...my almost perfect dream camera...
...yes it is. The RTS II was my second Contax camera, I used. It has the same really good looking Porsche design as the RTS I. It is the same pleasure, to take it in your hands and go out to take pictures. Who is saying, that photo-equipment has nothing to do with feelings? I am a fan of this retro-style of classic cameras. Try the RTS I and II. The latter one is just doing everything slightly better/easier, than the RTS I.
On the first look, you will hardly see a difference between RTS I from 1974 and RTS II from 1982. The first indication is the on/off switch at the bracketing-wheel on the right hand top, the AE-lock on the front of the body and the locker of A. But there has been a lot more improvement over the RTS I, even this was already a very good model. Here are just some of the other changes/improvements:
- shutter-blades out of Titan
- TTL-flash control
- exposure correction warning (+-) electronically
- Viewfinder image now 97% (RTS I 92%)
- auto shut off after 16 sec.
- electronic self-timer
- locker of the aperture automatic (A) and in position (X)
- mechanical shutter speed of 1/50 sec.
- aperture and shutter-speed via digital LED’s etc.
for more details and differences of the models, please look in the overview Contax bodies.
I like good quality cameras. I like the feeling of a metal-construction. Nowadays you will not find this anymore. The modern materials are as solid as the old metal-bodies, but they still feel differently. Fortunately, even the modern Contax bodies are giving me a very good feeling, while using them – even if it is not 100% metal anymore.
But back to the RTS II. It is a good compromise of state of the art technology at that time and size and look of the body. The RTS II is a kind of small camera. The viewfinder is excellent bright and it is very easy to read the information even in bright light. Good also for people like me, who wear glasses. Focussing is a pleasure (I love to focus manually) – fast and easy. The shutter is compared to modern cameras a little loud. But this is on the other hand part of this retro-feeling I like so much. The AE-lock is easy to reach without moving the head, the exposure compensation, too. It is almost asking to be used.
The aperture priority setting can not be turned off accidentally, because it locks itself in its position. The shutter release is as sensitive as with the RTS I. So if you are not used to it, you will fire without wanting it. But after a while, you get used to it and you realize the advantage of not missing an important second because of this speed (RTS = real time system). With the small and light MM-lenses, it fits perfectly in your hand, except with the latest zooms 28-85, 35-135 and 100-300, where it is getting a little bit out of balance. But that is why later the RTS III is also constructed differently.
The mirror-up function is easy as it can be. You can move the mirror up and (!) down with the lever on the left side of the lens-mount. The centre-weighted metering is very accurate and easy to use. The only thing I am missing with the RTS II to be a perfect camera is a spot metering mode for extreme light situations. Of course you can use also the AE-lock, but this is not exactly the same, also not from the comfort point of view. But hey, the RTS II had already many features in 1982, which other brands, especially Leica, did still dream of. So let us not be unfair. As long as I was using my RTS II, I was not missing anything else, nor did I had problems with that camera in any other respect. Just a lot of fun.
Even nowadays, it is a lovely camera to use, if you know what you want. This is no automatic gimmick camera. It was made for professionals, very durable with features that make sense. As almost always with Contax cameras, the whole construction was well thought through.
If you buy one used with some defects, make sure that there is a possibility to repair it at Contax. I do not know whether there is still the possibility to exchange/repair every part of that Camera. Maybe there are some other stores who are concentrating on repairing older cameras, but I do not know addresses here in Germany. Maybe others know some places not far away from you. I would appreciate some hints on this page. For an indication of second-hand prices, please look on the specific page.
Summary of most important points
Very good quality
Very good viewfinder
Mirror lock up
Very accurate center-weighted-metering
Very professional accessories
No spot metering
Not produced anymore
Used available in good condition around 500 Euro. For this price very good price/performance ratio, with the risk of repairing problems.
Best wishes
Dirk
...yes it is. The RTS II was my second Contax camera, I used. It has the same really good looking Porsche design as the RTS I. It is the same pleasure, to take it in your hands and go out to take pictures. Who is saying, that photo-equipment has nothing to do with feelings? I am a fan of this retro-style of classic cameras. Try the RTS I and II. The latter one is just doing everything slightly better/easier, than the RTS I.
On the first look, you will hardly see a difference between RTS I from 1974 and RTS II from 1982. The first indication is the on/off switch at the bracketing-wheel on the right hand top, the AE-lock on the front of the body and the locker of A. But there has been a lot more improvement over the RTS I, even this was already a very good model. Here are just some of the other changes/improvements:
- shutter-blades out of Titan
- TTL-flash control
- exposure correction warning (+-) electronically
- Viewfinder image now 97% (RTS I 92%)
- auto shut off after 16 sec.
- electronic self-timer
- locker of the aperture automatic (A) and in position (X)
- mechanical shutter speed of 1/50 sec.
- aperture and shutter-speed via digital LED’s etc.
for more details and differences of the models, please look in the overview Contax bodies.
I like good quality cameras. I like the feeling of a metal-construction. Nowadays you will not find this anymore. The modern materials are as solid as the old metal-bodies, but they still feel differently. Fortunately, even the modern Contax bodies are giving me a very good feeling, while using them – even if it is not 100% metal anymore.
But back to the RTS II. It is a good compromise of state of the art technology at that time and size and look of the body. The RTS II is a kind of small camera. The viewfinder is excellent bright and it is very easy to read the information even in bright light. Good also for people like me, who wear glasses. Focussing is a pleasure (I love to focus manually) – fast and easy. The shutter is compared to modern cameras a little loud. But this is on the other hand part of this retro-feeling I like so much. The AE-lock is easy to reach without moving the head, the exposure compensation, too. It is almost asking to be used.
The aperture priority setting can not be turned off accidentally, because it locks itself in its position. The shutter release is as sensitive as with the RTS I. So if you are not used to it, you will fire without wanting it. But after a while, you get used to it and you realize the advantage of not missing an important second because of this speed (RTS = real time system). With the small and light MM-lenses, it fits perfectly in your hand, except with the latest zooms 28-85, 35-135 and 100-300, where it is getting a little bit out of balance. But that is why later the RTS III is also constructed differently.
The mirror-up function is easy as it can be. You can move the mirror up and (!) down with the lever on the left side of the lens-mount. The centre-weighted metering is very accurate and easy to use. The only thing I am missing with the RTS II to be a perfect camera is a spot metering mode for extreme light situations. Of course you can use also the AE-lock, but this is not exactly the same, also not from the comfort point of view. But hey, the RTS II had already many features in 1982, which other brands, especially Leica, did still dream of. So let us not be unfair. As long as I was using my RTS II, I was not missing anything else, nor did I had problems with that camera in any other respect. Just a lot of fun.
Even nowadays, it is a lovely camera to use, if you know what you want. This is no automatic gimmick camera. It was made for professionals, very durable with features that make sense. As almost always with Contax cameras, the whole construction was well thought through.
If you buy one used with some defects, make sure that there is a possibility to repair it at Contax. I do not know whether there is still the possibility to exchange/repair every part of that Camera. Maybe there are some other stores who are concentrating on repairing older cameras, but I do not know addresses here in Germany. Maybe others know some places not far away from you. I would appreciate some hints on this page. For an indication of second-hand prices, please look on the specific page.
Summary of most important points
Used available in good condition around 500 Euro. For this price very good price/performance ratio, with the risk of repairing problems.
Best wishes
Dirk