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Review Contax RTS II

I own or have used most of the Contax SLR bodies and the RTS 2 is one of my favorites. The mirror lock up is great, the camera is very solid but the best thing for me is the very sensitive shutter release Dirk mentioned in his review. It takes a little getting used to - even the slightest touch will fire the shutter release. Once you get used to it though you'll love it. The camera seems to fire instantaneously, as soon as I think of taking the shot without any delay at all! Fantastic. I use mine with a W3 winder most of the time because I like having the second shutter release for vertical shots.

The main features that I miss with this body are the spot metering and higher shutter speeds of some of the newer SLRs. In most cases though I don't find these to be essential for my style of photography and still prefer the older RTS 2.

Jason
 
Do other older Contax "quartz" models share the same sensitive shutter release with the Contax RTS II? For ex&le, does the 139 Q model share this feature? Although I have tried out two RTS II cameras, I have yet to find one without some kind of problem. But I certainly did like the super-sensitive shutter feature on the ones I did look at. Is there any evidence to indicate that this feature produces sharper (less blurry) hand held exposures?

Dennis
 
>

Denis,

I got this table from an ebay seller. He listed shutter delay times for various cameras. You will note the millisecond delay on the left an camera type on the right. This list is edited down as the system rejected a message with long lines.

Stuart

> > ms camera (various sources) > 17 Leica_M6 > 21,8 Contax_RTS_III > 39,4 Contax_RTS > 46 Contax_S2 > 50,0 Contax_139 > 53,8 Contax_137 > 54,0 Contax_Aria > 68,8 Contax_RX > 70 Contax_RTS_III > 72,0 Contax_167 > 72,0 Contax_ST > 78,8 Contax_S2 > 80 Contax_AX > 80,0 Contax_159 > 131 Contax_RTS_III > 160 Contax_G2 > 206 Leica_R8 > 550 Contax_N1 > 580 Sony_DSC-F707 > 900 Casio_QV-4000 > 1000 Sony_Mavica_MVC-CD1000 > > > > >
 
Stuart,
Thanks for the very interesting information. You listed the RTS III twice. I assume your first listing is really the RTS II. If it is the RTS II, it appears to be the fastest SLR in the group!
Dennis
 
Hi Dennis,
The other Contax cameras do not have the very sensitive shutter release of the RTS II with the possible exception of the original RTS (I've not actually used one of those). The 137, 139, 159, 167, AX, RX, RTS III all have a more standard electromechanical shutter release. I do feel that the RTS II shutter release helps me get sharper pictures at slower shutter speeds and also helps me catch the "decisive moment". I wish Contax had kept the RTS II type shutter release on the newer cameras. They probably decided against it because the release is so sensitive that you need to use a separate button to check the exposure. You can't touch the shutter release to check the exposure - it is so sensitive that the slightest touch will fire the camera. I suppose some users would find this inconvenient.
 
William,

I beg to differ. The very 'touchy' shutter release may sometimes be rather irritating and filmconsuming.
I wish my Aria had a seperate button to measure the light.

Sonny
 
Hi,
My RTS II needs a part that no longer available through Contax in Canada or the States. It needs a "sector gear assembly". I tried some independent repair places with no luck. Any lines on a part or "parts only bodies" would be great.
Thanks,
Jeff
 
Hi Folks,

Does anyone know if they ever made or make a Polaroid / NPC back for the RTS II ?

I think there is one for the 167 and the RTS III.

Thought I would check.

Alan
 
I bought a yashica fx3 10 or more yers ago dreaming Zeiss lenses. After tried Nikon and found the autofocus really not necessary also with my 300mm,I decided to go back and I bought 3 beatiful contax lenses.
So, last year was the time of my first contax body and it was an ST; I found it relly good but noisy and heavy.
Two mounths ago I sow a used RTS II in good condition, I bougt it and I falled in love with it, this is the perfect camera: relatively compact, not too heavy, silent, bright wiewfinder...

I don't understand what contax is chasing....maybe nikon or Canon!?

I don't think this is the right way, I found the contax-N so fat and without style.
If there will be new C/Y bodys, I would like to see a renewed RTS II (as leica R9 for exemple) and a mechanical S3.

PS: sorry for my bad english...I'm Italian!
 
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