Contax N Digital
Encyclopedia
The Contax N Digital was a six-megapixel digital SLR camera
produced by Contax
in Japan
. The camera was announced in late 2000, and began to be sold in spring 2002, after several delays. The camera received mixed reviews from the press, and was withdrawn from the market within a year of its introduction.
It was noteworthy for being the first full-frame digital SLR, with an imaging chip the full size of a 135 film
frame. All previous digital SLRs had a smaller sensor, giving a cropped view (see magnification factor). The imaging sensor was a Philips
FTF3020-C, which had previously been used in the Jenoptik
Eyelike medium format digital back. Pentax
also planned to use the sensor in a full-frame digital SLR, the Pentax MZ-D
, but abandoned work on the prototype in late 2001. The sensor featured ISO settings as low as ISO 25, but the reviews noted that it had a relatively high noise level above ISO 100. The next full-frame digital SLRs were the Canon EOS-1Ds
of late 2002, followed by Kodak's DCS Pro 14n
in 2003. In 2008 Sony and Nikon also introduced full-frame models.
The N Digital was based on the short-lived Contax N range of 35mm film SLRs, and used the Contax N-Mount lens system. Nine lenses were produced for this mount, by Carl Zeiss
. The lenses were highly regarded. There were only three Contax N-Mount cameras - two 35mm film SLR bodies, plus the N Digital - all of which have been discontinued. The lenses can be converted for the Canon EOS
mount, retaining autofocus.
After the demise of the N Digital, the Contax brand name was used for one further camera, the Contax TVS of 2002. Contax's parent company Kyocera
withdrew from the digital imaging market in 2005. Today the N Digital is considered a collector's item.
Digital camera
A digital camera is a camera that takes video or still photographs, or both, digitally by recording images via an electronic image sensor. It is the main device used in the field of digital photography...
produced by Contax
Contax
Contax was a camera brand noted for its unique technical innovation and a wide range of Zeiss lenses, noted for their high optical quality. Its final incarnation was a line of 35 mm, medium format and digital cameras engineered and manufactured by Kyocera, and featuring modern Zeiss optics...
in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. The camera was announced in late 2000, and began to be sold in spring 2002, after several delays. The camera received mixed reviews from the press, and was withdrawn from the market within a year of its introduction.
It was noteworthy for being the first full-frame digital SLR, with an imaging chip the full size of a 135 film
135 film
The term 135 was introduced by Kodak in 1934 as a designation for cartridge film wide, specifically for still photography. It quickly grew in popularity, surpassing 120 film by the late 1960s to become the most popular photographic film format...
frame. All previous digital SLRs had a smaller sensor, giving a cropped view (see magnification factor). The imaging sensor was a Philips
Philips
Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. , more commonly known as Philips, is a multinational Dutch electronics company....
FTF3020-C, which had previously been used in the Jenoptik
Jenoptik
Jenoptik is an optoelectronics group located in Jena, Thuringia, Germany and a descendant of the pre-war Zeiss company. The business is divided into five divisions: Optical Systems, Lasers & Material Processing, Industrial Metrology, Traffic Solutions and Defense & Civil Systems.- Company profile...
Eyelike medium format digital back. Pentax
Pentax
Pentax is a brand name used by Hoya Corporation for its medical-related products & services and Pentax Ricoh Imaging Company for cameras, sport optics , etc. Hoya purchased and merged with the Japanese optics company on March 31, 2008. Hoya's Pentax imaging business was sold to Ricoh Company, Ltd...
also planned to use the sensor in a full-frame digital SLR, the Pentax MZ-D
Pentax MZ-D
The Pentax MZ-D, also known by its internal code name of MR-52, was a prototype digital single-lens reflex camera from Pentax of Japan. It was announced at Photokina in September 2000 and was demonstrated to the press at the Photo Marketing Association show in January 2001...
, but abandoned work on the prototype in late 2001. The sensor featured ISO settings as low as ISO 25, but the reviews noted that it had a relatively high noise level above ISO 100. The next full-frame digital SLRs were the Canon EOS-1Ds
Canon EOS-1Ds
The EOS-1Ds is a full-frame 11.4 megapixel digital SLR camera body formerly made by Canon, released in the spring of 2003. Its dimensions are 156 mm in width, 157.6 mm in height, and 79.9 mm in depth. Its mass is 1,265 g.-Functions:...
of late 2002, followed by Kodak's DCS Pro 14n
Kodak DCS Pro 14n
The Kodak Professional DCS Pro 14n is a professional Nikon F80 based F-mount digital SLR produced by Eastman Kodak. It was announced at the photographic trade show Photokina in Germany during September 2002; production examples became available in May 2003....
in 2003. In 2008 Sony and Nikon also introduced full-frame models.
The N Digital was based on the short-lived Contax N range of 35mm film SLRs, and used the Contax N-Mount lens system. Nine lenses were produced for this mount, by Carl Zeiss
Carl Zeiss
Carl Zeiss was a German maker of optical instruments commonly known for the company he founded, Carl Zeiss Jena . Zeiss made contributions to lens manufacturing that have aided the modern production of lenses...
. The lenses were highly regarded. There were only three Contax N-Mount cameras - two 35mm film SLR bodies, plus the N Digital - all of which have been discontinued. The lenses can be converted for the Canon EOS
Canon EOS
The Canon EOS autofocus 35 mm film and digital SLR camera system was introduced in 1987 with the Canon EOS 650 and is still in production as Canon's current DSLR system...
mount, retaining autofocus.
After the demise of the N Digital, the Contax brand name was used for one further camera, the Contax TVS of 2002. Contax's parent company Kyocera
Kyocera
is a multinational manufacturer based in Kyoto, Japan. It was founded as in 1959 by Kazuo Inamori and renamed in 1982. The company has diversified its founding technology in ceramic materials through internal development as well as strategic mergers and acquisitions...
withdrew from the digital imaging market in 2005. Today the N Digital is considered a collector's item.