Contax DSLR

[yUsKe]

Not sure if "News Discussion" is the right place to ask for your opinions but since there has been such scarcity of "news" regarding Kyocera/Contax's plans regarding their position on DSLRs, I thought this is as good as place as any...

Having invested so much in the Contax N-System (ie glass) and being of limited financial means...how much longer do I hold out for a digital body to complement what I consider to be unique and worthy lenses.

I've heard of many examples where people divide their time between their ND and 1DS (usually personal/commercial) but frankly I'm not in a position to make that additional investment in a completely new system.

What I'm looking for is some sense of how others in my situation are feeling and doing. It sickens me to think that I may soon have to bite the bullet and off-load all my Contax/Zeiss, at a significant loss, to switch to a different system.

Thanks in advance,
Yuske

 

[Petteri Sulonen]

Not sure if "News Discussion" is the right place to ask for your
opinions but since there has been such scarcity of "news" regarding
Kyocera/Contax's plans regarding their position on DSLRs, I thought
this is as good as place as any...

Having invested so much in the Contax N-System (ie glass) and being
of limited financial means...how much longer do I hold out for a
digital body to complement what I consider to be unique and worthy
lenses.

I've heard of many examples where people divide their time between
their ND and 1DS (usually personal/commercial) but frankly I'm not
in a position to make that additional investment in a completely
new system.

What I'm looking for is some sense of how others in my situation
are feeling and doing. It sickens me to think that I may soon have
to bite the bullet and off-load all my Contax/Zeiss, at a
significant loss, to switch to a different system.

You do know you can use your Zeiss glass on (at least) Canon cameras, with an adaptor? The top-end Canons (1D, 1D II, 1Ds) have switchable focusing screens, which means that manual focusing is more than feasible, too.

(No disrespect intended towards Nikon or Pentax; I just don't know whether or not adapters are available for them.)

Your guess is as good as mine, but Kyocera has been awfully quiet about the Contax brand recently. I'm pretty sure there will be another Contax digital eventually, but your guess is as good as mine as to when.

Petteri
--



Portfolio: [ http://www.seittipaja.fi/index/ ]
Pontification: [ http://www.seittipaja.fi/ ]

 

[yUsKe]

Petteri,

Thanks for your suggestion. I thought the Zeiss-EOS adaptor was only for MM/AE glass (manual focus only) and not the N-Series glass? If you know of anyone that makes a Zeiss N-EOS please let me know.

If I could use my N-lenses on an EOS I'd do it immediately!

Thanks again,
Yuske

You do know you can use your Zeiss glass on (at least) Canon
cameras, with an adaptor? The top-end Canons (1D, 1D II, 1Ds) have
switchable focusing screens, which means that manual focusing is
more than feasible, too.

(No disrespect intended towards Nikon or Pentax; I just don't know
whether or not adapters are available for them.)

Your guess is as good as mine, but Kyocera has been awfully quiet
about the Contax brand recently. I'm pretty sure there will be
another Contax digital eventually, but your guess is as good as
mine as to when.

Petteri
--



Portfolio: [ http://www.seittipaja.fi/index/ ]
Pontification: [ http://www.seittipaja.fi/ ]

 

[RBudding]

Communication from Kyocera would be nice.

I'm in the same position as you. I really like my N lenses and want a DSLR. But for now, I'm plowing on with my N1 body. I do like to edit and print digitally, however, so I'm thinking of buying a Nikon Coolscan V. I should get better resolution from scanned 35 mm images than with any DSLR less than $5,000. The work flow isn't as nice, but at least I can keep using my Zeiss lenses!

Not sure if "News Discussion" is the right place to ask for your
opinions but since there has been such scarcity of "news" regarding
Kyocera/Contax's plans regarding their position on DSLRs, I thought
this is as good as place as any...

Having invested so much in the Contax N-System (ie glass) and being
of limited financial means...how much longer do I hold out for a
digital body to complement what I consider to be unique and worthy
lenses.

I've heard of many examples where people divide their time between
their ND and 1DS (usually personal/commercial) but frankly I'm not
in a position to make that additional investment in a completely
new system.

What I'm looking for is some sense of how others in my situation
are feeling and doing. It sickens me to think that I may soon have
to bite the bullet and off-load all my Contax/Zeiss, at a
significant loss, to switch to a different system.

Thanks in advance,
Yuske

 

[Robert A]

...Contax promised and promised more development of their G-series line, but not even a single lens has been announced in years - let alone a new body. They are so far behind on everything and so spread out (why did they venture into the 645 format, when their 35mm line was so mixed up and incomplete?).

I would not be surprised to see the Contax line go away again like it did in the 70s. Aside from their P&S cameras, they just aren't introducing anything new these days.

Robert Ades

Not sure if "News Discussion" is the right place to ask for your
opinions but since there has been such scarcity of "news" regarding
Kyocera/Contax's plans regarding their position on DSLRs, I thought
this is as good as place as any...

Having invested so much in the Contax N-System (ie glass) and being
of limited financial means...how much longer do I hold out for a
digital body to complement what I consider to be unique and worthy
lenses.

I've heard of many examples where people divide their time between
their ND and 1DS (usually personal/commercial) but frankly I'm not
in a position to make that additional investment in a completely
new system.

What I'm looking for is some sense of how others in my situation
are feeling and doing. It sickens me to think that I may soon have
to bite the bullet and off-load all my Contax/Zeiss, at a
significant loss, to switch to a different system.

Thanks in advance,
Yuske

 

[deevee]

i've had my share of contax cams as well, N1, Aria, RX and a whole bunch of lenses....i was happy w them in the film days, the contrast, the color, sharpness may be the best of them all, but w the advent of digital bodies, i had to decide to migrate to canon...no regrets here since canon is currently the leader in CMOS DSLR bodies and the glass isn't too shabby either...if i'm nostalgic, i can pull out my G1 and its wonderful lenses and shoot B+W or shoot colors for fun...

Sorry but Contax may be too late coming to the party, the N1 digital was a flop basically and their posh p&s are just 2 expensive for the features (or lack of) they offer...even Leica is doing better by partnering w Panasonic

I wish them lots of luck in the comeback trail if any...what they should do is concentrate on special niche markets like a digital G,or digital back for the 645...they just can't compete in the DSLR market imho....even the big N is struggling here...or they can join the 4/3 group ;-))

 

[RBudding]

Granted, Contax is slow to roll out products. Look how long they waited to launch an AF camera. But they did, finally, and it was quite good. So I'll continue to wait. Besides, the DSLR market is rapidly evolvng. Today's wonder will be as valuable as a paper weight in two years. I'll just add a $600 film scanner into my film work flow and see how the DSLR technology develops. Maybe I'll eventually get a Contax DSLR. But for now, i'll stay with Contax because I like their existing film cameras and lenses.

i've had my share of contax cams as well, N1, Aria, RX and a whole
bunch of lenses....i was happy w them in the film days, the
contrast, the color, sharpness may be the best of them all, but w
the advent of digital bodies, i had to decide to migrate to
canon...no regrets here since canon is currently the leader in CMOS
DSLR bodies and the glass isn't too shabby either...if i'm
nostalgic, i can pull out my G1 and its wonderful lenses and shoot
B+W or shoot colors for fun...
Sorry but Contax may be too late coming to the party, the N1
digital was a flop basically and their posh p&s are just 2
expensive for the features (or lack of) they offer...even Leica is
doing better by partnering w Panasonic
I wish them lots of luck in the comeback trail if any...what they
should do is concentrate on special niche markets like a digital
G,or digital back for the 645...they just can't compete in the DSLR
market imho....even the big N is struggling here...or they can join
the 4/3 group ;-))

 

[yUsKe]

Yep, I'm using a CanoScan FS4000 scanner at the moment and love the results but as you say workflow is crippled!?

Yuske

i've had my share of contax cams as well, N1, Aria, RX and a whole
bunch of lenses....i was happy w them in the film days, the
contrast, the color, sharpness may be the best of them all, but w
the advent of digital bodies, i had to decide to migrate to
canon...no regrets here since canon is currently the leader in CMOS
DSLR bodies and the glass isn't too shabby either...if i'm
nostalgic, i can pull out my G1 and its wonderful lenses and shoot
B+W or shoot colors for fun...
Sorry but Contax may be too late coming to the party, the N1
digital was a flop basically and their posh p&s are just 2
expensive for the features (or lack of) they offer...even Leica is
doing better by partnering w Panasonic
I wish them lots of luck in the comeback trail if any...what they
should do is concentrate on special niche markets like a digital
G,or digital back for the 645...they just can't compete in the DSLR
market imho....even the big N is struggling here...or they can join
the 4/3 group ;-))

 

[RBudding]

I'd describe the workflow as more involved, not really as crippled. Not a big deal, though, since I'm an amateuer and don't shoot a tremendous volume. But the results are very nice and the incremental investment was small (I picked up a nice refurbed Olympus P400 for $167.50 on eBay from the Olympus eBay store and am eying a Nikon Coolscan V).

Yuske

i've had my share of contax cams as well, N1, Aria, RX and a whole
bunch of lenses....i was happy w them in the film days, the
contrast, the color, sharpness may be the best of them all, but w
the advent of digital bodies, i had to decide to migrate to
canon...no regrets here since canon is currently the leader in CMOS
DSLR bodies and the glass isn't too shabby either...if i'm
nostalgic, i can pull out my G1 and its wonderful lenses and shoot
B+W or shoot colors for fun...
Sorry but Contax may be too late coming to the party, the N1
digital was a flop basically and their posh p&s are just 2
expensive for the features (or lack of) they offer...even Leica is
doing better by partnering w Panasonic
I wish them lots of luck in the comeback trail if any...what they
should do is concentrate on special niche markets like a digital
G,or digital back for the 645...they just can't compete in the DSLR
market imho....even the big N is struggling here...or they can join
the 4/3 group ;-))

 

[yUsKe]

No, you're quite right, I shouldn't have said workflow was "crippled" but perhaps should have described it as "workSLOW"!?

Yuske

Yuske

i've had my share of contax cams as well, N1, Aria, RX and a whole
bunch of lenses....i was happy w them in the film days, the
contrast, the color, sharpness may be the best of them all, but w
the advent of digital bodies, i had to decide to migrate to
canon...no regrets here since canon is currently the leader in CMOS
DSLR bodies and the glass isn't too shabby either...if i'm
nostalgic, i can pull out my G1 and its wonderful lenses and shoot
B+W or shoot colors for fun...
Sorry but Contax may be too late coming to the party, the N1
digital was a flop basically and their posh p&s are just 2
expensive for the features (or lack of) they offer...even Leica is
doing better by partnering w Panasonic
I wish them lots of luck in the comeback trail if any...what they
should do is concentrate on special niche markets like a digital
G,or digital back for the 645...they just can't compete in the DSLR
market imho....even the big N is struggling here...or they can join
the 4/3 group ;-))

 

[ricardo franca]

Hi, I read at contaxinfo.com that Bob Shell an adapter producer said it could not be done.
--
regards,
ricardo frança

 

[ricardo franca]

Hi, I have been using the Contax MM system since 1994...

It does the job nicely as I don't need AF nor flash nor autometering. It has a great vfinder, handles beautifully and is solid as a rock, lenses are unobtrosive if a bit heavy but quality is great. And you can get great prints from either kind of film...
If it works for you, then why the stress?

It's mad how people are so desperate for the latest or first dslr of this or that camera manufacturer - it's sick!

If you're a pro and you need digital, you can get any dslr anytime and upgrade every year.

If you're not a pro, do you just want a new toy - it'll just be outdated in a year, and then what? Grow up...
Well, it's your money, not mine.
--
regards,
ricardo frança

 

[yUsKe]

Hey Ricardo,

If the rest of the world thought and behaved like you then the camera makers would be out of business wouldn't they!? Tech advances in all products generate interest and hopefully demand...it's basic human nature.

With regards to your comment that "Pros" can update at will is a gross generalisation: for every Liebowitz or Testino there must be hundreds, if not thousands, of pros that are struggling to make a half-decent living. For them the decision to go digital is often forced on them by clients and represents a large capital outlay not to mention being stuck with a fast-depreciating asset?!

Perhaps you have your own darkroom, but I imagine that most amateurs neither have the space nor inclination to do so. For them digital allows the darkroom to be brought to the desktop...I think this is the most significant aspect of this revolution which has got the world so excited. Just think of the money people are now saving not having to send their film to a professional lab (and that's if you live near one)...not to mention just how much FUN it is to have so much control over your final image. A film scanner is a compromise but you know how long a process that can be?!

Finally, with regards to your question of whether I need a DSLR, the answer is definitely yes, as I am working to become a fashion photographer. But as you've read before I'm knee-deep in the N-System as well as MM/AE and have some hard decisions to make with respect to Digital. My original post was to guage the situation regarding others in my situation (to which I received some good answers and advice) and not to moan about which DSLR I "had to have" for the sake of having the latest gear.

Maybe the next time you tell others to "grow up" you can spare a moment to consider what their situation may be...it may not fall into one of your neat categories!?

Yuske

Hi, I have been using the Contax MM system since 1994...
It does the job nicely as I don't need AF nor flash nor
autometering. It has a great vfinder, handles beautifully and is
solid as a rock, lenses are unobtrosive if a bit heavy but quality
is great. And you can get great prints from either kind of film...
If it works for you, then why the stress?
It's mad how people are so desperate for the latest or first dslr
of this or that camera manufacturer - it's sick!
If you're a pro and you need digital, you can get any dslr anytime
and upgrade every year.
If you're not a pro, do you just want a new toy - it'll just be
outdated in a year, and then what? Grow up...
Well, it's your money, not mine.
--
regards,
ricardo frança

 

[f2zoom]

Hey Ricardo,

If the rest of the world thought and behaved like you then the
camera makers would be out of business wouldn't they!? Tech
advances in all products generate interest and hopefully
demand...it's basic human nature.

With regards to your comment that "Pros" can update at will is a
gross generalisation: for every Liebowitz or Testino there must be
hundreds, if not thousands, of pros that are struggling to make a
half-decent living. For them the decision to go digital is often
forced on them by clients and represents a large capital outlay not
to mention being stuck with a fast-depreciating asset?!

Perhaps you have your own darkroom, but I imagine that most
amateurs neither have the space nor inclination to do so. For them
digital allows the darkroom to be brought to the desktop...I think
this is the most significant aspect of this revolution which has
got the world so excited. Just think of the money people are now
saving not having to send their film to a professional lab (and
that's if you live near one)...not to mention just how much FUN it
is to have so much control over your final image. A film scanner is
a compromise but you know how long a process that can be?!

Finally, with regards to your question of whether I need a DSLR,
the answer is definitely yes, as I am working to become a fashion
photographer. But as you've read before I'm knee-deep in the
N-System as well as MM/AE and have some hard decisions to make with
respect to Digital. My original post was to guage the situation
regarding others in my situation (to which I received some good
answers and advice) and not to moan about which DSLR I "had to
have" for the sake of having the latest gear.

Maybe the next time you tell others to "grow up" you can spare a
moment to consider what their situation may be...it may not fall
into one of your neat categories!?

It's mad how people are so desperate for the latest or first dslr
of this or that camera manufacturer - it's sick!
If you're a pro and you need digital, you can get any dslr anytime
and upgrade every year.
If you're not a pro, do you just want a new toy - it'll just be
outdated in a year, and then what? Grow up...
Well, it's your money, not mine.

Yuske

You have my sympathy! I received the same "creative advice" when I suggested on the Minolta forum that KM go "all out" and give us a FF DSLR.

And I can't begin to imagine how frustrated you, and your fellow Contax users must be, having migrated from MM to N, with the explicit commitment from Contax to provide you with a FF DSLR. And then to dangle the N Digital in front of you, only to pull it back, with no apparent followup.

Having tried Contax equipment -- MF as well as 35mm -- my sense is that the company is committed to absolute perfection -- just look at the published tests for their lenses, G series through 4.5x6 -- and if the intended product falls short of that target, they won't produce it!

IMHO, if Contax produces (another) DSLR, it will be FF, and will serioously rival the performance of the EOS D1s.

BTW, would you be satisfied with a sub-FF offering from Contax?

 

[RBudding]

I'll jump in, since I'm a Contax user, too.

I would accept a DSLR with a sensor smaller than full frame, as long as development work on the FF camera were to continue. That way Contax would have offerings at different price points.

Hey Ricardo,

If the rest of the world thought and behaved like you then the
camera makers would be out of business wouldn't they!? Tech
advances in all products generate interest and hopefully
demand...it's basic human nature.

With regards to your comment that "Pros" can update at will is a
gross generalisation: for every Liebowitz or Testino there must be
hundreds, if not thousands, of pros that are struggling to make a
half-decent living. For them the decision to go digital is often
forced on them by clients and represents a large capital outlay not
to mention being stuck with a fast-depreciating asset?!

Perhaps you have your own darkroom, but I imagine that most
amateurs neither have the space nor inclination to do so. For them
digital allows the darkroom to be brought to the desktop...I think
this is the most significant aspect of this revolution which has
got the world so excited. Just think of the money people are now
saving not having to send their film to a professional lab (and
that's if you live near one)...not to mention just how much FUN it
is to have so much control over your final image. A film scanner is
a compromise but you know how long a process that can be?!

Finally, with regards to your question of whether I need a DSLR,
the answer is definitely yes, as I am working to become a fashion
photographer. But as you've read before I'm knee-deep in the
N-System as well as MM/AE and have some hard decisions to make with
respect to Digital. My original post was to guage the situation
regarding others in my situation (to which I received some good
answers and advice) and not to moan about which DSLR I "had to
have" for the sake of having the latest gear.

Maybe the next time you tell others to "grow up" you can spare a
moment to consider what their situation may be...it may not fall
into one of your neat categories!?

It's mad how people are so desperate for the latest or first dslr
of this or that camera manufacturer - it's sick!
If you're a pro and you need digital, you can get any dslr anytime
and upgrade every year.
If you're not a pro, do you just want a new toy - it'll just be
outdated in a year, and then what? Grow up...
Well, it's your money, not mine.

Yuske
You have my sympathy! I received the same "creative advice" when I
suggested on the Minolta forum that KM go "all out" and give us a
FF DSLR.

And I can't begin to imagine how frustrated you, and your fellow
Contax users must be, having migrated from MM to N, with the
explicit commitment from Contax to provide you with a FF DSLR. And
then to dangle the N Digital in front of you, only to pull it back,
with no apparent followup.

Having tried Contax equipment -- MF as well as 35mm -- my sense is
that the company is committed to absolute perfection -- just look
at the published tests for their lenses, G series through 4.5x6 --
and if the intended product falls short of that target, they won't
produce it!

IMHO, if Contax produces (another) DSLR, it will be FF, and will
serioously rival the performance of the EOS D1s.

BTW, would you be satisfied with a sub-FF offering from Contax?

 

[yUsKe]

f2zoom,

Thanks for your support. Yes, I would definitely buy into a sub-FF Contax body that supported the N-System. Of course a NDII would be the ideal solution but I'd definitely settle in the meantime with a sensor in the order of x1.3-1.6

Time is working against me at the moment and so I'm contemplating another system for now: basically a 6MP sub-FF that's been out for a couple of years with a price that's come lower (as compared to when it was released) and hopefully levelled off somewhat (10D/D100??), so that when Contax eventually offer a new N-digital body, I can make the switch without taking too much of a hit?!

Hopeful I know, but then again I've always seen the glass as "Half Full" and not "Half Empty"!

All the best,
Yuske

Hey Ricardo,

If the rest of the world thought and behaved like you then the
camera makers would be out of business wouldn't they!? Tech
advances in all products generate interest and hopefully
demand...it's basic human nature.

With regards to your comment that "Pros" can update at will is a
gross generalisation: for every Liebowitz or Testino there must be
hundreds, if not thousands, of pros that are struggling to make a
half-decent living. For them the decision to go digital is often
forced on them by clients and represents a large capital outlay not
to mention being stuck with a fast-depreciating asset?!

Perhaps you have your own darkroom, but I imagine that most
amateurs neither have the space nor inclination to do so. For them
digital allows the darkroom to be brought to the desktop...I think
this is the most significant aspect of this revolution which has
got the world so excited. Just think of the money people are now
saving not having to send their film to a professional lab (and
that's if you live near one)...not to mention just how much FUN it
is to have so much control over your final image. A film scanner is
a compromise but you know how long a process that can be?!

Finally, with regards to your question of whether I need a DSLR,
the answer is definitely yes, as I am working to become a fashion
photographer. But as you've read before I'm knee-deep in the
N-System as well as MM/AE and have some hard decisions to make with
respect to Digital. My original post was to guage the situation
regarding others in my situation (to which I received some good
answers and advice) and not to moan about which DSLR I "had to
have" for the sake of having the latest gear.

Maybe the next time you tell others to "grow up" you can spare a
moment to consider what their situation may be...it may not fall
into one of your neat categories!?

It's mad how people are so desperate for the latest or first dslr
of this or that camera manufacturer - it's sick!
If you're a pro and you need digital, you can get any dslr anytime
and upgrade every year.
If you're not a pro, do you just want a new toy - it'll just be
outdated in a year, and then what? Grow up...
Well, it's your money, not mine.

Yuske
You have my sympathy! I received the same "creative advice" when I
suggested on the Minolta forum that KM go "all out" and give us a
FF DSLR.

And I can't begin to imagine how frustrated you, and your fellow
Contax users must be, having migrated from MM to N, with the
explicit commitment from Contax to provide you with a FF DSLR. And
then to dangle the N Digital in front of you, only to pull it back,
with no apparent followup.

Having tried Contax equipment -- MF as well as 35mm -- my sense is
that the company is committed to absolute perfection -- just look
at the published tests for their lenses, G series through 4.5x6 --
and if the intended product falls short of that target, they won't
produce it!

IMHO, if Contax produces (another) DSLR, it will be FF, and will
serioously rival the performance of the EOS D1s.

BTW, would you be satisfied with a sub-FF offering from Contax?

 

[Dirk Seffern]

Wait til Photokina this year before you invest any money in a DSLR.

If Contax will come with a new DSLR, then this would be the right timing. I do not think that there will be anything beforehand and if they wait longer than Photokina, it will be too late anyway.

But there are some signs of turnaround in the attitude of Kyocera. The new limited edition of the Contax SL300R with the signature of the contaxinfo forum on it is at least an indication for hope.

Look at the news section of http://www.camera-info.com for more information:

http://camera-info.com/news/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=29&Itemid=2

 

[ricardo franca]

Hi, Yuske,
I guess my reply sounded agressive but that wasn't my intention... Sorry.

If the rest of the world thought and behaved like you then the
camera makers would be out of business wouldn't they!? Tech
advances in all products generate interest and hopefully
demand...it's basic human nature.

The question is, do you need them? If you do then go ahead...buy. I really mean it - some of my colleagues were forced to go digital, they're well established and still they went digicam, not dslr - what a fever :^).

With regards to your comment that "Pros" can update at will is a
gross generalisation: for every Liebowitz or Testino there must be
hundreds, if not thousands, of pros that are struggling to make a
half-decent living. For them the decision to go digital is often
forced on them by clients and represents a large capital outlay not
to mention being stuck with a fast-depreciating asset?!

There are pro's who need the new tech and those > usually

The others are still using film in their old F801s or F100s, or their Leica M's, or their Bronicas, their Pentaxes and their Hasselblads, etc. Even their Contaxes :^).

Perhaps you have your own darkroom, but I imagine that most
amateurs neither have the space nor inclination to do so. For them
digital allows the darkroom to be brought to the desktop...I think
this is the most significant aspect of this revolution which has
got the world so excited. Just think of the money people are now
saving not having to send their film to a professional lab (and
that's if you live near one)...not to mention just how much FUN it
is to have so much control over your final image. A film scanner is
a compromise but you know how long a process that can be?!

I still believe all the money their saving from not using film is still not enough to cover all the expenses...

Let's see: decent 19' display + calibrator, fast pc with 1gb ram, one or two high capacity hard disks, dvd burner plus dvds, adobe photoshop + dslr (can you compare performance of a D100 with that of an F100) + a couple of 1gb cf cards + spare battery(s) + high capacity digital wallet, photo quality printer + ink cartriges paper - how can you say it's cheaper?

And then with fil you upgrade only from provia 100 to 100f (for example), no cost involved as with dslrs you have to get the whole thing - and in one year you spend $3000 for a camera that's worse than nexts years $2000 one, that's worse and twice more expensive than the equivalent film camera... Talk about saving!!!

Finally, with regards to your question of whether I need a DSLR,
the answer is definitely yes, as I am working to become a fashion
photographer. But as you've read before I'm knee-deep in the
N-System as well as MM/AE and have some hard decisions to make with
respect to Digital. My original post was to guage the situation
regarding others in my situation (to which I received some good
answers and advice) and not to moan about which DSLR I "had to
have" for the sake of having the latest gear.

My advice is that you go either to Canon or Nikon: no other manufacturer is able to develop it's tech as much as them end they're costantly producing new lenses...

Contax 35mm systems aren't really suited to photographers that need high tech or high speed. And their cameras are too expensive to replace whenever some new tech shows up.

You could try going for a 2nd hand 645 system that allows you to upgrade the digiback but it's extremely expensive and from what you're telling me, you're not yet making that much...

Maybe the next time you tell others to "grow up" you can spare a
moment to consider what their situation may be...it may not fall
into one of your neat categories!

I wasn't really addressing you. On the other hand most visitors (moaners, fellow nians, etc.) to these forums...well.

Your position is really a very delicate one and I'm not even sure I can joke about, you know.

There's nothing worse than starting with the wrong system - I really simpathise with you.

I hope it works out in the end...If you want 35mm, then Canon or Nikon/Fuji/Kodak is the way, not Contax.
Good luck,
Ricardo

--
regards,
ricardo frança

 

[RBudding]

If you need it now, then I agree with Ricardo: get a Nikon or Canon. Contax will eventually come out with an awesome DSLR, but it may take a while. However, I expect them to be there with a solid offering as the technology matures. I guess that's how it is with a smaller camera division that has perfectionist tendencies!

If the rest of the world thought and behaved like you then the
camera makers would be out of business wouldn't they!? Tech
advances in all products generate interest and hopefully
demand...it's basic human nature.

The question is, do you need them? If you do then go ahead...buy. I
really mean it - some of my colleagues were forced to go digital,
they're well established and still they went digicam, not dslr -
what a fever :^).

With regards to your comment that "Pros" can update at will is a
gross generalisation: for every Liebowitz or Testino there must be
hundreds, if not thousands, of pros that are struggling to make a
half-decent living. For them the decision to go digital is often
forced on them by clients and represents a large capital outlay not
to mention being stuck with a fast-depreciating asset?!

There are pro's who need the new tech and those > usually
afford it - though I think that most press photography is still
using film, at least in Europe.
The others are still using film in their old F801s or F100s, or
their Leica M's, or their Bronicas, their Pentaxes and their
Hasselblads, etc. Even their Contaxes :^).

Perhaps you have your own darkroom, but I imagine that most
amateurs neither have the space nor inclination to do so. For them
digital allows the darkroom to be brought to the desktop...I think
this is the most significant aspect of this revolution which has
got the world so excited. Just think of the money people are now
saving not having to send their film to a professional lab (and
that's if you live near one)...not to mention just how much FUN it
is to have so much control over your final image. A film scanner is
a compromise but you know how long a process that can be?!

I still believe all the money their saving from not using film is
still not enough to cover all the expenses...

Let's see: decent 19' display + calibrator, fast pc with 1gb ram,
one or two high capacity hard disks, dvd burner plus dvds, adobe
photoshop + dslr (can you compare performance of a D100 with that
of an F100) + a couple of 1gb cf cards + spare battery(s) + high
capacity digital wallet, photo quality printer + ink cartriges
paper - how can you say it's cheaper?
And then with fil you upgrade only from provia 100 to 100f (for
example), no cost involved as with dslrs you have to get the whole
thing - and in one year you spend $3000 for a camera that's worse
than nexts years $2000 one, that's worse and twice more expensive
than the equivalent film camera... Talk about saving!!!

Finally, with regards to your question of whether I need a DSLR,
the answer is definitely yes, as I am working to become a fashion
photographer. But as you've read before I'm knee-deep in the
N-System as well as MM/AE and have some hard decisions to make with
respect to Digital. My original post was to guage the situation
regarding others in my situation (to which I received some good
answers and advice) and not to moan about which DSLR I "had to
have" for the sake of having the latest gear.

My advice is that you go either to Canon or Nikon: no other
manufacturer is able to develop it's tech as much as them end
they're costantly producing new lenses...
Contax 35mm systems aren't really suited to photographers that need
high tech or high speed. And their cameras are too expensive to
replace whenever some new tech shows up.
You could try going for a 2nd hand 645 system that allows you to
upgrade the digiback but it's extremely expensive and from what
you're telling me, you're not yet making that much...

Maybe the next time you tell others to "grow up" you can spare a
moment to consider what their situation may be...it may not fall
into one of your neat categories!

I wasn't really addressing you. On the other hand most visitors
(moaners, fellow nians, etc.) to these forums...well.
Your position is really a very delicate one and I'm not even sure I
can joke about, you know.
There's nothing worse than starting with the wrong system - I
really simpathise with you.
I hope it works out in the end...If you want 35mm, then Canon or
Nikon/Fuji/Kodak is the way, not Contax.
Good luck,
Ricardo

--
regards,
ricardo frança

 

[yUsKe]

Thanks Ricardo, appreciate the thoughtful response...Yuske

If the rest of the world thought and behaved like you then the
camera makers would be out of business wouldn't they!? Tech
advances in all products generate interest and hopefully
demand...it's basic human nature.

The question is, do you need them? If you do then go ahead...buy. I
really mean it - some of my colleagues were forced to go digital,
they're well established and still they went digicam, not dslr -
what a fever :^).

With regards to your comment that "Pros" can update at will is a
gross generalisation: for every Liebowitz or Testino there must be
hundreds, if not thousands, of pros that are struggling to make a
half-decent living. For them the decision to go digital is often
forced on them by clients and represents a large capital outlay not
to mention being stuck with a fast-depreciating asset?!

There are pro's who need the new tech and those > usually
afford it - though I think that most press photography is still
using film, at least in Europe.
The others are still using film in their old F801s or F100s, or
their Leica M's, or their Bronicas, their Pentaxes and their
Hasselblads, etc. Even their Contaxes :^).

Perhaps you have your own darkroom, but I imagine that most
amateurs neither have the space nor inclination to do so. For them
digital allows the darkroom to be brought to the desktop...I think
this is the most significant aspect of this revolution which has
got the world so excited. Just think of the money people are now
saving not having to send their film to a professional lab (and
that's if you live near one)...not to mention just how much FUN it
is to have so much control over your final image. A film scanner is
a compromise but you know how long a process that can be?!

I still believe all the money their saving from not using film is
still not enough to cover all the expenses...

Let's see: decent 19' display + calibrator, fast pc with 1gb ram,
one or two high capacity hard disks, dvd burner plus dvds, adobe
photoshop + dslr (can you compare performance of a D100 with that
of an F100) + a couple of 1gb cf cards + spare battery(s) + high
capacity digital wallet, photo quality printer + ink cartriges
paper - how can you say it's cheaper?
And then with fil you upgrade only from provia 100 to 100f (for
example), no cost involved as with dslrs you have to get the whole
thing - and in one year you spend $3000 for a camera that's worse
than nexts years $2000 one, that's worse and twice more expensive
than the equivalent film camera... Talk about saving!!!

Finally, with regards to your question of whether I need a DSLR,
the answer is definitely yes, as I am working to become a fashion
photographer. But as you've read before I'm knee-deep in the
N-System as well as MM/AE and have some hard decisions to make with
respect to Digital. My original post was to guage the situation
regarding others in my situation (to which I received some good
answers and advice) and not to moan about which DSLR I "had to
have" for the sake of having the latest gear.

My advice is that you go either to Canon or Nikon: no other
manufacturer is able to develop it's tech as much as them end
they're costantly producing new lenses...
Contax 35mm systems aren't really suited to photographers that need
high tech or high speed. And their cameras are too expensive to
replace whenever some new tech shows up.
You could try going for a 2nd hand 645 system that allows you to
upgrade the digiback but it's extremely expensive and from what
you're telling me, you're not yet making that much...

Maybe the next time you tell others to "grow up" you can spare a
moment to consider what their situation may be...it may not fall
into one of your neat categories!

I wasn't really addressing you. On the other hand most visitors
(moaners, fellow nians, etc.) to these forums...well.
Your position is really a very delicate one and I'm not even sure I
can joke about, you know.
There's nothing worse than starting with the wrong system - I
really simpathise with you.
I hope it works out in the end...If you want 35mm, then Canon or
Nikon/Fuji/Kodak is the way, not Contax.
Good luck,
Ricardo

--
regards,
ricardo frança