Contax RX Review: Precision and Innovation in 35mm Film Photography

The Contax RX, introduced in 1994, stands as a testament to the precision engineering and innovative spirit of the Contax brand. Designed for serious photographers who demand both high performance and refined control, the RX blends advanced technology with the timeless appeal of film photography. In this review, we’ll dive into the features, design, and performance of the Contax RX, and why it continues to hold a special place in the hearts of film photography enthusiasts.

Design and Build Quality

At first glance, the Contax RX is a camera that exudes professionalism and quality. Its all-metal body is solid and well-built, giving it a reassuring weight that speaks to its durability. Weighing in at around 755 grams without a lens, the RX is substantial but not cumbersome, striking a balance between robustness and usability. The camera’s exterior is finished in a sleek black, with a design that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing.

Ergonomically, the Contax RX is well thought out. The camera’s handgrip is comfortable and contoured, providing a secure hold even during extended shooting sessions. The layout of the controls is intuitive, with all the essential dials and buttons easily accessible. The top plate features a large, easy-to-read LCD display that provides important shooting information, such as shutter speed, aperture, exposure compensation, and frame count. This display is a significant convenience, allowing photographers to quickly check their settings without needing to look through the viewfinder.

One of the standout design features of the Contax RX is its integrated diopter adjustment, which allows users to fine-tune the viewfinder’s focus to match their eyesight. This feature is particularly beneficial for photographers who wear glasses, ensuring that they can achieve precise focus without any difficulty.

Viewfinder and Focusing

The viewfinder on the Contax RX is bright, clear, and offers approximately 92% frame coverage with 0.84x magnification. This makes composing shots a pleasant experience, as the viewfinder provides a large, detailed view of the scene. The viewfinder also includes essential exposure information, such as shutter speed and aperture, which is displayed clearly without distracting from the image.

One of the most innovative features of the Contax RX is its “Digital Focus Indicator” (DFI) system. This focus-assist feature provides visual confirmation when the subject is in focus, which is particularly useful for photographers who prefer manual focus but want the added assurance of electronic precision. The DFI system is especially helpful in low-light situations or when shooting with wide-aperture lenses, where precise focusing is critical.

The RX’s manual focus experience is superb, thanks to the smooth and responsive focus ring found on the Carl Zeiss lenses that are compatible with the Contax/Yashica (C/Y) mount. These lenses are renowned for their optical excellence, offering sharpness, contrast, and color fidelity that enhance the overall image quality.

Exposure Control and Metering

The Contax RX offers a full range of exposure modes, including Program, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, and Manual modes. This versatility makes it suitable for a wide variety of shooting scenarios, from fast-paced street photography to carefully composed landscape shots. The exposure mode dial is well-constructed, providing a satisfying click as it locks into place, ensuring that settings won’t be accidentally changed during use.

The camera’s metering system is a 6-zone evaluative metering system that delivers accurate and consistent exposures in various lighting conditions. The metering is effective in most situations, providing reliable results whether you’re shooting in bright sunlight or under more challenging lighting conditions. The RX also offers center-weighted and spot metering options, giving photographers the flexibility to choose the metering mode that best suits their needs.

Performance and Usability

In practical use, the Contax RX excels in both performance and usability. The camera’s shutter is electronically controlled, with speeds ranging from 16 seconds to 1/4000th of a second, allowing for a wide range of creative possibilities. The built-in motor drive advances the film automatically and supports continuous shooting at up to 2 frames per second, which, while not the fastest, is adequate for most situations.

The RX’s handling is smooth and responsive, making it a joy to use in the field. The combination of its ergonomic design, advanced features, and the exceptional quality of Carl Zeiss lenses ensures that the RX can produce images of outstanding quality, with rich detail, sharpness, and beautiful tonal gradation.

Conclusion

The Contax RX is a remarkable 35mm film SLR that offers a blend of precision engineering, innovative features, and the high-quality craftsmanship that Contax is known for. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or a passionate amateur, the RX provides a shooting experience that is both rewarding and inspiring. Its combination of manual focus precision, advanced exposure control, and exceptional optics makes it a standout choice for those who appreciate the art and discipline of film photography. The Contax RX is not just a camera—it’s a tool that elevates your craft and connects you with the timeless tradition of photography.

Watch a video over view of the RX here 

Contax RTS II Review: The Evolution of a Classic in 35mm Photography

Following the success of the original Contax RTS, the Contax RTS II was introduced in 1982 as an evolution of the groundbreaking SLR that had made a significant impact on the photography world. The RTS II retained the core principles of its predecessor—precision, reliability, and exceptional optics—while introducing several improvements that elevated its performance and usability. In this review, we’ll explore the features and strengths of the Contax RTS II and why it remains a cherished camera among film photography enthusiasts.

Design and Build Quality

The Contax RTS II carries forward the sleek, minimalist design that made the original RTS so iconic. Designed by the Porsche Design Studio, the camera maintains its clean lines and robust construction, but with subtle refinements that enhance its functionality. The body is made of durable metal, giving it a solid, professional feel in hand, and weighing around 800 grams, it strikes a balance between sturdiness and portability.

The camera’s controls are logically laid out, making it intuitive to use, even for those who are new to the Contax system. The shutter speed dial, located on the top right of the camera, is easy to access, and the film advance lever is smooth and responsive. One of the notable improvements in the RTS II is its enhanced shutter mechanism, which offers a quieter, more refined operation compared to the original RTS. This makes the RTS II even more suitable for discreet shooting scenarios.

Viewfinder and Focusing

The viewfinder in the Contax RTS II is one of its standout features, offering 95% frame coverage and a magnification of 0.87x. The viewfinder is bright and clear, making it easy to compose shots with precision. The camera comes with a split-image focusing screen as standard, which aids in achieving sharp focus, particularly in challenging lighting conditions.

Focusing on the RTS II is purely manual, but it’s a joy to use thanks to the precision of the focusing mechanism and the superior quality of Carl Zeiss lenses that are compatible with the Contax/Yashica mount. The manual focus experience is smooth and satisfying, allowing photographers to fine-tune their focus with great accuracy. This is particularly important for professional work, where every detail counts.

Exposure and Metering

The Contax RTS II introduces an electronically controlled quartz-timed shutter, which ranges from 16 seconds to 1/2000th of a second. This is a significant advancement from the original RTS, offering even more precise control over exposure. The shutter is stepless in Aperture Priority mode, allowing for incredibly accurate exposure settings that adapt to the available light.

The camera’s metering system is center-weighted TTL (through-the-lens), providing consistent and reliable exposures in most shooting conditions. The meter reading is displayed in the viewfinder, making it easy for photographers to adjust their settings on the fly. This real-time feedback is crucial for professionals working in dynamic environments where lighting conditions can change rapidly.

Performance and Usability

In the field, the Contax RTS II performs exceptionally well. It’s a camera that feels comfortable and intuitive, allowing photographers to focus on capturing the moment without being distracted by the controls. The improvements in the shutter mechanism and metering system make it a reliable choice for a wide range of photographic genres, from portraiture to landscape photography.

The RTS II also features a built-in motor drive option, allowing for automatic film advancement. This makes it easier to shoot quickly, especially in fast-paced situations, and adds to the overall efficiency of the camera.

Conclusion

The Contax RTS II is more than just an update to the original RTS—it’s a camera that builds on the strengths of its predecessor while introducing meaningful improvements that enhance the shooting experience. With its robust build quality, precise manual focus, and advanced exposure control, the RTS II remains a favorite among film photographers who value craftsmanship and reliability.

For those who appreciate the tactile experience of shooting with film and the precision that comes with manual control, the Contax RTS II is a camera that delivers in every aspect. It’s a testament to Contax’s commitment to quality and innovation, making it a timeless tool for capturing beautiful, well-crafted images.

See a video look at the RTS ii here 

Contax RTS Review: The Ultimate Fusion of Precision and Elegance in 35mm Photography

The Contax RTS, introduced in 1975, is often regarded as a groundbreaking model in the world of 35mm SLR cameras. As the flagship model of the newly revived Contax brand, under the collaboration of Carl Zeiss and Yashica (with Kyocera overseeing production), the RTS (Real-Time System) was designed with the professional photographer in mind. Combining German optical precision with Japanese engineering, the RTS set new standards for camera design and functionality. In this review, we’ll explore what makes the original Contax RTS a classic, and why it still holds a special place in the hearts of film photography enthusiasts.

Design and Build Quality

The first thing you notice about the Contax RTS is its sleek, minimalist design. Crafted by the renowned Porsche Design Studio, the camera features clean lines, a matte black finish, and a solid metal body that feels substantial in hand. The design prioritizes functionality without sacrificing elegance, making the RTS as much a pleasure to hold as it is to use.

Weighing approximately 740 grams, the RTS strikes a balance between heft and portability. Its robust construction ensures durability, while the thoughtful placement of controls enhances the shooting experience. The shutter speed dial is conveniently located on the top right of the camera, making adjustments quick and intuitive. The camera’s overall build quality is exceptional, with every dial and button engineered for precision, reflecting the high standards of both Zeiss and Yashica.

Viewfinder and Focusing

One of the most celebrated features of the Contax RTS is its bright, clear viewfinder. Offering 95% frame coverage and a magnification of 0.87x, the viewfinder provides an excellent view for composing shots. It’s equipped with a split-image focusing screen, which aids in achieving sharp focus, especially in challenging lighting conditions.

While the RTS is a fully manual focus camera, it excels in this regard. The manual focus experience is incredibly smooth and precise, thanks to the high-quality focusing mechanisms and the superb Zeiss lenses that were designed to complement this camera. The tactile feedback you get when focusing is one of the many reasons photographers appreciate the RTS—it’s an experience that brings you closer to the art of photography.

Exposure and Metering

The Contax RTS was ahead of its time with its electronically controlled, stepless shutter, which ranges from 1 second to 1/2000th of a second. This was a significant innovation in the 1970s, allowing for more accurate and reliable exposure control compared to the mechanical shutters that were common at the time.

The RTS also features a center-weighted TTL (through-the-lens) metering system, which, while not as advanced as modern multi-segment metering systems, provides consistent and reliable exposures. The meter is visible in the viewfinder, allowing for real-time adjustments, which is crucial when working in varying light conditions.

Performance and Usability

In use, the Contax RTS is a camera that demands attention and rewards the photographer with a deeply satisfying experience. Its combination of precision engineering and superior optics results in images of outstanding quality. The camera’s shutter release is smooth and quiet, which is ideal for discreet shooting situations, while the ergonomics ensure that it feels natural in hand, even during long sessions.

The Contax RTS remains a beloved camera for those who appreciate the tactile, hands-on nature of film photography. It’s a camera that encourages thoughtful shooting, where each click of the shutter is a deliberate act.

Conclusion

The original Contax RTS is more than just a camera; it’s a piece of photographic history. Its combination of sleek design, precision engineering, and exceptional optics makes it a timeless tool for serious photographers. Whether you’re a professional seeking a reliable workhorse or an enthusiast who values the craft of photography, the Contax RTS offers an unparalleled experience that is as relevant today as it was nearly five decades ago. It’s a camera that truly lives up to its name—delivering real-time performance in every shot.

Video look at the RTS here