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Which Contax System suits best to your needs

I intend to give my Nikon SLR/ 28-135 lens to my daughter. I'd like to finally join the Contax family but am totally confused about which camera/lens to buy. The primary use will be travel --prints/hand held. IMAGE QUALITY is my primary consideration (does this eliminate a zoom e.g., the 24-85, and dictate a FF?).
I will use AF as well as manual but do not want to be frustrated by a tricky AF system as many members write in their e-mails. So---what should I do? Should I save my money and stick with my Nikon? Also, any reason to wait and see what comes out at the end of the year?
Many thanks for your help.
 
Dear Diane,

If you really want to change to contax for the optics and build quality and you must have autofocus, then you have several options.

For travel I recommend a very lightweight and convenient camera. I suggest the T2, which is has a 38mm f2.8 sonnar lens. You will be surprised at how much more you enjoy your vacations and how many more pictures you get when you don't try to avoid taking a heavy camera along. Another option is a G2 with a 45mm f2 planar lens. These are bouth lightweight autofocus systems with superior optics.

If you really don't mind bulk, or you need an SLR, then get an AX with a 50mm f1.7 planar. I do not recommend the N1. It's lens selection is too small and priced unreasonably.

Sincerely, Eitan Adut
 
Dear George,

167 cases come up on ebay every month or two. If you can't wait there, call Sarber's camera in Oakland, California and ask for Shasta. Phone: (510) 339-8545.

Best Regards, Eitan Adut
 
A mini camera is always useful. The T3 is a work of art. You would never regret owning it. There will always be times you have a cigarette sized camera that you would not have a larger one. The utter simplicity is cool too. Of course it is expensive and these cameras lead rough lives. Right now I use an Olympic Stylus and it's OK in this role, and I take a lot of pictures with it.

The G series is interesting. I haven't shot with it. It's amazing that range finders have made a big comeback. I still think if I was going for this retro an approach I'd go all the way to Leica M6. Or even a M3 !

But I think SLRs rule. Versitility, light metering, long lenses, macro photography. They do it all. Really to me the SLR is the required, must have, excellent camera.

Based on the standards of other manufacturers I'd say all the Contax SLR bodies are "professional". The Aria is a little jewel. It's extremely rugged and has all the basic features (if stuff like three metering modes, a comprehensive viewfinder and 1/4000th shutter speed are "basic"). I've read a few reviews from people who took them to the arctic and very high up on mountain climbing expeditions. So I think, as much as other Contax's it's a pro camera built in to a niche. One reviewer launched one from a taxi cab with a monopod attatched and it survived to take pictures. In fact some plastic in a body - if done right - can increase shock resistance. (Why Glocks are so rugged).

The RTS III is awesome. The RTS II is a really handsome classic. The NX is a lot of people's favorite. The lens selection for C/Y is great. How long until there is a 85/1.2 ? Ok, so your not going to buy one of those, but how about the 100/2, considered the best portrait lense for a 35mm by many? Etc. Plus, the feel of manual lenses is really nice. To me the C/Y series is the nicest compromise between the full-retro of the Rangefinder and the obviously modern N.

Having said that the N is the future, and it's never a bad thing to bet on the future. Both cameras are nice, the NX in particular having many of the pluses (size, weight) of the Aria. The zooms are superior, and handy.

Finally in medium format I like "square" so would go with the Rollei, which has nice Zeiss lenses for it too. Lots of folks love the 645 though.

My choice is C/Y .. but you can't go wrong with any and maybe the "N" makes the most sense now.
 
Dear Till:

I agree my conclusions run contrary to the so-called experts. Using the similar focal length (say the 90mm G vs. 24-85 N at 85 mm) and taking the same portrait, I find the results quite remarkably better with the N series package. Perhaps it's not just a simple lens-to-lens comparison but the final product produced by either system. I have shown these photos to others and they concur that the N-shot photos are better than the G-shots, esp. for color reproduction and overall resolution.

Further, one basic advantage familiar to all of us is that there's no framing problem with the slrs. Sometimes, it's madness trying to get the right framing with the Gs, not to mention the new T3.
 
Well, I recently shot a test roll on my own: Contax G primes vs. Minolta 9000 AF and Minolta 28-85 zoom. I will analyze the slides ASAP. Quite interesting if the inconvenience of carrying and fumbling the primes pays.

I will post my results here.
 
Okay all of you opinionated members, I'm again asking for guidance. As I e-mailed before, I'm considering setting aside my Nikon equipment and buying Contax. I've faithfully read members' comments about lens/bodies (thanks Eitan for responding to my message). I feel I should follow Dirk's advice and buy what best suits my needs. My Contax system will be used for travel. I now use a short zoom and usually shoot in AF (handheld). I like the convenience of a zoom and have long ago abandoned changing lens and/or carrying two hefty camera bodies.
I want to move to Contax because it's my impression it can offer me a lens capable of giving me 'drop dead' quality prints. Is this only possible with prime lens? Am I sabotaging Contax's strenghts and my goal if I were to buy a zoom? It seems the 24-85 is a good choice for travel. Do you agree AND will it provide the very sharp images Contex is known for? For those of you who use a Contax zoom and have used FF lens, have you found the 24-85 zoom compromises image quality? (Is there another/better zoom to consider?)
I don't need to add more cameras and lens to my already large arsenal, and I don't want to spend the dollars unless I move into a lens that has the capability to produce the classic resolution and color associated with Contax.
So-----------believing a zoom is best suited to my needs, please advise.
Thanks so much.
 
Diane:
I use the 24-85 zoom on my N-Digital and find as good as resolution and sharpness as one could want. It is a very practical travel lens it's almost all you need. I agree primes used to be the only thing, but this is a great lens.
Wally
 
"I use the 24-85 zoom on my N-Digital and find as good as resolution and sharpness as one could want."

I agree. If you want to reach the limits of the N24-85, you have to use a tripod and an excellent film. Since the FFL of the Zeiss manual focus line are sometimes a very old design, you will often outperform them with this zoom. Only "disadvantage is aperture 3.5-4.5.

What is especially amazing because of the new N-lensdesign is the flare reduction and contrast. I have not seen that at any other zoom yet. The 24mm in the zoomrange makes it also tremendeously more "universal" for travel shots then the old C/Y 28-85MM zoom. The new N28-80 is also great but it lacks the Dualfocusmechanism and the 24mm for impressive landscape shots.

Look also in the N-lenses folder for more opinions

BUT the N-system is quiet big and loud compared to the G-system or C/Y-system. People will see immediatley that someone is taking a picture. In some countries a disadvantage. In these situations I would prefer an Aria with an 45mm (S2 to loud), a G2 with 45mm or even better a TVS III/T3.

dirk
 
"Drop Dead" hmmm..... Good Nikon Zooms will also offer extreme sharpness. Perhaps all you need is a nice ED Nikon zoom.

I agree that TVS III/T3 would be great travel
choices.

I have not used the new N series zooms. I have used some of the Y/C versions. IMHO they are equal to or exceed Nikon/Canon etc high end zooms.
But the "magic" I like in CZ is often absent.
I'd have to say thay this is the case with some primes as well.

I'd try to put a roll through an N camera with the Zoom on in the shop, then check out the results, but if you are already using high end Nikon gear, you may find it about the same.

YMMV
 
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