Contax began as a camera model in the Zeiss Ikon line in 1932, and later became a brand name.
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14 Facts About Contax
2.
The final products under the Contax name were a line of 35 mm, medium format, and digital cameras engineered and manufactured by Japanese multinational Kyocera, and featuring modern Zeiss optics.
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3.
The rights to the brand are currently part of Carl Zeiss AG, but no Contax cameras are currently in production, and the brand is considered dormant.
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4.
An alliance was then formed with Yashica, and a new line of Contax single-lens reflex cameras was born, starting from the RTS of 1975.
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5.
In contrast to the contemporary Leica which was evolved from its original concept into a photographic system, the Contax was designed as the heart of a photographic system from the start.
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6.
Contax I had six identifiable variants, but fundamentally identical; every aspect was designed to be better than the Leica.
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7.
Since the Contax was produced at the Dresden works before the war, the new Zeiss Ikon firm in Stuttgart did not have the tools to recommence production.
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8.
Since a larger lens mount would be desirable, the Contax S adopted a screw mount of M42X1mm specification, which was to become the de facto industry standard.
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9.
When introduced in 1949, the Contax S was not marked as such, only "Contax", but increasing pressure from the new Zeiss Ikon company in Stuttgart induced Zeiss Ikon in Dresden to progressively abandon the use of the established trademark and names.
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10.
Contax name was revived in 1975 after the production of the Contax rangefinder cameras ended in Stuttgart more than a decade before.
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11.
The Contax NX was the prosumer 35mm model for advanced-amateur photographers, while the N1 was aimed at professional users.
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12.
Contax did sell an adapter allowing lenses from their 645 medium format system to be used on N bodies.
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13.
Original series of lenses for Contax were mainly new designs by Ludwig Bertele, under the Sonnar name which was previously used by Contessa-Nettel.
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14.
G-series Contax models used a unique bayonet mount offering auto-focus coupling mechanism.
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