focus/depth of field indicator
accepts zeiss lenses
knobs vs button controls
price

None

The RX is a wonderful 35mm, especially for one who has need of sight assist w/o autofocus. The availability of focus/sharp focus area information in the viewfinder gives you an edge, especially in time sensitive shooting situations. The camera layout and functional access via knobs vs push buttons ( as in the lower priced Aria predecessor ) provides a very human "digital feel" for a hands on experience. Having started in 35mm with Yashica equipment, I also appreciate the ability to use my Yashica, Vivitar and Sigma lenses on both camera lines. The RX is a price competitive, economically valuable SLR, which I feel is loaded with functionality and versatility. I also own a Canon EOS Elan IIe, with eye controlled focus, but find myself constantly drawn to using the Contax for its features and field of focus depiction ability. A great camera for the intermediate to next step photographer.

Customer Service

NA

Similar Products Used:

None

Beautiful looking camera allowing access to Zeiss lenses which are without competition as far as skin tones are concerned. It's also pretty quiet for an SLR and has nice layout of controls.

I find this camera, along with an RTS3 I used to own really very difficult to focus in low light. I can't tell whether this is because of the focus screens contax use (which are much warmer than on eg. my Nikon's) or because of the very dreaminess which I so value in the c.z. lenses. I am surprised that no body else finds this a problem and I would very much appreciate comments/suggestions. (It's true that I hardly ever use flash and seem always to be working indoors). Oh, and the digital assist is almost laughably bad for people photography - it seems worse than the minolta 7000 to me

The best lenses I've ever used by a long way - nice camera, now, if only I could focus it...

Similar Products Used:

you name it, I've tried it - once you've got used to zeiss lenses it's hard to go back

Lots of dials!
Solid feel.
Bright viewfinder.
Digital Focus Indicator.

None

The RX is a dream for outdoor photography. Although it can be a bit "bulky" for traveling, everything about it wonderful. A real plus for anyone wanting to concentrate on their photos and not the camera.

Customer Service

Good customer service. While I have not had my RX serviced, I did send my 137MD to Yashica/Contax in Southern California to be re-gripped and cleaned. While I did have to call a couple of times to inquire on the status of the camera, it was returned in top condition at a reasonable cost.

Similar Products Used:

Contax 167
Contax 137MD Quartz

Great body, great craftmanship very stable and quiet. good feel. good
DFI feature.

Price, well, maybe not

This is a very well built camera, with plenty of features. functional knobs are easy to read. feel great in heads. Price is reasonable for this quality. Custom functions are good, but need the manual to decode. But, compare this custom functions feature to other high end high tech camera, it is probably better organized.

Customer Service

no idea

Similar Products Used:

NikonFM2, Pentax, Richol

* Manual focus
* All-metal
* Real dials
* modern functions
* Zeiss lenses

* On the heavy side
* limits to Zeiss lens lineup

The RX has most of the functionality of a modern near-top-end AF SLR, but dedicated to manual focusing -- imagine an F100 or EOS-3 that actual works with '70's and '80's manual lenses in all modes and has the free-standing shutter-speed/exposure-compensation/motor-control dials of an old F3 or F-1, instead of generic "command wheels" and an LCD.

Among the features available: second-curtain flash sync, multiple multi-exposures, rewind programmable for leader in/leader out, autobracketing.

Now put Zeiss lenses on it. You get the idea.

I use my RX for long/close lenses alongside a G2 rangefinder system. It is a very good match. The RX is a little heavy compared with the G2's but on a par with an F100, and lighter than a Nikon FM2 with an add-on motor. I leave the vestigial focus-confirmation sensor turned off/don't miss it.

The whole Contax system reminds me of 1970's Canons (especially the original Canon F-1); rich black with orange and white markings, fairly hefty, lots of nicely machined dials - but this is mostly esthetics, not usefulness.

I prefer the RX to the Contax RTSIII mostly because it's lighter - the money difference, though, was also a factor. I don't see anything on the RTS that I need, but if you shoot in a studio the flash metering may be importnant.

I prefer the RX to the Contax Aria because: 1) The Aria doesn't balance well with longer lenses - too light - the RX is also a little taller for better leverage. 2) The RX has a slightly faster wind/rewind. 3) The RX has diopter adjustment in the viewfinder - even though I wear glasses when shooting, my eyes vary some from day to day (don't laugh, youngsters - you'll get here eventually) - so I tweak the finder now and then to keep the split-image sharp; I could never see the Aria's rangefinder clearly. 4) The Aria's motor/multi-exposure setting requires scrolling with little buttons - on the RX you turn a real knob - faster AND more stylish.

I won't claim the Zeiss lenses are better for everyone - they ARE different and I prefer them. Be aware of the limitations in the system, however.

* The Zeiss lens line is very small, although it covers MOST popular focal lengths from 15mm to 300mm (Plus 500mm mirror lens) A total of 7 zooms.

* The Zeiss/Contax telephoto line is especially limited - no 400/500/600 long fast sports glass. They do make a 300 f/2.8 Tele-APO-Tessar - it costs $13,500 (Yep, that's 5 figures!)

(HOWEVER, you can get a Tamron Adaptall mount for Contax/Yashica and mount a Tamron 300 2.8 for a couple of $K - Contax also makes an adapter to mount Hasselblad/Zeiss lenses on the RX - just in case you have any Hassy lenses lying around the house!

* Their more reasonable telephotos all suffer from some residual chromatic aberration, which gives bright highlights (think sunlight on chrome or on shiny paint) a pink/purple/blue fringe. This may be what gives them their 'romantic' reputation. The one exception I know of (not having tried the $13,500 APO lens) is the 100-300 zoom which is not only the sharpest zoom I've ever seen, it's also sharper than most prime lenses from ANY manufacturer within it's zoom range! (IMHO) And NO color fringing.

Some lens recommendations: Excellent and cheap(ish); 28mm/35mm/85mm/135mm f/2.8s, both 50s. Excellent and pricey: 18mm f/4 (and it has no front filter thread or internal filters!!), 35/85 1.4s, 100 f/2, the zooms up to 80-200, the 60 and 100 macros. Excellent and VERY pricey; 100-300 Vario-Sonnar (runs about $1800). So-so (and sometimes pricey) 25 f/2.8, new 28-70 plastic zoom, 180 f/2.8, 300 f/4. Sleepers (only available used - excellent quality); 28mm f/2, much better than any other 28 f/2 ever save possibly the new Leica, which I've not tried), 100 f/3.5 (NOT a macro - supposedly the sharpest of all Zeiss telephotos.)

Anyway, I find the Contax RX to be the perfect prescRxiption (sorry!) as a long-lens companion for my G2s - if there were no G2's I'd use it for everything.

Customer Service

Not needed yet

Similar Products Used:

Nikon F, F100, FM2, Canon F-1, F-1n, EOS-3,

Handling
Clarity of viewfinder
Quality feel
quality of lenses
features
quiet in operation

Low flash sync speed
Exposure info in viewfinder

The camera exudes quality and is a delight to use. The viewfinder is wonderfully clear making focusing quick and accurate. I like the use of traditional dials rather than input wheels and buttons which can be tedious to use. The metering seems accurate compared with my hand meter and of course the lenses give superb quality (although I have only used the standard 50 1.7). The only downside for me is the metering info displayed in the viewfinder which displays over or under with an arrow. I prefer the method in my 801s which shows 2 stops under or over, I feel the digital focusing display takes to much room in the display which I think would have been better used for exposure info. However, I have to say that I personally haven't made much use of the DFI but it does seem accurate so perhaps people who use it more value the info displayed in the viewfinder. Overall I think this is a marvellous camera which gives a nice compromise between modern electronics and the feel of a more traditional camera and will suit people who value build quality and handling over cutting edge electronics.

Customer Service

Not used

Similar Products Used:

Olympus OM1 & OM2
Canon T90
Nikon F3
Nikon 801s
Nikon 601

- Good to hold/use
- Smooth and very quiet
- Good, well-placed controls
- lenses (obviously)
- solid
- best AE lock on planet

- pointless "focus assist" thingy
- perhaps a tad heavy?
- ruins certain monochrome films (see below)

A lovely camera - I already have an old one (with problems) - but my advice to anyone who uses black & white print film (particularly Ilford) would be to be careful if considering buying this camera. It seems that recent changes to the rubber/plastic on the roller assembly next to the pressure plate mean that dark streaks are left on certain films (dark on the negs that is). This has happened with two new RX bodies (so is no fluke) and occurs with Ilford HP5 and Delta 3200 (but not Kodak TMAX3200). It doesn't happen with the old RX body either. I've no idea whether this problem occurs on colour films (I suspect not).

As a consequence I will be buying an Aria instead (or even switching reluctantly to Nikon). Fortunately I have an umpteen year old 137MA to fall back on. It has not had a single problem in all these years (despite losing it's leatherette coating as they all do). Why can't they make them like that anymore?

In summary: If they hadn't changed the rollers it would be lovely, but as it stands....it's not much use to me.

Customer Service

OK so far

Similar Products Used:

Contax Aria
Canon EOS 5
Nikon F90X, F100

fairly solid build, manual controls, that's it!

far too heavy,rubber coating on body suffers with sweat/ condensation, so un-pleasant to use in hot weather, far too expensive, overrated zeiss optics! to name a few!

Basically, for what my opinion is worth, for anyone out there thinking about buying this camera..don't! It just isn't worth the money, to be honest. Everyone goes on and on about how good it is mainly because they've paid so much money for it, they HAVE to like it!The Zeiss lenses are also overrated (it's all snobbery and about labels and names.) I found that my trusty old Pentax Me Super produced a far better picture in the way of sharpness, contrast etc. and that cost me £100 2nd hand!
Believe me, don't buy any contax (the aria was the same, only much worse, and very cheaply made for the outrageous price of a 'PLASTIC' body!)
yeah the rx is metal but so what? hey! do yourself a huge favour, get a 2nd hand Nikon FE or FE2 for a couple of hundred and save yourself money and time spent when you try to sell off the rx! ooh! contraversial!

Customer Service

their phone 'helpline' was crap

Similar Products Used:

pentax me super, canon eos50e, richo gr1, contax aria,

- Quality of the final image
- Carl Zeiss lenses
- Build quality
- Exceptionally quiet for an SLR
- Ease of operation (manual dials and controls)
- Focus confirmation system
- Between frame date imprint feature as standard
- Large viewfinder with dioptre correction

- Nothing major
- Slightly unusual AE lock
- Focus confirmation is a little slow

The RX produces unsurpassed image quality and embodies what is for me an ideal blend of electronic and manual features.

On image quality, there has been much written about the relative strengths of Carl Zeiss lenses compared to Nikon/Leica etc. Having experienced the CZ quality with the Hasselblad, and having seen the results (even taking into account the larger film format), there was no doubt in my mind that I wanted to use CZ lenses for 35mm work also. I have not been disappointed - the clarity, contrast and colour rendition exceeds my experiences with Pentax, Nikon and Olympus.

On electronic versus manual features, I have been brought up with the "control wheel" operation of the Nikons (i.e. press a button to select a function and then rotate the control wheel to change its value). I believe, however, that the manual dials and switches on the RX allow the important functions to be accessed much more quickly and conveniently. For example, on the F801s and F90x, auto bracketing is buried deep within the multi-function backs - as a consequence, I rarely used it. On the RX, however, there is a dedicated switch on the top plate to select either +/- 0.5 or 1 stop - so quick that I use it all the time for tricky exposures with transparencies. Shutter speed, exposure mode, metering mode, exposure compensation and drive mode also have dedicated switches on the top plate, without being cluttered.

That said, the RX has all the necessary electronic functions to allow both creative and rapid operation.

In summary, I would recommend this camera to anyone for whom image quality is paramount and who prefers the convenience and speed of manual control dials. It is also a beautiful piece of engineering!

Customer Service

Not used as yet

Similar Products Used:

- Pentax ME Super
- Nikon F601, F801s, F90x
- Olympus OM4-Ti
- Hasselblad 501c

firm, precise and excellent controol

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in manual focus camera, maybe this model is the best for your choice. utilities for every type of photography, very clear to control and adjust functions. no weakness in body.

Customer Service

never try

Similar Products Used:

nikon fa, fm 2n, f3
contax st, aria