Takes Zeiss lenses, very accurate focusing and exposure metering, bright viewfinder with all the info you'd ever need, and with the exception of a couple of functions ergonomics are wonderful. Takes great pictures.

Stiff exposure lock is horrendous. No pre-fire is inexcusable. Self-timer should be a switch vs. an LED display.

I use a Pentax ZX-5N with fast film for non-critical work but use my Aria and Zeiss primes almost exclusively with a quality tripod, Velvia and the expectation of enlarging if I really like the shot. I've developed a pattern of first locking in the composition, then removing my camera (on a quick release), then work with focus, filters, aperture and when ready to shoot I'll take the exposure reading and lock it in. Finally I snap the camera back onto the tripod, recheck the composition and initiate the self-timer. For landscapes this is the technique I use over and over and over but the Aria is far from ideal. First comes the problem of locking in the exposure. Although a stiff switch is nice for the On/Off function it is horrible as an exposure lock! You have to push it so hard that it's easy to accidentally move the camera as the switch changes positions and then you don't know for sure what the camera was pointed at when it took the reading. This doesn't always or even usually happen but it requires a conscious effort to prevent it. It's really a poor design to make this switch so stiff and I get the feeling that Contax wanted to be able to advertise the capabilty but didn't expect people to frequently use this function. Then comes the problem of using the self-timer.The Aria in general has a very nice layout with knobs and buttons instead of LED displays but this is the one place where it forces me to use the LED screen.Every time I turn the camera on I have to push tiny little buttons to call up the self-timer function. It's a pain. Then there's no mirror lock, not even via pre-fire.Despite how wonderful Contax says the dampening is, this camera jumps like a man with the hiccups when it takes a picture. My pictures look really good but I always wonder if they wouldn't look even better if this camera didn't jump so much. I was told that Contax made ideal cameras for the serious amateur but in light of the above deficiencies I really think not. It looks like the bean counters won again. To be fair, I'd probably buy it again because as a system with the Zeiss lenses it's probably still the best value around. I'm just disappointed that after doing so very much exactly right they stopped just short of the goal. It could so easily have been the perfect camera for me. The Zeiss lenses look and feel and function beautifully. They shout Qua

Customer Service

OK

Similar Products Used:

Nikon SLRs, Pentax ZX-5N

Size and weight, features for its class, sophisticated accessories, compatibility with Zeiss lenses of course

Matrix metering, On/off switch to stiff, readings in the viewfinder to much on the right side.

This is the SLR answer to rangefinder compactness. Geat camera, many professionals features, Matris metering with surprises. Look at my review at www.contaxinfo.com. This is the ultimate source for every Contax/Zeiss user! For every camera model.

Similar Products Used:

almost all contax cameras (SLR, G, T, TVS etc.

* light weight * easy to use * Zeiss optics!

If you buy a lot of lenses, the Zeiss line can get expensive. ñ

This is my first new SLR body, my previous cameras have been a cheap P&S and a 30+ year old, fully metal, fully manual Minolta SLR, hand-me-down from my father. The Aria is a delight to use. I have been looking for a new SLR that is easier to carry than the full-metal dinosaur, as well as with a little more automation but keeps the manual controls usable. I was looking at the Nikon F65 and F80 but was disappointed in the quality of the lenses as well as the electronic gadgets the bodies have to offer. I still love dials and switches as they give me a clear view of what the settings are. I was undecided on AF or MF because my old Minolta was hard to focus in low light, even indoors -- even with a f1.4 lens -- but the Aria with a f1.7 lens, was bright and clear enough that it is easy to manual focus. Then my choice became clear -- MF is the way to go for me. (I have the 50mm f1.7, as opposed to the f1.4) My main reason to go for the Contax line was the Zeiss lenses, and those have not disappointed me. The prints came back with so much contrast and details that the images seem to pop out of the papers. They look really 3D. I took pictures of a waterfall and later bought a postcard of the same landmark and I couldn''t tell the difference between my photo and the supposedly professionally taken one. The Aria came with three metering modes, exposure bracketing, and exchangeable focusing screens. The matrix metering is always dead on, but with consumer grade ISO 100 film I always overexpose by 1/3 of a stop. In difficult lighting situations there is always spot metering and AE lock. They are all dials and switches so no scrolling menus around. Wonderful camera body which deserves 5 stars alone. With the line of Zeiss optics I wish I could give it 6 stars.

Customer Service

Never tried.

Similar Products Used:

Minolta SRT1015

Light weight camera that gives you access to the Carl Zeiss line of lenses. It is nice to see matrix metering appear on a Contax camera!

Loud mirror slap
Almost too light for any other zooms than the 28-70 designed for the camera.

This is a relatively inexpensive way to get into the Contax system. Coupled with the new 28-70 it is a nice travel system (the lens is much better than the negative reviews which it has recieved). Although it doesn't have that silky smooth feeling which the RX has, its control layout is still better than anything I have seen from Nikon or Canon.

Customer Service

N/A

Similar Products Used:

RX

Good features and lenses. Easy to learn functions.

Price seems high when compared to Nikon (N80). For the price, base plate ought to be metal. Mine cracked and needed replacement after I dropped it from waist height. Rubberized body shows age after a few months of moderate use.

Good lenses and features overall. Could have been a 5 if not for the prices and cheap plastic base plate. The rubberized body may show wear and tear prematurely. While I'm happy using it in manual mode mostly, photographers wanting to do action shots may want to look at a brand with autofocus lenses.l

Customer Service

Service is expensive. Replacing the base plate cost US$160 which is high considering it is just a piece of plastic!

Similar Products Used:

None

lightweight. informations displayed in the finder (analogue exposure scale etc.) are great

no mirror lock up

best camera to get started with the zeiss lenses, but I wonder who had the idea of calling it "aria", stupid name

Customer Service

had to sent the camera in two times to get a severe and obvious problem (camera started rewinding the film after only 5-6 exposures) fixed

Similar Products Used:

several yashica`s, contax 167mt , contax 139 , contax st

Light, Easy to use, friendly with the Environment (regarding battery), inexpensive

None

After using CAnon and their fancy gadgets (multi focus, presets, etc..) I got a sentiment of freedom with this camera. Sure, more of mine pictures are out of focus, but the one I get right just look great!

Customer Service

Not used yet.

Similar Products Used:

Canon EOS 500, Canon Elan

Light weight, more advance than older models.

Very difficult to hold vertically, apparently there is only one Carl Zeiss lense (28-70) that fits this body comfortably.
Less solid than other Contax bodies.
The grip is far far too small (I have a small hand already).

There is no point to use this body for just one Carl Zeiss lense. I Traded it in for the Contax RX.

Customer Service

Never needed

Similar Products Used:

Contax AX.
EOS 100, 3

This is a update of my last review on 9/10/99.It is so light and pleaseing to carry whole day.

unbalanced with heavyer lens.The rubber finish on the body is not tought enough,it shows ware already on the front grip.But it is may be my fault that I should cut my nails more often.Shutter and motor are loud.i do not mind though.

The mirror of camera is not soft which got me realy worry to handheld fire below 1/15sec w/50mm.now I can do 1/8 sec for good 8 by 10 print! I can't do with either my FM2 or FE2 (N90s is ok).Aria is a musthave item in Contax line.

Customer Service

I sent the camera to Yashica for the meter problem I had.They respons OK but the job was done nicely.There were no tool mark anywhere even Black screws.

Similar Products Used:

None

Very compact, excellent viewfinder display, nice and simple yet robust control layout

tiny option buttons for choosing selftimer, sequential shooting etc.
slakish shutter release feels as though theres a screws loose inside when clicking on and off.

As a user of an olympus OM1n for over 15 years I found the need for some auto help, especially when on holiday. This camera is perfect for the job, small yet packed with clever features. With the shutter speed option for example you can choose your ideal setting yet if the light condition exceedes the apature limits the speeds are automatically adjusted up or down, something the MZ 5 lacks. Theres always manual if you want total control but its handy to have dummy proof criteriar too! Now its just a case of saving up for some more wonderful Ziess lenses, the 50mm 1.7 is a dream to use.

Customer Service

non

Similar Products Used:

MZ 5n