcameras.co.uk/
I also don't think the Zeiss will make new lens for C/Y mount. You have some insider information that Zeiss will make new C/Y mount lens?
fuwen
Senior Member
No, I have no insider info on this. But the sentiment in Hong Kong Contax Club Forum is quite different regarding the possibility of Zeiss releasing lenses in C/Y mount. They think it is possible.
Well, C/Y is dead for the time being, but that is because Zeiss and Kyocera had signed an agreement on Kyocera use of the 'Contax' brand, which has not expired yet, but should be expiring soon. So maybe for the time being Zeiss cannot release new products under Contax brand or maybe in C/Y mount. After that we do not know what will happen.
Of course the other consideration is there are still plenty of Contax used lenses in the market. There are still 3rd party manufacturers producing body in C/Y mount based on the foot print of Cosina mechanical body. But so far the newly released Zeiss lenses, other than the 25/2.8, 28f2, 50/1.4 and 85/1.4, the rest are not available in C/Y mount. The 25/2.8 is quite different in design. The 28f2 will be attractive as the price is comparable to the old design in the used market, and not many of these 28/2 were made for C/Y mount then.
I have enough C/Y lenses at the moment, but certainly I will be very interested in the 28/2, and definitely the fast macro 50/2 and 100/2. I am keen to set up a Nikon or Pentax system for the new series of Zeiss lenses.
Well, C/Y is dead for the time being, but that is because Zeiss and Kyocera had signed an agreement on Kyocera use of the 'Contax' brand, which has not expired yet, but should be expiring soon. So maybe for the time being Zeiss cannot release new products under Contax brand or maybe in C/Y mount. After that we do not know what will happen.
Of course the other consideration is there are still plenty of Contax used lenses in the market. There are still 3rd party manufacturers producing body in C/Y mount based on the foot print of Cosina mechanical body. But so far the newly released Zeiss lenses, other than the 25/2.8, 28f2, 50/1.4 and 85/1.4, the rest are not available in C/Y mount. The 25/2.8 is quite different in design. The 28f2 will be attractive as the price is comparable to the old design in the used market, and not many of these 28/2 were made for C/Y mount then.
I have enough C/Y lenses at the moment, but certainly I will be very interested in the 28/2, and definitely the fast macro 50/2 and 100/2. I am keen to set up a Nikon or Pentax system for the new series of Zeiss lenses.
creampuff
Senior Member
As I see it, about the only reason why C/Y mount lenses still generate interest is because by means of adapters or modification, these lenses can be configured for use on Canon or Pentax cameras. Yes Contax made some lovely lenses but it has suffered the same demise as other famous Japanese camera makers (Konica, Fujica, Bronica, etc.).
fuwen
Senior Member
If u are OK reading Chinese u may try the following website/bloc on Zeiss/Contax if u have not aready done so.
http://www.fuwen.net/index.php?option=com_weblinks&catid=62&Itemid=23
http://www.fuwen.net/index.php?option=com_weblinks&catid=62&Itemid=23
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