What's new
DPR Forum

Welcome to the Friendly Aisles!
DPRF is a spin-off of dpreview. We are a photography forum with people from all over the world freely sharing their knowledge and love of photography. Everybody is welcome, from beginners to the experienced professional. From smartphone to Medium Format.

DPRF is a community for everybody, every brand and every sensor format. Digital and film.
Enjoy this modern, easy to use software. Look also at our Reviews & Gallery!

Reviews Contax ST

Michael,
I have an RX but have not even held an ST in my hands. A quick look at www.contaxcameras.com gave the quick and easy comparison of features. You might have a look there. Each of these cameras is about the same weight and size. The ST does not have any custom functions, whereas the RX has 9. I personally don't use all nine of these functions, but it really does make for a versatile camera. You should be able to read about them in the pdf downloaded brochures on this website. In essence, once you customize the functions one time to your liking, you probably won't change them ever again. Both cameras have a date back. One possible clever adaptation on the ST is the on/off switch goes from off, to on, then spot meter, then AE lock. Although I would prefer to lock exposure with my own choice of metering. One other difference is the RX has a five pin hotshoe for use with the newer Contax flash units, while the ST has the older three pin. I cannot comment on the 50/1.7 versus the 50/1.4, I have used only the 1.7. I think many members have commented on the merits of these lens in other thread. Also do take a look at the Review RX and the Review ST on Dirk's website here.

Hope this helps,
Ron Walton
 
When I jumped into Contax 4 years ago, I was torn between ST and RX. I eventually bought an ST. One key factor is the reliability. I was told that the ST use the same shutter mechanism as the RTSIII.

ST actually feels a little bit smaller in my hands compared to RX. I normally use it with the 85mm f/1.4 lens, where my left hand will hold the lens. In this way, the body and lens is balanced and the size of the body is no longer an issue. You have to try the ST with your favorite lens to know if this is an issue for you.

Nowadays, the ST price drops so much that it is actually lower than RX and S2. Wondering if I should pick up an back up body...

timothy
 
Hi, I have just acquired an ST with 50/1.4 multimode lens. Any tips from users out there on how to get the best out of the ST specifically. Can anyone tell me how long a set of batteries should last. A new set has not lasted me very long at all, the low battery indicator is now showing.

Many thanks

Michael
 
Hello Michael,

did you play a lot with the camera? I always got my batteries low on this way very quick. Else I can't complain about ST's battery consumption. And I'm not using the P-7 Adaptor for AA's. Contax speaks about 50 rolls of 24 Exposure films with one set of AAA batteries in the manual. I never counted this on mine.
NiCd-batteries are also recommended in teh manual. Maybe you should go with those.
As a tip for every camera I can tell you to learn about light metering and exposure compensation. And use the compensation dial! The ST is quite simple to use and gives so much possibilities to influence the results. I mostly use it in the AV mode. So I can get a great DOF or a short exposure time very quick by simply setting another f-stop.

Matthias
 
Hi, I recently purchased a used ST. It seems to be in good condition but, following Dirk's advice, I'd like to send it to Contax to have it checked out while it is still under warantee. Does anyone know where I should send it? (Dirk?) (I live in the UK.)
Nick.
 
Nick,

I do not know the address by heart, but try to find the webpage for the Contax UK website with google. They list also the mailing address there, as far as I know...

dirk
 
Kyocera Yashica (UK) Ltd
Unit 7,Suttons Business Park Suttons Park Avenue Earley
Reading Berkshire
RG6 1AZ

Tel: 0118 935 6300

Regards
David
 
Thanks David. Do you have any experience with the service?
Best,
Nick.

BTW, bizarrely, there is no information about service/support on contax's UK website, nor a contact address, nor email contact facility. Merely a list of dealers. Though I phoned the number you gave and they told me they are offering product support.
 
Nick,
I have to say that I am a shade bemused by the UK contax people. As a customer service function their web site has to be one of the worst on the net.
having said that they came through for me with my requests. I wanted a new base plate for my RTSIII and a manual for the TLA360, I am told that both are waiting for me at my parents address (arrived today!). However, from first call to arrival of the goods was 6 weeks! The guy that I dealt with was really helpful and seemed to know his stuff. I get the impression that the cameras side is a pretty small area as I have spoken to the same person every time I have rung.
I tried mailing info@contaxcameras.co.uk which ended up in their design companies office, the muppet there (I hope he reads this site as he was a muppet) managed to send me a load of customer confidential documents for one of their other customers.... I e-mailed him telling him this but got no response or offer of a contact at Contax.
In summary they are good, they deliver, however compared to other companies that I have bought things from they are slow. My other passion in music and companies such as Quad and Naim really could teach Contax what customer service is about. I love my contax cameras, I just wish that they were better promoted / supported in the Uk.
Regards
David
 
David,
Thanks a lot for your information. I think I'll send the camera for inspection anyway.

I'm also surprised that there are few UK dealers with reasonable stocks of (new or used) contax MF equipment searchable on the internet. the only such dealers seem to be Jessops, who seemingly never update their website, Jonathon Harris and Ffordes. Do you know of any others?

Best,

Nick.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top