Talk:Contax S2 / S2b

Contrary to popular belief, the Contax S2 and S2b are not of Cosina manufacturing. This rumour started a couple of years ago, long after the demise of the product, by some people (none of them users, and with no hard evidence) based on the similarities of that model with the Olympus OM-10, the Nikon FM-10 and the Bessaflex TM, all of those manufactured by Cosina. The reality is that those of us old enough to have own a Contax 139Q, know that this body and its chassis, advance lever, viewfinder and metering display, were used for the S2/b. The product was produced by Kyocera in their own facilities, alongside the rest of their product line. The S2 was not a cheap consumer model like the Cosina clons, but an expensive all manual camera with the same shutter assembly of the Nikon FM2-T. The body was clad in Titanium and the street price was very high indeed. Those who have hold both cameras know the differences. The camera is also stamped on the bottom with the "kyocera-japan" that identifies its origin. Nikons FM10 and Olys OM10 are stamped with "cosina-japan" instead.

Rein

Despite, myself, in the past, perpetuating the idea the S2 was built by Cosina, I too, now, believe it to be untrue. However, I have never found any evidence either for or against the idea. It is quite clear that the S2 has no relationship to any of the budget cameras made by Cosina for other manufacturers. But the S2 has very close similarities to the Yashica FX-3, another camera that was alleged to have been built by Cosina, and that is part of the cause of the belief. But there is, equally, no evidence, that I have seen, to support the fact that Cosina built the FX-3.

Peter