...it feels like a rock...
General Remarks
The RTS III came out in 1990 and was a kind of sensation in the industry. It had features already, which the competition did not at that time. To name just a few: the fast internal motordrive of 5p/s. the vertical shutter-release, pre-flash-spotmetering and last but not least the Real Time Vacuum (RTV) mechanism.
With the RTS III Contax tried to put everything in a body, what could be important for a professionals. You will feel this, as soon as you take it in your hands. It feels like a rock. Extremely solid build. Very good handling and because of the durable construction the heaviest Contax so far (1150g without batteries). It gives you the feeling it would be undestroyable.
The design stayed traditional with the knobs and wheels, what the professionals preferred, because they were used to it. It has still a similar look as the older RTS II- and RTS I- Porsche design, although it is bigger and heavier.
The RTS III is still the top of the line Contax camera for professionals. For the N-system (new n-mount and autofocus), there is no camera for professionals out yet (as of 04/2002).
The RTV-System
The biggest surprise was the RTV-system, which was known before just in the aeroflight photography. Contax implemented in the RTS III a ceramic film pressure plate and an electro-magnetically controlled suction device. if you press the shutter release the camera sucks the film against the pressure place to insure extreme film flatness. But why this complicated technique you will ask.
The Research of Carl Zeiss in Oberkochen found out that the film flatness has in some circumstances quiet strong influence on the sharpness and contrast of a picture. Because of the design of a normal film cartridge, the film never stays for a long time flat after forwarding it to the next frame. That is why the industry tried to hold the film straight and flat with the filmschienen.
But still after winding to the next picture the film curls after a couple of minutes. This gets even worse in different temperatures, humidity and thickness of the film. The idea now is, that if you want to exploit really the potential of a very good lens, you should make sure, that the film stays absolute flat in the camera, even after a couple of minutes. 1979 (!) was a special article from Zeiss about that problem, which you can find in the download section. To make it short for this review, it is proved, that the results if you are using a fast lens at fully open ‘til aperture of ca. 2.8. with the RTV are significant better.
A quote: “...Flatness errors of this type suffice to conspicuously change the image quality of fast lenses. This pronounced defocusing. for ex&le, causes a drop in contrast in the 50mm Planar f/1.4 from 60 to about 20% at 20 cycles/mm. This phenomenon was more or less exhibited by the films of all manufacturers...â€
Since this problem occurs even stronger in medium format, there is also for the Contax 645 an RTV backplate optional available.
Features
I do not want to list all the features of the RTS III in this review. For specifications, please look in the “Contax body overview†sheet in the “news & info†folder. Just the most important ones at that time (remember, this camera was introduced in 1990!).
The spot-pre-flash-TTL-function. Very easy to use, very accurate. You just point the camera with the focusing-circle in the viewfinder at the main subject and press the pre-flash TTL spot meter lever (under the motor-speed-wheel on the right hand top of the camera). Now you can see the result in the viewfinder and by how many stops there is an over/underexposure in case there is no proper flash exposure given the selected aperture. You then can adjust the aperture and see the results in the viewfinder. The settings are automatically memorized and you can shoot immediately. Of course there is also the normal TTL flash capabilities with the RTS III.
The results have been always very satisfying for me. But I loved above all the easy and fast handling of it.
The normal features as shutterspeed of 1/8000 sec.-32 sec., second curtain flash, 1/250 sec flash sync, ABC Bracketing, 2sec. and 10 sec. selftimer, mirror lock up (up and down), 5fps, center-weighted average metering and spot metering (3mm/1% !), built in diopter adjuster, etc. I do not have to explain here, I guess. But for a camera designed in 1990 very impressive.
The viewfinder of 100% (0,74 magnification) is also remarkable. It is extremely bright and very good for people who are wearing glasses. But unfortunately the extreme brightness is also at the same time a disadvantage. Viewfinder indications appear as white letters and numerals against a lighted blue background. This is great visible in normal daylight situations or at night. But if you are out on very sunny day to make some shots against bright sunlight, you can not see the viewfinder information anymore, because the becomes is becoming so bright.
Sometimes this is even worse, once the camera is 5 years old or older. Then you will have these problems also with normal daylight shootings. The display is basically fading out after a couple of years. But then you should send it for a viewfinder display exchange. After that it is a lot better again. This costs you around 190 Euro In Germany incl. a total check of the camera, but it is definitely worth it.
Also a good feature is the standard databack of the RTS III. This will imprint date and time between the pictures on the frame! But no exposure information as with the AX, Aria or N1 and their optional databack. The RTS III runs with normal batteries or 2CR5, whatever you prefer. I like also the way of switching between spot and center-weighted-metering without leaving my eyes from the viewfinder. And that there is no coin for opening the battery-cover is needed.
Summary
I think the RTS III is a great camera. Contax achieved to mix state of the art features at that time with the classical “sexy†look of traditional RTS-Porsche design. The fact that even with its age, it is still the top line model of Contax shows you, how well Contax did its job with the RTS III – and Contax introduced in the meantime many other very good cameras.
But it is difficult to express what a pleasure it is to use it. As with any camera you have to test it yourself – and not just 5 minutes in a store. Although of its weight, the handling is just excellent. The feeling of quality overwhelming.
I read somewhere in an online review of a RTS III user. “...it feels like a rock..â€. I could not have described it better.
Summary of most important points
Excellent quality
Excellent handling
RTV-System
Features still top class, even after 12 years
100% viewfinder
TTL spot pre flash
Different battery types possible
Many professional accessories
No Matrix metering
No Program mode
Viewfinder in bright sunlight difficult to read
Because of the last point “just†very good price/performance ratio (2499 Euro) - compared to other Contax models
Best wishes
Dirk
General Remarks
The RTS III came out in 1990 and was a kind of sensation in the industry. It had features already, which the competition did not at that time. To name just a few: the fast internal motordrive of 5p/s. the vertical shutter-release, pre-flash-spotmetering and last but not least the Real Time Vacuum (RTV) mechanism.
With the RTS III Contax tried to put everything in a body, what could be important for a professionals. You will feel this, as soon as you take it in your hands. It feels like a rock. Extremely solid build. Very good handling and because of the durable construction the heaviest Contax so far (1150g without batteries). It gives you the feeling it would be undestroyable.
The design stayed traditional with the knobs and wheels, what the professionals preferred, because they were used to it. It has still a similar look as the older RTS II- and RTS I- Porsche design, although it is bigger and heavier.
The RTS III is still the top of the line Contax camera for professionals. For the N-system (new n-mount and autofocus), there is no camera for professionals out yet (as of 04/2002).
The RTV-System
The biggest surprise was the RTV-system, which was known before just in the aeroflight photography. Contax implemented in the RTS III a ceramic film pressure plate and an electro-magnetically controlled suction device. if you press the shutter release the camera sucks the film against the pressure place to insure extreme film flatness. But why this complicated technique you will ask.
The Research of Carl Zeiss in Oberkochen found out that the film flatness has in some circumstances quiet strong influence on the sharpness and contrast of a picture. Because of the design of a normal film cartridge, the film never stays for a long time flat after forwarding it to the next frame. That is why the industry tried to hold the film straight and flat with the filmschienen.
But still after winding to the next picture the film curls after a couple of minutes. This gets even worse in different temperatures, humidity and thickness of the film. The idea now is, that if you want to exploit really the potential of a very good lens, you should make sure, that the film stays absolute flat in the camera, even after a couple of minutes. 1979 (!) was a special article from Zeiss about that problem, which you can find in the download section. To make it short for this review, it is proved, that the results if you are using a fast lens at fully open ‘til aperture of ca. 2.8. with the RTV are significant better.
A quote: “...Flatness errors of this type suffice to conspicuously change the image quality of fast lenses. This pronounced defocusing. for ex&le, causes a drop in contrast in the 50mm Planar f/1.4 from 60 to about 20% at 20 cycles/mm. This phenomenon was more or less exhibited by the films of all manufacturers...â€
Since this problem occurs even stronger in medium format, there is also for the Contax 645 an RTV backplate optional available.
Features
I do not want to list all the features of the RTS III in this review. For specifications, please look in the “Contax body overview†sheet in the “news & info†folder. Just the most important ones at that time (remember, this camera was introduced in 1990!).
The spot-pre-flash-TTL-function. Very easy to use, very accurate. You just point the camera with the focusing-circle in the viewfinder at the main subject and press the pre-flash TTL spot meter lever (under the motor-speed-wheel on the right hand top of the camera). Now you can see the result in the viewfinder and by how many stops there is an over/underexposure in case there is no proper flash exposure given the selected aperture. You then can adjust the aperture and see the results in the viewfinder. The settings are automatically memorized and you can shoot immediately. Of course there is also the normal TTL flash capabilities with the RTS III.
The results have been always very satisfying for me. But I loved above all the easy and fast handling of it.
The normal features as shutterspeed of 1/8000 sec.-32 sec., second curtain flash, 1/250 sec flash sync, ABC Bracketing, 2sec. and 10 sec. selftimer, mirror lock up (up and down), 5fps, center-weighted average metering and spot metering (3mm/1% !), built in diopter adjuster, etc. I do not have to explain here, I guess. But for a camera designed in 1990 very impressive.
The viewfinder of 100% (0,74 magnification) is also remarkable. It is extremely bright and very good for people who are wearing glasses. But unfortunately the extreme brightness is also at the same time a disadvantage. Viewfinder indications appear as white letters and numerals against a lighted blue background. This is great visible in normal daylight situations or at night. But if you are out on very sunny day to make some shots against bright sunlight, you can not see the viewfinder information anymore, because the becomes is becoming so bright.
Sometimes this is even worse, once the camera is 5 years old or older. Then you will have these problems also with normal daylight shootings. The display is basically fading out after a couple of years. But then you should send it for a viewfinder display exchange. After that it is a lot better again. This costs you around 190 Euro In Germany incl. a total check of the camera, but it is definitely worth it.
Also a good feature is the standard databack of the RTS III. This will imprint date and time between the pictures on the frame! But no exposure information as with the AX, Aria or N1 and their optional databack. The RTS III runs with normal batteries or 2CR5, whatever you prefer. I like also the way of switching between spot and center-weighted-metering without leaving my eyes from the viewfinder. And that there is no coin for opening the battery-cover is needed.
Summary
I think the RTS III is a great camera. Contax achieved to mix state of the art features at that time with the classical “sexy†look of traditional RTS-Porsche design. The fact that even with its age, it is still the top line model of Contax shows you, how well Contax did its job with the RTS III – and Contax introduced in the meantime many other very good cameras.
But it is difficult to express what a pleasure it is to use it. As with any camera you have to test it yourself – and not just 5 minutes in a store. Although of its weight, the handling is just excellent. The feeling of quality overwhelming.
I read somewhere in an online review of a RTS III user. “...it feels like a rock..â€. I could not have described it better.
Summary of most important points
Excellent quality
Excellent handling
RTV-System
Features still top class, even after 12 years
100% viewfinder
TTL spot pre flash
Different battery types possible
Many professional accessories
No Matrix metering
No Program mode
Viewfinder in bright sunlight difficult to read
Because of the last point “just†very good price/performance ratio (2499 Euro) - compared to other Contax models
Best wishes
Dirk