Difference between revisions of "Contax (Yashica/Kyocera)"
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| − | + | * ''For the original rangefinder model, see [[Contax rangefinder]]'' | |
| + | * ''For the East German SLR, see [[Contax S]]'' | ||
| + | {{Flickr_image | ||
| + | |image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrizzle/4603245126/in/pool-camerawiki | ||
| + | |image= http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4042/4603245126_d8f922e200.jpg | ||
| + | |image_align= right | ||
| + | |image_text= Contax G1 | ||
| + | |image_by= Christopher Robin Roberts | ||
| + | |image_rights= with permission | ||
| + | }} | ||
| + | '''Contax''' is originally the name of the famed 35mm rangefinder camera made from 1932 by [[Zeiss Ikon]] (see [[Contax rangefinder]]), which subsequently became the name of a pioneering single-lens reflex camera made from 1947 by the Eastern part of [[Zeiss Ikon]] (see [[Contax S]]). | ||
| − | + | In 1973 the Contax name was licensed to the Japanese maker [[Yashica]] by [[Carl Zeiss]] to create a prestigious brand of 35mm cameras and interchangeable [[Contax/Yashica lenses]] in cooperation with the German company. By that time, Yashica was a production giant with considerable electronic camera experience, and was seeking ways to expand sales and improve brand name recognition in the highly competitive 35mm SLR market. Thus began ‘Top Secret Project 130’, a collaboration with Carl Zeiss to produce a new, professional 35mm SLR with an electronically-controlled shutter, bearing the Contax brand name. The F. Alexander Porsche Group was hired to complete an ergonomic and styling study of the new camera. The new Contax RTS and its Zeiss T* lenses appeared at Photokina in 1974, and proved an immediate hit. | |
| − | + | Until 1984, Contax cameras were made by [[Yashica]] in Japan, with lenses made by [[Carl Zeiss]] – some in Germany, some in Japan. The cameras were noteworthy for their advanced electronics. The Carl Zeiss T* lenses, in particular, soon gained a reputation for superb optical quality. Since manual-focus Contax and Yashica manual-focus 35mm SLR cameras share the same common bayonet lens mount, their lenses may be used interchangeably. | |
| − | + | Contax cameras continued to be produced by Yashica until the latter was acquired by [[Kyocera]] in 1983. At that time, Kyocera's new camera division took over responsibility for production of all Contax and Yashica branded cameras, eventually introducing cameras under its own name, as well as contracting production of other models to outside manufacturers, such as [[Cosina]]. | |
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| − | === Manual-Focus ( | + | In 2005, Kyocera halted production on all Contax-brand film and digital cameras. |
| − | * Contax 137 MA | + | |
| − | * Contax 137 MD | + | == Digital SLR == |
| − | * Contax | + | * [[Contax N Digital]] (N-mount) |
| − | * Contax 159 MM | + | |
| − | * Contax | + | == Digital (non-SLR) == |
| − | * Contax Aria | + | * Contax i4R |
| − | * Contax AX | + | * [[Contax U4R]] |
| − | * [[ | + | * Contax SL 300 T* |
| − | * [ | + | * Contax SL 400 T* |
| − | * [ | + | * Contax TVS digital |
| − | * Contax RX | + | |
| − | * Contax S2 / S2b | + | == 35mm SLR == |
| − | * Contax ST | + | === M42 screwmount === |
| + | see [[Zeiss Ikon]] for the [[Contax S|Contax S, D, E, F, FB, FM, FBM]] and the corresponding [[Pentacon]] models. | ||
| + | |||
| + | === Manual-Focus (Yashica/Contax) === | ||
| + | {{Flickr_image | ||
| + | |image_source= https://www.flickr.com/photos/130500456@N02/36274119972/in/pool-camerawiki | ||
| + | |image= https://live.staticflickr.com/4426/36274119972_0a9ba9c008_c.jpg | ||
| + | |image_align= left | ||
| + | |image_text= Contax family: 139Q + [[Distagon]] 35mm 1:2.8, 137MA + [[Sonnar]] 85mm 1:2.8<br/>"RST" + Sonnar 135mm 1:2.8, 139Q + [[Planar]] 50mm 1:1.7, S2b + [[Tessar]] 45mm 1:2.8 | ||
| + | |image_by= NATHAN | ||
| + | |image_rights= with permission | ||
| + | }}{{brl}} | ||
| + | {| | ||
| + | || | ||
| + | * [[Contax 137 MA]] (1982) | ||
| + | * [[Contax 137 MD]] (1980) | ||
| + | * [[Contax 139|Contax 139 Quartz]] (1979) | ||
| + | * [[Contax 159 MM]] (1985) | ||
| + | * [[Contax 167MT]] (1987) | ||
| + | * [[Contax Aria]] (1998) | ||
| + | || | ||
| + | * [[Contax AX]] (1996) | ||
| + | * Contax CGCM | ||
| + | * Contax Preview | ||
| + | * Contax Preview II | ||
| + | * [[Contax RTS]] (1975) | ||
| + | * [[Contax RTS II]] (1982) | ||
| + | || | ||
| + | * [[Contax RTS III]] (1990) | ||
| + | * [[Contax RX]] (1994) | ||
| + | * Contax RX II | ||
| + | * [[Contax S2 / S2b]] (1992) | ||
| + | * [[Contax ST]] (1992) | ||
| + | |} | ||
=== Auto-Focus (N) === | === Auto-Focus (N) === | ||
| − | * Contax N1 | + | * [[Contax N1]] |
| − | * Contax | + | * [[Contax NX]] |
== 35mm Rangefinders == | == 35mm Rangefinders == | ||
=== Manual Focus === | === Manual Focus === | ||
| − | + | * [[Contax T]] | |
| − | * [[Contax | + | see [[Zeiss Ikon]] for the [[Contax rangefinder|Contax I, II, III, IIa and IIIa]] |
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=== Auto Focus === | === Auto Focus === | ||
| − | + | * [[Contax G|Contax G1]] | |
| − | * [[Contax G1]] | + | * [[Contax G|Contax G2]] |
| − | * [ | + | * [[Contax T2]] |
| − | * | ||
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* Contax T3 | * Contax T3 | ||
* Contax TVS | * Contax TVS | ||
| + | |||
| + | == APS film == | ||
| + | [[Contax Tix]] | ||
== Medium Format == | == Medium Format == | ||
* [[Contax 645 AF]] | * [[Contax 645 AF]] | ||
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== Links == | == Links == | ||
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* [http://www.flickr.com/groups/24476122@N00/ Contax group on flickr] | * [http://www.flickr.com/groups/24476122@N00/ Contax group on flickr] | ||
| + | * [http://www.cdegroot.com/photo-contax/ Contax SLR website] by Cees de Groot | ||
| + | * [https://web.archive.org/web/20190905204011/http://www.contax-users.de/index.xml The German Contax User Forum] — Contax Users.de (archived) | ||
| + | * [http://www.botzilla.com/blog/archives/000378.html Focus tips for Contax Rangefinders] | ||
| + | * [http://www.butkus.org/chinon/contax.htm Contax PDF instruction manuals] [http://www.butkus.org/chinon/yashica.htm Yashica PDF manuals both from Orphancameras.com] | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[Category: Contax|*]] | ||
| + | [[Category: Japanese cameras]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Kyocera]] | ||
Latest revision as of 05:50, 1 March 2023
- For the original rangefinder model, see Contax rangefinder
- For the East German SLR, see Contax S
|
| Contax G1 image by Christopher Robin Roberts (Image rights) |
Contax is originally the name of the famed 35mm rangefinder camera made from 1932 by Zeiss Ikon (see Contax rangefinder), which subsequently became the name of a pioneering single-lens reflex camera made from 1947 by the Eastern part of Zeiss Ikon (see Contax S).
In 1973 the Contax name was licensed to the Japanese maker Yashica by Carl Zeiss to create a prestigious brand of 35mm cameras and interchangeable Contax/Yashica lenses in cooperation with the German company. By that time, Yashica was a production giant with considerable electronic camera experience, and was seeking ways to expand sales and improve brand name recognition in the highly competitive 35mm SLR market. Thus began ‘Top Secret Project 130’, a collaboration with Carl Zeiss to produce a new, professional 35mm SLR with an electronically-controlled shutter, bearing the Contax brand name. The F. Alexander Porsche Group was hired to complete an ergonomic and styling study of the new camera. The new Contax RTS and its Zeiss T* lenses appeared at Photokina in 1974, and proved an immediate hit.
Until 1984, Contax cameras were made by Yashica in Japan, with lenses made by Carl Zeiss – some in Germany, some in Japan. The cameras were noteworthy for their advanced electronics. The Carl Zeiss T* lenses, in particular, soon gained a reputation for superb optical quality. Since manual-focus Contax and Yashica manual-focus 35mm SLR cameras share the same common bayonet lens mount, their lenses may be used interchangeably.
Contax cameras continued to be produced by Yashica until the latter was acquired by Kyocera in 1983. At that time, Kyocera's new camera division took over responsibility for production of all Contax and Yashica branded cameras, eventually introducing cameras under its own name, as well as contracting production of other models to outside manufacturers, such as Cosina.
In 2005, Kyocera halted production on all Contax-brand film and digital cameras.
Contents
Digital SLR
- Contax N Digital (N-mount)
Digital (non-SLR)
- Contax i4R
- Contax U4R
- Contax SL 300 T*
- Contax SL 400 T*
- Contax TVS digital
35mm SLR
M42 screwmount
see Zeiss Ikon for the Contax S, D, E, F, FB, FM, FBM and the corresponding Pentacon models.
Manual-Focus (Yashica/Contax)
|
| Contax family: 139Q + Distagon 35mm 1:2.8, 137MA + Sonnar 85mm 1:2.8 "RST" + Sonnar 135mm 1:2.8, 139Q + Planar 50mm 1:1.7, S2b + Tessar 45mm 1:2.8 image by NATHAN (Image rights) |
|
|
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Auto-Focus (N)
35mm Rangefinders
Manual Focus
see Zeiss Ikon for the Contax I, II, III, IIa and IIIa
Auto Focus
APS film
Medium Format
Links
- Contax group on flickr
- Contax SLR website by Cees de Groot
- The German Contax User Forum — Contax Users.de (archived)
- Focus tips for Contax Rangefinders
- Contax PDF instruction manuals Yashica PDF manuals both from Orphancameras.com
