Contax is NOT Dead

RichA wrote:

 >
 >
 > The originating website owner can be sued for this.
 > -Rich


I asked dpreview about it. Their (less than detailed) reply is at the
bottom...


  > -----Original Message-----
  > From: AlanBrowne [mailto:alan.browne@videotron.ca]
  > Sent: 09 March 2005 03:35
  > To: feedback.DeleteThis@dpreview.com
  > Subject: DPR Feedback: Admin (feedback-general)
  >
  > Comments:
  >
  > Your 'news' item:
<font color=purple>  > <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.dpreview.com/news/0503/05030301kyocera.asp</font" target="_blank">http://www.dpreview.com/news/0503/05030301kyocera.asp</font</a>>
  >
  > Seems to be in conflict with:
<font color=purple>  > <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.kyoceraimaging.com/docs/tocad_press_release.pdf</font" target="_blank">http://www.kyoceraimaging.com/docs/tocad_press_release.pdf</font</a>>
  >
  > Did you verify with Contax/Kyocera?
  >
  > Cheers,
  > Alan

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: RE: DPR Feedback: Admin (feedback-general)
Date: Wed, 09 Mar 2005 11:14:13 +0000
From: Feedback Admin <feedback.DeleteThis@dpreview.com>
Organization: dpreview.com
To: 'AlanBrowne' <alan.browne.DeleteThis@videotron.ca>

We had it from the horses mouth.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Contax is NOT Dead 

I have asked the Kyocera spokesman for a more detailed response. I'll let
you know if I get one.

BTW, when I asked, dpreview simply referred me to the British Photography
article. That article claims to have spoken to a Kyocera spokesman.

Walt

"Alan Browne" <alan.browne RemoveThis @FreeLunchVideotron.ca> wrote in message
news:8YDXd.88206$Ag3.2260413@wagner.videotron.net...
 > RichA wrote:
 >
  >>
  >>
  >> The originating website owner can be sued for this.
  >> -Rich
 >
 >
 > I asked dpreview about it. Their (less than detailed) reply is at the
 > bottom...
 >
 >
  > > -----Original Message-----
  > > From: AlanBrowne [mailto:alan.browne@videotron.ca]
  > > Sent: 09 March 2005 03:35
  > > To: feedback RemoveThis @dpreview.com
  > > Subject: DPR Feedback: Admin (feedback-general)
  > >
  > > Comments:
  > >
  > > Your 'news' item:
<font color=green>  > > <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.dpreview.com/news/0503/05030301kyocera.asp</font" target="_blank">http://www.dpreview.com/news/0503/05030301kyocera.asp</font</a>>
  > >
  > > Seems to be in conflict with:
<font color=green>  > > <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.kyoceraimaging.com/docs/tocad_press_release.pdf</font" target="_blank">http://www.kyoceraimaging.com/docs/tocad_press_release.pdf</font</a>>
  > >
  > > Did you verify with Contax/Kyocera?
  > >
  > > Cheers,
  > > Alan
 >
 > -------- Original Message --------
 > Subject: RE: DPR Feedback: Admin (feedback-general)
 > Date: Wed, 09 Mar 2005 11:14:13 +0000
 > From: Feedback Admin <feedback RemoveThis @dpreview.com>
 > Organization: dpreview.com
 > To: 'AlanBrowne' <alan.browne RemoveThis @videotron.ca>
 >
 > We had it from the horses mouth.
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Contax is NOT Dead 

"Walt Hanks" <walthanks RemoveThis @comcast.net> wrote in message
news:_c6dnfYxU9DgmLPfRVn-rg@comcast.com...
 > Here is a statement I received today from Kyocera's PR office:.
 >
 > *******************
 > Dear Sir,
 >
 > No the info on the web is not correct. If you go to
<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.kyoceraimaging.com" target="_blank">www.kyoceraimaging.com</a>
 > on the home page there is a press release dated February 20th describing
 > what should have be stated on the web. The info quoted on the web is
 > incorrect and we are working to have the correct info posted.
 >
 > Thank you,
 >
 > Nick Cheremsak
 >
 > *******************
 > The release announces the appointment of ToCad as the exclusive
distributor
 > of Contax and indicates that Kyocera is committed to focusing on Contax as
 > their primary digital imaging line.
 >
 > Sometimes it pays to go to the horses mouth.


Or it could simply be that they want to keep the matter quiet until the
existing stock of Contax cameras is sold, since they realize that few people
are interested in buying into soon-to-be discontinued products at premium
prices. It's not paranoia, either: If someone told me that a particular GM
car sucked, the last thing I'd think of doing is calling up GM and asking if
the rumor was true.

Sometimes it's not the horse's *mouth* you end up talking to.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Contax is NOT Dead 

"George" <nowhere.RemoveThis@newsonly.com> wrote in news:Y4oXd.4072$2d4.351@fe03.lga:

 > That is good news. I'd hate to see a quality brand go down the tubes...

Whats in a brand name?

I mean - a company does not make better cameras by using an old
brand name they have bought.


/Roland<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Contax is NOT Dead 

In article <GeCdnS2MK9ubz7LfRVn-jA RemoveThis @comcast.com>,
"Paul H." <xxpaulhtck RemoveThis @zzcomcast.yycom> wrote:

 > they want to keep the matter quiet until the
 > existing stock of Contax cameras is sold,

How do you think this can be accomplished today?

In the USA they have changed distributors. The new distributor, Tocad,
had a table full of new product PR at the PMA Sneak Peak last month and
a booth full of product and a new sales force. That means they plan on
selling something.

The old distributor no longer has a photo sales force or sales
management for photo. What can they sell?

If a product is introduced anywhere in the world today it is on the
internet before it is even introduced to the company's local sales
force. It is almost impossible to keep new product quiet once it has
been introduced anywhere. And no company wants to sit with no sales
waiting for old product to disappear. They can always make loads of
merchandise move by just offering it on QVC or HSC.

--
To reply no_ HPMarketing Corp.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Contax is NOT Dead 

"Darrell" <dev/null> wrote in message
news:6NSdnU55Guezi7PfRVn-ig@rogers.com...
 >
 > "George" <nowhere RemoveThis @newsonly.com> wrote in message
 > news:Y4oXd.4072$2d4.351@fe03.lga...
 >
   > > > The release announces the appointment of ToCad as the exclusive
  > > distributor
   > > >
   > > > of Contax and indicates that Kyocera is committed to focusing on
Contax
 > as
   > > > their primary digital imaging line.
   > > >
   > > > Sometimes it pays to go to the horses mouth.
   > > >
   > > > Walt Hanks
   > > >
   > > >
  > >
  > > That is good news. I'd hate to see a quality brand go down the tubes...
  > >
  > > George
  > >
 > It's just a name, there hasn't been a Contax for years.
 >
 >
 >

I'd say Kyocero has kept up the brand name quite well. The lens line hasn't
suffered and they
have addressed film flatness better than any other manufacturer. I'm not
lamenting that 1940s
German rangefinders named "Contax" aren't being made...I just want to see as
many quality
minded companies hang around as it is good whether you own that particular
brand or not.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Contax is NOT Dead 

"Alan Browne" <alan.browne DeleteThis @FreeLunchVideotron.ca> wrote in message
news:WYDXd.88231
[SNIP]
 >
 > I asked dpreview about it. Their (less than detailed) reply is at the
 > bottom...
 >
[SNIP]
 >
 > -------- Original Message --------
 > Subject: RE: DPR Feedback: Admin (feedback-general)
 > Date: Wed, 09 Mar 2005 11:14:13 +0000
 > From: Feedback Admin <feedback DeleteThis @dpreview.com>
 > Organization: dpreview.com
 > To: 'AlanBrowne' <alan.browne DeleteThis @videotron.ca>
 >
 > We had it from the horses mouth.

And we're sure that DPreview can definitely tell one end of a horse from the
other?





Peter<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Contax is NOT Dead 

In rec.photo.equipment.35mm George <nowhere.DeleteThis@newsonly.com> wrote:

 > I'd say Kyocero has kept up the brand name quite well. The lens line
 > hasn't suffered and they have addressed film flatness better than
 > any other manufacturer. I'm not lamenting that 1940s German rangefinders
 > named Contax are [gone] I just want to see many quality-minded companies
 > hang around...

Yup, look at the position of Contax/Zeiss lenses in the photozone.de
AF SLR lens test guide <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://photozone.de/2Equipment/easytxt.htm" target="_blank">http://photozone.de/2Equipment/easytxt.htm</a> :

#1 Ultra Wide-angle zooms, f/2.8 17-35mm
#1 Slow speed Wide-angle zooms, 3.5-4.5 24-85mm
#2 Slow speed Wide-angle zooms, 3.5-4.5 28-70mm
#3 Tele zooms out to 210mm, 3.5-4.5 70-200mm
#3 Tele zooms out to 300/320mm, 4-5.6 70-300mm<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Contax is NOT Dead 

"Bob Salomon" <bob_salomon.DeleteThis@mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:bob_salomon-BD0064.16233009032005@news.isp.giganews.com...
 > In article <GeCdnS2MK9ubz7LfRVn-jA.DeleteThis@comcast.com>,
 > "Paul H." <xxpaulhtck.DeleteThis@zzcomcast.yycom> wrote:
 >
  > > they want to keep the matter quiet until the
  > > existing stock of Contax cameras is sold,
 >
 > How do you think this can be accomplished today?
 >
 > In the USA they have changed distributors. The new distributor, Tocad,
 > had a table full of new product PR at the PMA Sneak Peak last month and
 > a booth full of product and a new sales force. That means they plan on
 > selling something.
 >
 > The old distributor no longer has a photo sales force or sales
 > management for photo. What can they sell?
 >
 > If a product is introduced anywhere in the world today it is on the
 > internet before it is even introduced to the company's local sales
 > force. It is almost impossible to keep new product quiet once it has
 > been introduced anywhere. And no company wants to sit with no sales
 > waiting for old product to disappear. They can always make loads of
 > merchandise move by just offering it on QVC or HSC.
 >

Next time read the entire thread.

1) No one was talking about the introduction of *new* product.

2) The company whose word was in question was not Tocad, but rather Kyocera

3) You missed my point entirely, which was that no one should automatically
trust the word of a company which has a vested interest in some product in
question. My post OBVIOUSLY had nothing to do with whether the Kyocera
rumor of severing ties with Contax was true or not.

4) If you go to
<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=7859674" target="_blank">http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=7859674</a> , you
will see in a story dated 3/10/05 that Kyocera is indeed ceasing production
of digital cameras, Contax-, Kyocera-branded, or otherwise.

5) The information you provided may be gospel or it may be utter drivel and
no one has any way of knowing which.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Contax is NOT Dead 

In article <2oOdnZjtcZMlka_fRVn-oQ DeleteThis @comcast.com>,
"Paul H." <xxpaulhtck DeleteThis @zzcomcast.yycom> wrote:

 > "Bob Salomon" <bob_salomon DeleteThis @mindspring.com> wrote in message
 > news:bob_salomon-BD0064.16233009032005@news.isp.giganews.com...
  > > In article <GeCdnS2MK9ubz7LfRVn-jA DeleteThis @comcast.com>,
  > > "Paul H." <xxpaulhtck DeleteThis @zzcomcast.yycom> wrote:
  > >
   > > > they want to keep the matter quiet until the
   > > > existing stock of Contax cameras is sold,
  > >
  > > How do you think this can be accomplished today?
  > >
  > > In the USA they have changed distributors. The new distributor, Tocad,
  > > had a table full of new product PR at the PMA Sneak Peak last month and
  > > a booth full of product and a new sales force. That means they plan on
  > > selling something.
  > >
  > > The old distributor no longer has a photo sales force or sales
  > > management for photo. What can they sell?
  > >
  > > If a product is introduced anywhere in the world today it is on the
  > > internet before it is even introduced to the company's local sales
  > > force. It is almost impossible to keep new product quiet once it has
  > > been introduced anywhere. And no company wants to sit with no sales
  > > waiting for old product to disappear. They can always make loads of
  > > merchandise move by just offering it on QVC or HSC.
  > >
 >
 > Next time read the entire thread.
 >
 > 1) No one was talking about the introduction of *new* product.
 >
 > 2) The company whose word was in question was not Tocad, but rather Kyocera
 >
 > 3) You missed my point entirely, which was that no one should automatically
 > trust the word of a company which has a vested interest in some product in
 > question. My post OBVIOUSLY had nothing to do with whether the Kyocera
 > rumor of severing ties with Contax was true or not.
 >
 > 4) If you go to
 > <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=7859674" target="_blank">http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=7859674</a> , you
 > will see in a story dated 3/10/05 that Kyocera is indeed ceasing production
 > of digital cameras, Contax-, Kyocera-branded, or otherwise.
 >
 > 5) The information you provided may be gospel or it may be utter drivel and
 > no one has any way of knowing which.

"no one should automatically trust the word of a company which has a
vested interest in some product in question."

Then who should one take the word of? You quote an article quoting the
company that has a vested interest.

If you want the correct answer to something it is frequently better not
to get it from a major source of rumors like the internet. And it is
very unlikely that a manufacturer is going to inform someone on the
internet about their future before they tell their distributors.

Contax isn't a company as you infer
"Kyocera rumor of severing ties with Contax".

Contax is a brand name developed by Zeiss Ikon and used for their top of
the line rangefinder cameras until Zeiss Ikon Voigtlander went out of
the camera business in the 70's (our company was formed out of the US
division of Zeiss Ikon Voigtlander USA at that time). Contax was also
used as a brand name by the East German manufacturer in the old East
German Dresden factory for an early SLR.

Carl Zeiss, the lens manufacturing division of the Zeiss group, licensed
the Contax name to Yashica who then was acquired by Kyocera.

So Contax is a brand not a company.

--
To reply no_ HPMarketing Corp.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Contax is NOT Dead 

"Bob Salomon" <bob_salomon DeleteThis @mindspring.com> wrote >
 > So Contax is a brand not a company.
 >

But the question is simply this:

If Kyocera has, in fact, shut down production lines, is this the end of the
Contax cameras we are currently familiar with? Is the new distributor just
going to liquidate the existing stock?

If production lines are not running, are we facing the end of the line for
Contax-branded products?<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Contax is NOT Dead 

"Jeremy" <jeremy DeleteThis @nospam.com> wrote in message
news:k_sYd.1461$qW.1159@newsread3.news.atl.earthlink.net...
 >
 > "Bob Salomon" <bob_salomon DeleteThis @mindspring.com> wrote >
  > > So Contax is a brand not a company.
  > >
 >
 > But the question is simply this:
 >
 > If Kyocera has, in fact, shut down production lines, is this the end of
the
 > Contax cameras we are currently familiar with? Is the new distributor
just
 > going to liquidate the existing stock?
 >
 > If production lines are not running, are we facing the end of the line for
 > Contax-branded products?
 >
Or maybe we'll just see Contax braded Sanyo or Samsung product?<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Contax is NOT Dead 

"Darrell" <dev/null> wrote:

 > Or maybe we'll just see Contax braded Sanyo or Samsung product?

Of course not. Cosina will start production soon, but to save costs, they
will outsource the menial work to arsenal.

-- Lassi<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Contax is NOT Dead