Contax (Yashica/Kyocera)
Since the late 1970's Contax cameras have been made by Yashica in Japan, with lenses made by Carl Zeiss -- some in Germany, some in Japan. The manual-focus Contax and Yashica 35mm SLRs share the same lens mount.
Yashica/Contax was an independant company until purchased by Kyocera in 1996. In 2005, Kyocera halted production on all Contax and other Kyocera film cameras. Digital camera production is expected to cease by the end of 2005.
Update: April 2005 - Kyocera News Release:
- Kyocera Corporation has decided to terminate CONTAX-branded camera business.
- Although Carl Zeiss and Kyocera have entered into a long term co-operation regarding the development, production and sale of CONTAX-branded cameras, Kyocera has decided to terminate such business due to difficulties in catching up with the recent rapid market changes.
- Consequently, Kyocera will terminate the shipment of CONTAX-branded cameras, and the exclusive lenses and accessories in September, 2005, except for the CONTAX 645 camera system, the shipment of which to some markets will come to an end in December, 2005.
- Kyocera will continue to provide after-sales services to its customers for their CONTAX-branded cameras, and the exclusive lenses and accessories over the maximum period of ten years within the specified time of each model.
Contents
35mm SLR (and digital SLR)
M42 screwmount (Dresden)
- Contax D
- Contax S
Manual-Focus (C/Y)
- Contax 137 MA
- Contax 137 MD
- Contax 139Q
- Contax 159 MM
- Contax 167 MT
- Contax Aria
- Contax AX
- Contax RTS
- Contax RTS II
- Contax RTS III
- Contax RX
- Contax RX II
- Contax S2 / S2b
- Contax ST
Were there any greater cameras? I have owned at various times the RTS, 137MD,167 MT. I currently own the Aria, RX, S2 and 139Q. I love each and every one of them -- so much so that I won't be moving to digital anytime soon. I also loved the fact that you could buy a Yashica camera or lenses and interchange without adaptors with Contax. I have always felt there was something lovely and "Old School" about that fact. By the way I added to the above listing the RX II which was released for sale in Europe only and was sans the DFI. Supposedly the viewfinder was 20% brighter than the original RX. These cameras all exhude quality and they make photographing even more of a pleasure than it is. VDP
Auto-Focus (N)
- Contax N1
- Contax N1 Digital
- Contax NX
35mm Rangefinders
Manual Focus
Dresden
- Contax II
- Contax III
Stuttgart
- Contax IIa
- Contax IIIa
Auto Focus
Contax Japan
Medium Format
Digital (non-SLR)
- Contax SL 300 T*
- Contax SL 400 T*
- Contax TVS digital
