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Review Contax Aria

Austin,
If you want to get 'half-way' shutter speeds, that is: exactly half way between say 1/60 and 1/125, it won't really be helpful to set the camera on Av!
Check out the owner's manual: in Av-exposure you'll only get what the Manual calls a suitable shutter speed, designated "1/90" in the viewfinder – which in reality could mean anything: 1/82 or 1/102 or whichever speed is suitable for the situation you're working in, in correspondance with the aperture you've selected: this will always be an approximate shutter speed somewhere inbetween two standard shutter speed-values, but rarely a shutter speed exactly 1/2 EV faster than 1/60 (nor exactly 1/2 EV longer than 1/125).

Shooting with slide film it can be useful to get exact in-between-speed. I believe, the only correct way to go abot it is:
Set the camera to Manual exposure mode. Dial in the the shutter speed that you want to get faster by 1/2 EV; so if you want to get 1/90, set 1/60.
Next set the ABC-lever (provided you've activated Custom Function # 2 – 1) to +/- 1/2 EV: the viewfinder-LCD shows 1/90.
Then: Expose the frame; and immediately reset the ABC-lever to "0".
Result: you'll get an exposure exactly 1/2 EV shorter than 1/60 (i.e. 1/2 EV longer than 1/125)!

This procedure isn't elaborated upon in your Aria-Manual, but you'll find it briefly mentioned on p. 138.


Good luck, Peter (the Netherlands)
 
> Austin, > If you want to get 'half-way' shutter speeds, that is: exactly half > way between say 1/60 and 1/125, it won't really be helpful to set the > camera on Av!

Well, I just shot three rolls of film today, in AV mode, and it displays the shutter speed in the display, and it does in fact display in 1/2 stops. It also prints the intermediate speeds on the film, as I have a data back. And the issue was, can the Aria provide intermediate shutter stops, and the answer is yes, it can.

> Check out the owner's manual: in Av-exposure you'll only get what the > Manual calls a suitable shutter speed, designated "1/90" in the > viewfinder  which in reality could mean anything: 1/82 or 1/102 or > whichever speed is suitable for the situation you're working in, in > correspondance with the aperture you've selected: this will always be > an approximate shutter speed somewhere inbetween two standard shutter > speed-values, but rarely a shutter speed exactly 1/2 EV faster than > 1/60 (nor exactly 1/2 EV longer than 1/125).

That, if that's what it actually does (and if so, thanks for pointing that out), is in fact better, as the only point I was making was, that the camera CAN give intermediate shutter speeds. I was unaware that it actually choses the speed more accurately, and only displayed the "closest" one it has chosen. Which, seems kind of funny, as it certainly can display any value using the seven segment LEDS, and it can certainly print any value using the data back, so why it would only display/print some "closest" value seems kind of funny, as that really kind of makes the data back value inaccurate. I'll check out a roll again and see what it prints.

But, none the less, the answer is, as I believe I said, you can get intermediate shutter speeds using AV mode.

> Shooting with slide film it can be useful to get exact > in-between-speed. I believe, the only correct way to go abot it is:

What is "it" that that you are talking about? It sounds like AV mode provides intermediate shutter speeds, with no problem...

> Set the camera to Manual exposure mode. Dial in the the shutter speed > that you want to get faster by 1/2 EV; so if you want to get 1/90, set > 1/60. > > Next set the ABC-lever (provided you've activated Custom Function # 2 >  1) to +/- 1/2 EV: the viewfinder-LCD shows 1/90. > Then: Expose the frame; and immediately reset the ABC-lever to "0". > Result: you'll get an exposure exactly 1/2 EV shorter than 1/60 (i.e. > 1/2 EV longer than 1/125)<font color="ff0000">•<font color="ff0000">•<font color="ff0000">•<font color="ff0000">•<font color="ff0000">•<font color="ff0000">•<font color="ff0000">•<font color="ff0000">•<font color="ff0000">•<font color="ff0000">• procedure isn't elaborated upon in your Aria-Manual, but you'll > find it briefly mentioned on p. 138.

An interesting procedure...but as far as I can tell, you'll get more accurate results using the AV mode, and letting it pick a more "accurate" shutter speed, won't you?

Austin
 
Peter,

> Check out the owner's manual: in Av-exposure you'll only get what the > Manual calls a suitable shutter speed, designated "1/90" in the > viewfinder  which in reality could mean anything: 1/82 or 1/102 or > whichever speed is suitable for the situation you're working in, in > correspondance with the aperture you've selected: this will always be > an approximate shutter speed somewhere inbetween two standard shutter > speed-values,

Where in the Aria manual does it say this?

Austin
 
Austin,

Could You check what is imprinted on film when You shoot in Manual mode and set Aperture ring in-between clicks??

Thanks in advance!
 
> Could You check what is imprinted on film when You shoot in Manual > mode and set Aperture ring in-between clicks??

Sorry, I do not shoot in manual mode! I don't see why it would be different though, it prints half stops for both shutter speed and for aperture.

Regards,

Austin
 
Peter,

You said you believed this:

> Check out the owner's manual: in Av-exposure you'll only get what the > Manual calls a suitable shutter speed, designated "1/90" in the > viewfinder  which in reality could mean anything: 1/82 or 1/102 or > whichever speed is suitable for the situation you're working in, in > correspondance with the aperture you've selected: this will always be > an approximate shutter speed somewhere inbetween two standard shutter > speed-values,

I looked pretty carefully through the manual, and didn't find a thing that said anything like this. I believe, based on what I read on p. 90, that it does in fact shoot at the speed it says both in the display, and printed on the film, it is shooting at...so if it says 1/45, it's shooting at 1/45...

Now, in that same page, it says that the ARERTURE shows the approximate aperture, as it's a completely analog aperture, meaning it can be anywhere between stops, so this only makes sense.

Regards,

Austin
 
Question on AV mode

Recently, I got a used Aria. I am quite hapyy with it, since my last body is Yashica Fx-3.

After a few days of trying out, I noticed that as I mount my Plannar 50/1.4 on Aria in AV mode.
I set the apperture at wide open, but the apperture setting in the viewfinder was 1.7, not 1.4.
I tried the Tv mode, found that apperture F1.4 could work properly. Is it the problem of my Aria, or it is my 50/1.4.
Have anyone encountered the same problem before.
I need your comment, any comment is appreciated.
Thx.

Regrads.

Scottie
 
To Scottie Wang,
This is a common problems with old lenses. It is due to the mechanical linkage between the lens and the camera. First make sure that the lens is mounted correctly and fully rotated. Sometimes I have the same problem when using extension tubes. If the problem persists, then the lens shutter mechanism needs adjustment. I hope this helps.
 
> This is a common problems with old lenses. It is due to the mechanical > linkage between the lens and the camera. First make sure that the lens > is mounted correctly and fully rotated. Sometimes I have the same > problem when using extension tubes. If the problem persists, then the > lens shutter mechanism needs adjustment. I hope this helps.

Ah, good question...is the lense an MM lense or not? AV and Program mode only are supposed to be used with MM lenses.

Austin
 
Thanks to Elie and Austin

My 50/1.4 is MMJ, I've mounted the lense fully rotated.
I tried un-mount and mount again, the problem persists. >"<
Yesterday, I tried to mount another 50/1.4 which is newer than mine. It worked properly.
I thought it might be due to my old lense.
Should I send my 50/1.4 to repair, or I should take my 50/1.4 as 50/1.7.
There is no other way to solve it??

Thanks for all your comment ~ ^^
 
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