Is contax Aria discontinued?

[DocFrankenstein]

I'm just wondering.

And while we're on topic - do they still make 50/1.4 planar and 21/2.8 ?

Thanks

 

[Rob]

Hey doc, the answer is pretty much yes in Yurp. There have been so many problems with Yashica/Contax after the Kyocera business that it's pretty unlikely you'll find a stockist carrying any of those products.

The website doesn't help much either:
http://www.kyoceraimaging.com/prodlist.asp?camtype=film

It pretty much indicates that the answer is that it's discon, but what can you say - there might be some out there,

Rob

 

[DocFrankenstein]

What do you mean "the Kyocera business?"

The problem is that I've been into photography for only a year so I have no idea about what happened to the companies at all.

I just saw the astronomical MTF ratings for 21mm f/2.8 distagon and 50/1.4 planar and was wondering what the lenses are going for.

 

[Rob]

Basically, afaik the failing Contax company (under Yashica) were aquired by Kyocera who appear to have the sole intention of retaining the brand and running the companies out. They will then wish to apply these brands to lend cachet to their own rather lacklustre digital compacts.

http://www.systeminsight.co.uk/Kyocera_About_the_Company.htm

http://www.worldofphoto.com/meldung.htm$N16735

Rob

 

[Rob]

http://global.kyocera.com/news/2005/0402.html

 

[DocFrankenstein]

Might be one of the last chances to get the Contax G2 then. Kinda sad.

 

[DocFrankenstein]

Is Zeiss rangefinder going to be affected? Is it related to Kyocera?

I'm confused.

 

[Rob]

Zeiss are a different company, but their story is even more complicated with mergers acquisitions and other strangeness. AFAIK Zeiss Ikon are still going ok and they manufacture the lenses and the rangefinders. (I could be wrong about that though)

http://www.zeissikon.com/about.htm

 

[FuddyDuddy]

Is Zeiss rangefinder going to be affected? Is it related to Kyocera?

I'm confused.

Hello,

No the ZI will not be affected. I believe they are not related, except that Carl Zeiss make lenses for third parties, including (formerly) Contax/Kyocera. The Zeiss Ikon RF is a totally CZ project, with production in Japan by Cosina, to Zeiss QC standards.

Fuddy

 

[Rob]

Hello,

No the ZI will not be affected. I believe they are not related, except that Carl Zeiss make lenses for third parties, including (formerly) Contax/Kyocera. The Zeiss Ikon RF is a totally CZ project, with production in Japan by Cosina, to Zeiss QC standards.

Fuddy

That's pretty much what I expected. Zeiss / Contax had an agreement or partnership deal of some kind, but it's a bit tricky to pin down what it was. There's loads on the company Zeiss to read out there if anyone's interested:
http://www.company7.com/zeiss/history.html