Word on the street is...

[Benchista]

that the Contax 645 may possibly rise again like a phoenix at Photokina. We'll see!

[huwevans]

Well, that would be one bright ray of hope on the medium format horizon - let's hope there's some truth to it.

[Done_rundleCams]

that the Contax 645 may possibly rise again like a phoenix at Photokina. We'll see!

Morning Nick,

You have just given hope to a mate of mine in the restoration of faith in humanity....known as Contax .

Cheers,

Jack

[Benchista]

Very unlikely to be badged as Contax, though.

[Benchista]

In fact it looks like Phase One are the favourites to buy the rights to the camera - at least, that's the gossip.

[Done_rundleCams]

In fact it looks like Phase One are the favourites to buy the rights to the camera - at least, that's the gossip.

Thanks Nick,

will pass it along

cheers,

jack

[SteveEM]

Hi..

It cannot be badged Contax, as Kyocera still hold the rights to use the Contax name...and seeing as it is they who buried Contax, I cannot see them continuing the 645, likewise I do not see phase one or anyone else paying Kyocera an awful lot of yen to buy the rights from them...Zeiss seemed to have balked at the idea of buying back the rights they sold in the first place..

[TimF]

In fact it looks like Phase One are the favourites to buy the rights to the camera - at least, that's the gossip.

If so, it wouldn't surprise me. The MF back market does seem to be heading in the direction of buy a back and get the camera for free. In that instance though, Jenoptik (who are part of the Zeiss Empire I believe) would seem as likely a bet surely?

[Benchista]

OK, a slightly fuller version of the story:

Phase One were alledgedly very keen to get their hands on the 645 when Kyocera pulled out of Contax (and as we know, they still have the rights to the Contax name for a while). Kyocera wanted too much money, and no deal could be done. That seems to be pretty well agreed on by those in the know. Other back manufacturers have gone down the route of buying camera makers (such as Hasselblad), so I suspect that it's being viewed less as a way of increasing sales, and more as a way of maintaining market share.
Fast forward a little, and there are whispers around from a number of sources that this camera will be revived after all(there was strongly rumoured to be a Mk II version almost ready for launch when the plug was pulled, and it is a very highly regarded camera by those who have used it) and shown at Photokina). The whispers are somewhat muted on who would do it, but the speculation is logically enough that it would again be Phase One.