build quality, 100% viewfinder, handling, pre-flash

no matrix metering (if that would be a weakness), weight (pro-model)

...it feels like a rock. an almost perfect camera, heavy, but this is normal for a pro-model. Look at my detailed Review of the RTS III at: www.contaxinfo.com. This is the ultimate source for every Contax user. For every Contax-system!

Similar Products Used:

almost all Contax cameras, Leica R

Precise metering and operation. Has all useful mechanics to improve picture quality you can think of manual. Super capable of flash photography. Match to Zeiss lens.

heavy, screen under bright sun as menstioned in previous review, but no big deal! Not cheap, but you got one of the best.

Got an used one not long ago on ebay. It has all the functions I would need for a manual focus cameara. A little too heavy for outdoor but it is stable and fast on the other hand. All functions are easy to learn, operate, and remember. Flash capability is superb. The most important thing is that it gives excellent result on various weather conditions I tested.

Customer Service

No Need so far

Similar Products Used:

CANON AE-1 EOS3, MINOLTA X700 NIKON FM2

Fantasticly precise metering system. Solid built quality. Easy layout of camera features. Great pre-flash capability. Feel in the hands that is second to none.

It is difficult to see the blue color viewfinder information in sunny conditions. The location of the metering and vertical shutter switches makes them prone to an accidental change of position while handling the camera.

The Contax RTS III is a dependable and solidly built camera. It is a pleasure to use and has features that are intuitive and easy to navigate. It is the best manual 35mm camera that I have handled and is worth the nearly $1,000 investment for any ambitious photographer who would appreciate the camera''s superb quality combined with no nonsense attributes. A gem for anyone who appreciates manual cameras.

Customer Service

Stopped by in person at their Sommerville, NJ location to remove a few specles of dust in the viewfinder. The service was prompt and curtous.

Similar Products Used:

Contax Aria, Pentax K1000.

Very solid. Reliable. Incredible bright, high contrast viewfinder is best on the market. Built in spot flash meter is very useful especially for studio units. Wonderful ergonomics. Mirror lock up which is becoming rare these days. Vacuum back does actually improve film flatness. Average and spot metering is very accurate. Fully mechanical bulb setting.

Only major weakenss is that the blue LCD readout is hard to see in daylight. A bit on the heavy side although I have taken it backpacking to over 12,000 feet in winter.

A great camera overall. Exudes quality more so than even the Leica R8. Not a camera for those who want matrix metering or AF. Of course, you get to use Zeiss optics. Nothing more to say. Now if Kyocera or Zeiss would just license a few APO teles from Leica, it'd be perfect.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon, Leica R, Canon new F1, other Contaxes

Rugged, Great user interface, high quality, great features

Could use evaluative metering and bargraph on spot metering, heavy

Superb camera, great to use, great lenses and wonderful ergonomics. Only real downside for me is the weight.

Customer Service

Haven't needed any

Similar Products Used:

Contax Aria, Contax RTS, Minolta 600si, Leica M2, Minolta XK, Contarex Bullseye

Contax was developed in order to use the Zeiss optics. Zeiss lenses are probably the finest along with Leitz (Leica) lenses. Built-in flash metering makes this a great studio camera.

It is difficult (impossible for me) to read the metering system in bright sunlight. The PC terminal pulled out from one of my RTS III bodies; someone else told me of a similar experience.

I own several Contax cameras and use them for different reasons. The RTS III is my "studio" camera. The primary reason is that it allows me to meter flash right through the viewfinder. The meter is a "nulling" style meter in that one trips a flash lever on the camera which then shows, via a series of narrow bars (or lines) in the viewfinder whether the exposure reading is over, under or right on. By adjusting the lens aperture or the flash output, one can quickly arrive at the proper exposure. I find the readings to be absolutely accurate (however, I read off an 18% neutral gray card).

The idea of having a vaccum back is a novel idea that may or may not mean greater sharpness throughout the film plane.

The camera (now about a decade since its introduction) is quite easy to use as compared with contemporary, highly computerized, cameras that have so many features and functions that I have to refer to a manual, in hand, just to change the lens aperture.

But, basic settings allow for everything from a diopter correction in the viewfinder, to automated/manual shooting modes as well as different frame rates (motor drive), self-timer and multiple exposure functions. An auto-bracketing feature allows a three-shot bracket with either a half-stop or full-stop variation in exposure between shots.

The real reason to use a Contax, however, is for the quality of the image.

That quality is a result of using lenses which yield superb contrast. Ideally, one would choose to use Kodachrome film for color or a fine grain black and white film to truly appreciate what these lenses can do. For a long time, I did not understand "contrast" as it applied to lenses. But, I can best describe the difference as being that seen when one looks out through a window which has a slight film of dirt on the glass; then opening the window and viewing the same scene. Colors look more vivid and detail appears to be sharper and more distinct.

Finally, I also use my RTS III out of doors, but if the sun is high and bright (not my favorite time of day for most photography) I may switch to my Contax AX (whose meter is easy to read in any situation).

Stan Malinowski
(modelpix.com)

Customer Service

I get excellent service (as a professional)

Similar Products Used:

Canon, Leica, Minolta, Leica, Olympus

Heavy, which makes for good stibility at long shutter speeds. Zeiss glass, with excellent selection. Fast, quiet built-in motor drive. Built very very well. Excellent meter. Handles beautifully, controls are easy to use and intuitive.

Heavy (well, this is both a plus and a minus ;-). Auto Exposure lock is a lever, instead of partially depressed shutter button...time consuming to use. NO datA back, only datE.

Exceptional camera, even though it is a 10 year old design, it easily competes with current day high end 35mm cameras! It really is a pleasure to use!

Customer Service

no idea, never needed it.

Similar Products Used:

Contax Aria, Nikon F, Nikon FM2

Extremely well made, very solid feeling, controls fall naturally in place, 100% coverage in viewfinder, 5fps built in motor drive, vacuum back, and Carl Zeiss Lenses

heavy

One GREAT camera. Often overlooked due to manual focus and not having state of the art matrix metering,etc..., but I have never handled a better built camera. The fit and finish is top notch. For those who don't care for the current plastic bodies SLRs, you could use this thing as a defensive weapon. Another big advantage is you do not need an owners manual the size of a phone book to work this thing, all controls are very easy to use and understand. The Carl Zeiss optics are as good as they get. Contax products on the used marketplace don't hold their value as well as some of the more popular makes, so getting into a used Contax system does not take a huge investment. I would highly recommend you give one a try.

Customer Service

Never had to use. I have ordered an owners manual and camera strap, very prompt service.

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Nikon F2, FM2, F4, Canon T90, F-1

brilliant view, very high quality lenses, ergonomically delicious, smart and basic program possibilities, can handle any weather circumstances

uuhhmmm? even the heavy weight I like

In the winter of '95 I photographed outdoor, when my camera (my first, a Pentax, that I'd been using since I was 17) couldn't satisfie me anymore. I disliked the small buttons, the image on film didn't match exactly with the one through my viewer, but most of all I wanted sharper imaging. I felt in love with an old RTS II, which I could buy for Hfl.1100,- including a motorwinder and a Planar 50mm/1.7. At that time I was a student, had little money, so I sold my scooter and bought that camera. It's one of the best buying decisions I've ever made. Later on I used it together with a Konica Hexar (a very fine camera as well) and a Yashica T5 (with Tessar). Again in the winter (98-99) I wanted something more exciting/different. I saved some money and bought a new Contax G2 with Planar 45/2.0 for Hfl.2999,- what a beauty it is, but I became quickly dissapointed by the use; I felt I gave away to much control of the image to the high tech of the camera. That's why a year later I changed my G2 for a RTS III. Wow, what a corker! Maximum precision, maximum result on 35mm!

Similar Products Used:

Contax RTS II/ AX/ Aria, Nikon F4/5, Leica
R

Many, many. Fast and reliable. Great looking and comfortable to hold. Truly the best camera I've used.

Some of the lens prices. Not just somewhat more- "you've got to be joking" more! Others are resonable
As for the RTS III no weaknesses for me.

Love this camera. Been mad lots of times about lens availability and some prices but every time I pick up one of my Contaxes all is forgiven. I've come to count on this camera and it's never let me down. Mechanically or in image quality. I'm not big on the 300 mm f4, I just couldn't get sharp images with it. I tried it against other CZ 300 f4's and got the same results. Hmmm. I ended up trading it for a CZ 100-300 VS. Wow, much better. Sharp images no problem. My CZ 28-85, amazing. The 25 mm is incredible, I'd never give it up. Strangely you can't use a filter and the lens shade- it vignettes. No polarizer and the shade. Too bad.

Customer Service

Contax Canada has been excellent to me. Thanks Akira, Andy and Greg.
No problems with this camera but I've had others serviced.

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139Q, 137MA, 167MT, RTS II, AX, Yashica FR, FR1, FX-3