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on Jul 11, 2015 6:35:15 GMT
Posted: Jul 11, 2015 6:35:15 GMT
Anyone has this camera? Just askıng.
Is one of my dream cameras.
Still looking for one.
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Status: Long, long time Contax and Yashica user; glad to be here and hope to contribute.
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on Jul 11, 2015 10:12:28 GMT
Posted: Jul 11, 2015 10:12:28 GMT
I had one a few years ago but got rid of it in favour of the Contax 645 with a Hasselblad Ixpress digital back. The camera was ground-breaking, being the first full frame DSLR to get to market, but it had a number of issues which I found deeply frustrating. In a studio environment, providing you did not wish to use TTL flash, it was a good - occasionally great - performer, especially if shooting portraits, products or glamour. It's ISO rating of 25 when used with the 50mm and 85mm f1.4 lenses was ideal for people/portraits - the 85mm was especially good in this respect with a softer bokeh than the 50mm. How many current DSLRs offer ISO25....the N-Digital was a bit special. BUT it had a lot of drawbacks too. It was not good in low light; it had a very slow and limited buffer; produced a lot of noise at high ISO or long shutter settings, and had a monstrously high power consumption. You have to use the P-  with the N-Digital if you plan to shoot more than 100 images in a session - you can't really use the P-8 as you need the extra punch of the D-cells. Sadly, Zeiss did not produce any fast wide-angles (the 17-35mm 2.8 zoom was a fabulous lens though!) which would have been helpful if using the camera outside the studio - where was the 35mm f1.4 or 24mm f2 that had been mooted? Having said that, at the time the Contax was the only full-frame DSLR that could use a 17mm lens to its full extent - blisteringly sharp edge-to-edge throughout the zoom range! Well, the development of the camera broke the back of Contax and led directly to the end of the marque, so the new lenses were never developed; there was not even time to improve the firmware or capture software. In summary, the camera was ahead of its time, very easy to handle, well-built, BUT had a limited range of lenses available, needed fast apertures because of it's poor AF performance in low light and bad noise at slow speeds, was unbelievably power-hungry, and was hampered by poor firmware and software. Although I have never regretted switching to the Contax 645 and its various digital backs, I do still have a soft spot for the N-Digital and wish I had not felt the need to sell it. I saw one sell for $2600 last week, body only. |
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on Jul 11, 2015 10:36:19 GMT
Last Edit: Jul 11, 2015 10:36:28 GMT by alex
I toyed with the idea of getting an N Digital to partner my N1, but decided against it as I didn't figure the demerits, as outlined and well known, supported the average asking price. At least, not for me. Even toyed with the idea of a 645, but went Hasselblad for MF, as the price differential at the time was enormous. Never thought about a digital back, though being primarily a film photographer, the urge was never strong.
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on Oct 24, 2015 11:32:17 GMT
Posted: Oct 24, 2015 11:32:17 GMT
Just for info, Ffordes have a couple if N Digital bodies for sale at the moment £899, but without any warranty.
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on Oct 24, 2015 11:46:17 GMT
Posted: Oct 24, 2015 11:46:17 GMT
I can see why there'd be no warranty, as I can't imagine any service options now, but £900 is too high a price to take a punt on. Though it's not something I'm considering, I'd figure a better option would be to have my N lenses converted to Canon mount if I wanted a digital option.
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on Jul 21, 2016 21:38:03 GMT
Last Edit: Jul 21, 2016 21:45:02 GMT by lenslover
It's my dream also when it came to life...the Contax N Series Lenses are very good, but unfortunately, a dust magnet, also due to the open DoF scale window, which isn't sealed. Sad, but true...it was Contax, Kyoceras Downfall - the flawed 6 MP Philips Fullframe Sensor back into it's heyday...and then Canon shortly after came with their EOS 1Ds Mk. I....11 MP and Fullframe. I've seen the Contax N Digital all couple years for around ~3000 EUR here.
I've read the luminous landscape and other reviews back then...like the very special Kodak Monochrome DSLR, which was also flawed by various design issues, the Contax N Digital had become a Cult DSLR. I remember quite those days back then when Kyocera added Updates for their RAW Converter, and also Contax N Digital Firmware Updates.
One of the most (if not the most) biggest issue with the N Digital was noise over base iso...so it was basically a ISO 100 DSLR, with 6 MP, and a bunch of very expensive, but otherwise great lenses - i lusted for the 17-35/2.8 N...which is a hell lot expensive, even nowadays. Then i wanted the 24-85 N so badly for my 5D ( i do appreciate, love & lust for the typical Zeiss Colors & 3D Pop rendering), but Conurus is no more, the Conversion to EF EOS Canon Mount is very high pricey, and they don't do their service anymore...and also don't have anymore AF Motor drive spare parts to repair broken 24-85 N Lenses, which is way sad. It's the same issue when you've got a Canon L 28-70/2.8 USM, Canon doesn't have anymore spare parts (particular the AF Ring USM Drive) and so it's a way expensive doorstopper (nope - just kidding) albeit a MF Zoom lens then...i only have the 24-105/4 L.
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with the N-Digital if you plan to shoot more than 100 images in a session - you can't really use the P-8 as you need the extra punch of the D-cells. 
