Highly reliable. Solid feel. No Nonsense features. Even if the auto focus isn't blazing fast, it gives you visual confirmation in the viewfinder when you are spot on. Good weight balance for heavier lenses. Digital readout of exposure compensation. 2 second delay timer setting for studio shots. Quick change battery compartment. Large knobs. When you pull this camera out on a job, clients know you are serious and don't ask questions.

Not the fastest auto focus, but I am not a Paparazzi either! Nor am I shooting the Indy 500 everyday. The auto focus WILL hit accurately hit it's mark. Also, the AX is not the lightest camera in the world, but this you get used to and welcome after awhile.

Ok. Very few people will probably pay attention to this review, given the fact that this is a Film Camera, AND given the fact that the Contax brand unfortunately is not sold anymore. However I still think the camera that I love still rates a review. I first purchased a Contax Aria back in 2000. I happily used the camera, purchased a few wonderful Carl Zeiss lenses and was happy. I was a bit less than happy with the speed at which I could operate it, and every so often the body just froze up. But I was shooting with Carl Zeiss lenses and with all due respect to the other lines, I could see a difference. By the time I started getting into Pro Shooting I needed speed, reliability and yes i was looking for Auto focus.

All in all, the Contax AX is a very robust body. I shoot models and weddings with it. I like the viewfinder information, the exposure lock control, bright viewfinder etc. For studio work, one advantage of the Auto focus system is the ability to turn ANY lens into a Macro lens. This is a killer app when it comes to product and model close-ups. In the studio, it is a great camera. For portraits and fashion, great as well .. and I already mentioned the 'built in Bellows" feature.
When you put on the great Carl Zeiss 85/1.4 lens, you have a true timeless image making device. My lenses will of course migrate with me when I do finally migrate to say a Digital Canon..with a lens adapter ring.

My only limitations are mostly in flash recycle speed...but this will be solved by going from a Quantum 1+ to a Turbo pack.

I also own a Contax RTS II. I mostly use this for "Leica" style natural light photography and of course as a quick change and backup to my AX. I just wished I had invested in the Contax System back in the 90's where images were really judged on quality and aesthetics rather than the speed by which you could get them to clients and publish them on MySpace :) But wait, there is always my View Camera :)

Alan
www.modimages.net

Similar Products Used:

Contax RTS II
Carl Zeiss 25/2.8
Carl Zeiss 35/2.8
Carl Zeiss 50/1.4
Carl Zeiss 85/1.4
Carl Zeiss 135/2.8
Carl Zeiss 200/4.0
Contax Preview II
Profoto Accute 2R Studio Flash

All around performance is professional caliber, especially enjoy the macro function and of course the Zeiss MM lenses!

First weakness, Good luck finding one these bad boys went out of production and are scarce on ebay, collectors are holding onto these bad boys. Secondly, Autofocus a bit slow and the body is a bit bulky. Although autofocus is very accurate once it locks on and the bulkiness is what allows for the autofocus with the MM lenses.

I've shot Nikon, Canon, Pentax, Schneider, and Leica optics and the Carl Zeiss MM lenses perform at or beyond the level of all of these(including L-glass,ED, and APO lenses. The innovative design of the AX body not only gives you the autofocus capability, but its nifty macro function acts as a 10mm extension tube which enables pretty awesome macro work with a standard 50mm 1.7 lens, with full TTL metering I might add. The 50mm 1.7 is rated a 4.6 on photodo.com making it one of the worlds sharpest. The AX body even allows for auto-focus when using external extension tubes. The quality and craftsmenship of all Contax bodies are world reknowned and the AX is no acception, it is built like a tank. Provides high shutter speeds and a fast framing rate. I recommend this body to Zeiss lovers everywhere.

Customer Service

You won't need any on Contax equipment, unless you need some cleaning done. Very well built

Similar Products Used:

Nikon F5, Canon A2

Superb quality and workmanship, excellent oprtical performace without question.

A little heavy, but who cares, better than some piece of plastic that wobbels all over the place.

Excellent product. I prefer Contax by miles to Leica and Nikon. The latter one is just a mass produced, well advertised product with wobbely lenses made from plastic and in China. :( The lenses are superb, but who tells me, the multifocal lenses of my reading glasses are made by.... Carl Zeiss. It is the best of the best. The camera is excellent in quality and performance. I had several Contax cameras before this one, but love this one most of all. You can see some of the pictures at my website http://radioandmedia.com

Customer Service

Very good.

Similar Products Used:

137 MD, 167 MT, Nikon 9000

Autofocus is fast, accurate and quiet. Quality built like an armour tank comparable to the RTSIII and Leica R8. It is a good choice for those who has already owned many manual MM lenses and can't afford to upgrade to the astronomically priced N1 optics.

Focusing screen is a bit darker than the Aria. Single point focusing. AF is a bit of hassle with zoom lenses.

With the AX, you can have the best of both worlds: autofocus and manual focous with the excellent Carl Zeiss MM optics. In fact the focusing method is similar to the extension bellows of the Mamiya 67. The difference is that you have the entire film, shutter and prism housed in a movable unit. The innovative focusing system is fast, quiet and accurate. I have high success rate of capturing fast moving objects. It works very well even under low light. Users must use small aperture if you focus the AX close-up with the film plane extension in the case of lenses with floating elements such as the 180/2.8 Sonnar, otherwise the edge sharpness will drop. The chunky titanium and aluminium alloy body is very solid and beautiful. Compared to today's standard, one-point autofocusing seems to be outdated; but I have used the eye-focus system of the EOS 30/Elan 7, and I concluded that it is no big deal of problem with single-point focusing unless you are a sport photographer.

Similar Products Used:

Contax Aria Canon EOS 30/ Elan 7 Mimiya RZ67 Pro II Bronica ETRsi Contarex Bullseye Canon EOS 1000FN Minox ECX 1

Excellent Build Quality,
quite and accurate autofocus, superb zeiss optics, super manual/autofocus integration with separate focus lock, easy to use good old manual dials and controls, well placed
well balanced (with 28-85 zoom)

A bit bulky and heavy,
Evaluative metering would be nice, but I don't consider it essential.

It is such a pleasure to return to a camera that is well designed, both functionally and ergonometrically, well built, easy to use and is not encumbered with an infinite amount of superfluous bells and whistles such as eye directed focus, 45 zone metering, etc that do nothing but complicate picture taking (if in fact you actually use them). All the controls are well placed and you can easily set them without removing your eye from the viewfinder or going through physical contortions. The photographer has complete control of the picture taking process as oppposed to the camera controlling the photographer. Excellent flash capabilities (with the TLA360). The autofocus is quick and practically silent. Built in Macro capability for all optics is nice to have. Evaluative metering would be nice (especially as described on the upcoming ContaxN1 which will display the differential between evaluative, spot and center weighted), but it doesn't lower my rating in any way. When shooting slide film in tricky lighting, I always bracket anyway (easy to use autobracketing feature) and in normal situations the center weighted metering works just fine when you know what you're doing. With print film, all the fancy exposure combinations are of questionable value anyway because of the automatic correction the print processors make. And of course, there is nothing like the quality of Zeiss optics. (I had been considering the AX for quite some time and after seeing the quality of the pictures from my TVSII compared to my Nikon 8008S, sold the Nikon and bought the AX. In short, although no camera is perfect in general, and all are better for some uses than others ( I don't think I would choose it for fast action sports photography), this is one superb photographic instrument. I haven't enjoyed using a camera like this in more years than I can remember. And everytime I use it, I appreciate it more.

Customer Service

No experience

Similar Products Used:

Zeiss Ikon Contaflex
Nikon FE
Olympus OM 4
Nikon 8008S

Excelente integración entre los modos manual y autofoco.
Construcción sobresaliente.
Cómoda empuñadura pese a lo "gorda".
Disparo continuo rápido.
Bulbo con temporizador incorporado.

Ausencia de grip vertical.
Ausencia de modo de medición matricial.
Botón de modos de exposición complicado para cambiar.

Excelente sistema autofoco para aprovechar lentes Zeiss. Es lento, pero muy preciso. Como usario de lentes Nikon Silent Wave, debo confesar que la diferencia es enorme; pero sencillamente la AX no es una cámara para hacer deportes. Es una cámara de foco manual con la posibilidad de autofoco para ciertas ocasiones. Por ejemplo, en total oscuridad. Si se entiende para lo que fue concebida se merece la mejor puntuación.

Customer Service

E-Mail inmediato.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon f-601
Nikon F-100
Nikon F-5
Nikon F-4
Nikon F-90x
Nikon D1

I appreciate the excellent build quality, the near silent autofocus, and the bright viewfinder. I also like having a separate AF button, and the extra close focusing capability.

I would have liked a mirror lock-up function, quieter mirror slap, and a vertical grip.

It's a top quality camera that's not loaded down with absolutely every concievable feature (which some people may not like). Because of the weaknesses mentioned, I can't give it five stars, though.

Customer Service

Contax's technical representative Blake Zeigler is very knowledgeable, and always takes the time to answer questions about Contax, Zeiss, or photography in general.

Similar Products Used:

Pentax PZ-1P (more features, but can't use Zeiss lenses, and lesser build quality)
Canon A2 (More features but has a cheap feel that really bothered me, but obviously not other people, and it also does not use Zeiss lenses, although I like Canon's selection. I would chose the PZ-1P over this)
The Nikon F5 seems too expensive for me.

Solid
Good meter
Carl Zeiss glass!!!

The AF is a joke! Yes it works on static objects but try to focus on a moving object. Compared to my Nikon F5 the AX is in the stone age.

If you want to use Zeiss lenses, buy a cheaper body and forget about AF. If you need AF don't waste your money on this dog, buy a Nikon or Canon

Similar Products Used:

Nikon F5
Nikon F3
Nikon F2A

Autofocus capability with legendary Zeiss Manual Focus Lenses.
Suprisingly quick focus.
Very well engineered from quality to ease of use.

A little big for small hands.

Although pricey and bulky it does the job very well.

Customer Service

No Complaints.

Similar Products Used:

Contax 167MT
Contax RTS II
Contax SB2
Canon EOS Elan

Integrates excellent manual focus with competent autofocus.

Lacks mirror lock and matrix metering. Marginal low light/contrast AF. Slightly loud mirror slap.

With 45 years experience and a predilection for large and medium format, I detest complicated electronic 35mm camera interfaces and marginalized manual focus viewfinders and lenses. Significant AX virtues are its (1) easily seen, efficient analog controls; (2) superb manual focus; (3) traditional, well-damped manual focus lenses; (4) quiet, competent autofocus; (5) excellent fill-flash with Metz 40MZ3i; and (6) an overall design which doesn't inhibit control, yet permits automated responses. For a tradionalist with aging eyes, the AX is gift.

Customer Service

Excellent manual. Good email support.

Similar Products Used:

Canon EOS-1n, Elan IIe; Leica R6.2, R7; Minolta 800si; Pentax PZ1p; Nikon F4s, N90s, N70, 8008s.