Carl Zeiss lenses for your SLR?

[kahheng]

Carl Zeiss to make very interesting announcement soon...... (from DPReview)

This is the way to go if you ask me. I'd like to see Olympus and Leitz doing this as well.

 

[Astin]

Any hints???:think:

 

[kahheng]

Any hints???:think:

We can speculate.

Nikon and Canon mounts will likely be on the list.

It's the right way to go for their company to make more money. They obviously have the lens technology and R&D but no one successful camera company to tie up with.

To succeed, they need to price their lenses competitively though. I see a lot of potential especially if they largely focus on digital specific lenses for 'cropped' frame DSLRs.

Look, Sigma and Tamron have been laughing their way to the bank simply because the DSLR manufacturers (esp. Nikon / Canon) are failing their own users in not coming out with superb affordably priced zooms. They have been filling in the focal lengths that's sorely missing in the manufacturers' own range.

FWIW, Oly has the one-up on most of the other DSLR manufacturers in terms of digital lens quality at not obscene prices for most of their lenses. They should also do the same as Zeiss if you ask me.

 

[ortega]

Zeiss will be sold at a premium, not in the same price range as other 3rd party manufacturers. It's called market positioning, because they can

 

[kahheng]

Zeiss will be sold at a premium, not in the same price range as other 3rd party manufacturers. It's called market positioning, because they can

And that's where they will trip up, if they overdo the premium (I don't doubt they will/should charge more). ;-) The money is in volume business.

Anyway, let's see tomorrow.

 

[ortega]

they could price themselves around the Nikons and canons, there will still be plenty of willing buyers.

Yes we will see tomorrow

 

[sammy888]

Zeiss will be sold at a premium, not in the same price range as other 3rd party manufacturers. It's called market positioning, because they can

But Carl Zeiss lens' standard has dropped or at least is being viewed by critics around the world especially since it was bought over by Sony and manufactured in japan?. The name still has weight but really how long can brand be enough alone to let them price their glass at a premium prices.

 

[nicholas1986]

But Carl Zeiss lens' standard has dropped or at least is being viewed by critics around the world especially since it was bought over by Sony and manufactured in japan?. The name still has weight but really how long can brand be enough alone to let them price their glass at a premium prices.

erm since when did sony buy over zeiss?

 

[XXX Boy]

But Carl Zeiss lens' standard has dropped or at least is being viewed by critics around the world especially since it was bought over by Sony and manufactured in japan?. The name still has weight but really how long can brand be enough alone to let them price their glass at a premium prices.

Are you sure that Carl Zeiss was bought over by Sony??? I really doubt so!!! :dunno:
I dun think Zeiss had dropped in stardard and I believe that it is anytime better than any other Japanese optics manufacturer!

 

[kahheng]

erm since when did sony buy over zeiss?

Sad isn't it? Kids these days only know of Zeiss through Sony products.......

 

[ortega]

The name still has weight but really how long can brand be enough alone to let them price their glass at a premium prices.

Premium price based on name brand :think: let me think

Sony, leica, merc, harley davidson, B&O ... ...

 

[nicholas1986]

Sad isn't it? Kids these days only know of Zeiss through Sony products.......

is there any problem with my quote???... or you read it as 'sony bought over zeiss'

 

[Parchiao]

Sad isn't it? Kids these days only know of Zeiss through Sony products.......

:bsmilie: :bsmilie: :bsmilie:

 

[nikkie]

sony did not buy over zeiss. it's a partnership, a way for zeiss to produce and get their lens out in volumes.. that way, they remain viable as business and relevant as a lens maker.

same case when zeiss partnered Contax/yashica/Kyocera.

 

[kahheng]

is there any problem with my quote???... or you read it as 'sony bought over zeiss'

No. I was actually AGREEING WITH YOU. Touchy touchy....

 

[nicholas1986]

No. I was actually AGREEING WITH YOU. Touchy touchy....

thankyou

 

[kahheng]

sony did not buy over zeiss. it's a partnership, a way for zeiss to produce and get their lens out in volumes.. that way, they remain viable as business and relevant as a lens maker.

same case when zeiss partnered Contax/yashica/Kyocera.

It cuts both ways. For Sony/Kyocera, they get a brand name lens supplier/designer. Adds value to their products through more respectability.

It's often also a necessary thing to do because when it comes to (especially) digital capture, the lens is a key part of the image quality function. Zeiss, Leitz & Schneider have much more expertise in optics than all the big electronic companies - so its just more economical for them to just buy lenses from the optical specialists. Whilst these optical companies may not manufacture the actual lenses used, for them to licence their name out, they'd have a lot of input over design and QC.

Frankly, Sony should buy out Zeiss and Panasonic, Leica (if not already, at least be large shareholders). That way, they can be in control of the respective suppliers of key optical components for their digicams and digicamcorders. Of course, that's just my thinking. It's not necessarily good for consumers if this ever happened ;-) An Olympus and Panasonic merger doesn't sound bad either.

 

[Parchiao]

Hah????? :bsmilie: :bsmilie: :bsmilie:

I dun think Carl Zeiss can be bought over that easily, it's 100% owned by the Carl Zeiss Foundation.

And the Japanese giant Matsushita owns Panasonic, and as a group far more profitable than Sony.

And Carl Zeiss owns the Contax brand, only licensed to Kyocera to manufacture cameras and certain lens designs.

And Sony does not have the financial muscle at the current moment to buy anything.

And Sony pays Carl Zeiss for the use of the Zeiss lenses, not Kyocera.

 

[sammy888]

Are you sure that Carl Zeiss was bought over by Sony??? I really doubt so!!! :dunno:
I dun think Zeiss had dropped in stardard and I believe that it is anytime better than any other Japanese optics manufacturer!

I have not been following Carl Zeiss much...it was some business article some time back. As it was just an article and not really about Nikon hehe..I just gave it a read and have not really follow up with it. Don't get me wrong. I like Carl Zeiss glass for years. I reckon them to be pretty similar to Leica's. I played with Contax and Yashica in the old days and the quality is really something unlike Jap made lens. But with production for certain glass going to Japanes brands..etc. Production of some of the glass is now done in Japan instead of Europe. Licencing of use of the brand. What I read included that standards might be compromise in some way and on the long run..what that effect might be. I hope not heh. Given if I do have more money I would not mind jumping from Nikon lens from Carl Z or Leica. There is a difference in the quality. I would not say it is wrong but it is just difference. I find european glass to be more natural to skin tone and great nature colour and Jap tend to be saturated, graphic and popping contrast. The last thing I was to see is the brand going the Japanese way.

 

[kahheng]

Hah????? :bsmilie: :bsmilie: :bsmilie:

I dun think Carl Zeiss can be bought over that easily, it's 100% owned by the Carl Zeiss Foundation.

And the Japanese giant Matsushita owns Panasonic, and as a group far more profitable than Sony.

And Carl Zeiss owns the Contax brand, only licensed to Kyocera to manufacture cameras and certain lens designs.

And Sony does not have the financial muscle at the current moment to buy anything.

And Sony pays Carl Zeiss for the use of the Zeiss lenses, not Kyocera.

Uh huh. You mean Kyocera never paid Zeiss to use their lens on cameras like their Yashica T-series? ;-)

And what has Matsushita got to do with Sony?

Since 2004, Carl Zeiss AG has been incorporated as a stock corporation. That the foundation is the sole stock holder doesn't mean the corporation cannot be bought out. The foundation just has to agree.....

Anyway the Germans will usually never allow themselves to be bought out by anyone other than fellow Germans. There's too much national pride involved.

You do have a point in Sony being financially not strong currently, but that doesn't necessarily mean that they can't afford to buy out another company. They just need to convince their bankers to lend them the money...