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Is it worth buying a Contax RX?

Hmm...

So after months of looking at the Contax Promo page as their home page, I tune into Contaxcameras.com and I am greeted with Kyocera and an entirely new look. For the most part I like it since it shows a breadth of product line...s&le images, PDF's etc. But the reality of no RX, AX etc. is striking. One day I will buy an AX...mostly for handling with large lenses, but also for more "unrehearsed" shooting. I wish Contax would really take a stab at countering the new Hasselblad H1 and Mamiya 645 AFD. It is a bit distracting to someone who wants to possibly enter wedding photography with some of the current 645 issues. The RTS III is a great camera, but I think could use a generational upgrade in order to be able to perform in the varied situations required these days. Not sure where I am going with this...but I am a bit concerned as everyone is that Kyocera has essentially abandoned a "step" model in the MM line. Not everyone wants a Canon Rebel clone in the NX, or pay the premium for the autofocused "challenged" N1. I really want to see the Contax brand have some longevity while keeping both old and new users pleased.

A challenge to say the least. Perhaps we should star a "Design" forum on behalf of Kyocera.

Alan
 
Alan,

I do not want Contax to copy the Hasselblad Hi or the Mamiya. The Contax 645 is a great camera in its own right that just needs a few refinements. And the N1 has gotten a bad rap. It's not the fastest autofocus camera around, but it suits my needs. And the price for a used one was dowright reasonable. So do yourself a favor. Rent an N1 and give it a try. You, too, may conclude that the autofocus is preety good!
 
Robert,

Thanks for your words of encouragement. The unfortunate reality is that in Indiana, you can't rent Contax. I suppose I could send to California or NY to rent one, but it costs an arm and a leg. I generally like the feel of the N1...but the price of entry having to buy into a new lens system is steep. Perhaps I am just complaining. Not to mention that if I really was going to shoot a wedding I would for safety sakes have redundant systems !

Speaking of complaining...Dirk, I saw that you had sent a message to the Contax "eScribe" list awhile ago...looking for support on a meeting with Kyocera execs in Japan. Any response ?
I would as I am sure everyone be curious as to the results of a face to face with the Contax Brand Managers.

Alan
 
Alan,

If local rental isn't an option, maaybe you could rent an N1 during a vacation. Any long lost friends or relatives that you want to reconnect with (screen by availability of Contax rental sites)? And I agree, Contax gear isn't cheap. But I started by buying a very nice used N1 body for $600 and added a 24-85 gray market zoom (a great lens - by far best zoom I've ever used) for an additional $700. And I sold off my old Nikon gear to fund it.

Is it worth it? To me, yes, and I'm just a hobbiest. The N1 is wonderful to use. Everything about the camera feels right - the location of the focus toggle, the ability to seamlessly switch to manual focus, the dials, and, of course, the build quaility. Could the AF be faster? Well, sure. But I just shot a roll of my son playing soccer, and I only had a focus problem on 1 shot. But he's only 6, and maybe he'll outrun my focus by the time he reaches High School!
 
Is the RX available anywhere? The big US distributors don't seem to list it anymore. I have about 7 Zeiss T* lenses, and was thinking about getting an RX to use alongside my Aria.
 
The RX is discontinued. You are going to have to look around and find it used somewhere, thats what I did. Check out Ebay or B&H Photo.
 
I was afraid that it had been discontinued. Is the RTS III "twice" as good as the RX? For me, US$2,000 is a big investment, and I'm afraid that they will discontinue it soon as well. I would hate to have invested in all of that Zeiss glass only to have, first the Yashica bodies, and now Contax MF bodies, discontinued.
 
> I have heard that an RXII is on the way, at least in New Zealand. has anyone else heard anything of this?

Jim
 
>The RX II is still available in Japan and the UK, the US importer apparently made a "solo" decision
 
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