Quality build. Tack sharp lenses. Superb metering.

Battery life. Struggles on AF mode a lot.

Absolutely love this camera. I would have spent over £9000 for this equipment if I had purchased the kit and whole range of lenses in the uk. As with everybody, the battery is the main fault along with AF when it not on a totally bright subject. The lens quality and general build of this camera out classes all my past 35mm equipment and I use it for every situation even if it means having it slung over my shoulder with the standard 85mm lens at all times.

Customer Service

Never had to use as yet

Similar Products Used:

None

sharpness of lens,durable body,advances film well,focuses fine under modeling lights,auto focus "in lens" system is great.

I HATE the on switch, its a thief on batteries, and lense are a little high in price.

Going from a Bronica Etr to my Contax 645 was a big move,one that worked out for me very well, The Contax is tack sharp, easy to use,and great in the studio. I really don't use it much on the street.

Customer Service

I hope I'll never need to find out.

Similar Products Used:

Bronica ETR,also EOS system

Precise but slow auto focus Lens quality, especially wide angle and macro Vacuum 220 backs

Battery consumption Auto switch off (I suspect a panic battery saving measure when the designers discovered how bad power consumption is) An auto focus system that hunts forever in even moderately low light or low contrast

I came to the Contax 645 after several years of using both Pentax 645 AF and Hasselblad, I was disapointed in the Pentax lens & build quality and delighted with Zeiss, so why not put the advantages together in the Contax 645? The reality didn't quite live up to the theory. Being ultra critical the Contax lenses are fractionally, minutely down on the 'Blad 38mm, 100mm, and 180mm (I can't speak for the longer lenses), but more than fractionally up against the 'Blad 40mm and 50mm, and significantly up against the 'Blad 120mm macro. So far so good. The problems are battery consumption, auto shut down nafter 16 seconds, and focus speed in low light. All three represent significant shortcomings, so much so that the Contax is really a "system in waiting", and I'm hoping there will be a version two that addresses these problems. The battery consumption in particular is truly appalling, literally four to six rolls of 220 with the vacuum back per lithium cell! I can't help but conclude that Contax have been caught out in the same way that Leica were with the motor drive for the R8, the production models eating batteries far beyond the design criteria. The AA adapter with ni-cads is my (and others) solution, but it's a partial fix only, adding bulk, weight and inconvenience.

Customer Service

Cheerful, helpful, but nothing they can do about the faults...

Similar Products Used:

Hasselblad 503, Pentax 645 N, Mamiya 7ii, and a Sinar Zoom M/F back on Linhof 4x5

Sharp optics Quality build Well placed dials User friendly

You have to buy the the extra battery pack (400 bucks) to eliminate several annoying problems (camera turn off and battery consumption)

This is a very fine camera with outstanding optics. Counter the "turn-off" and "battery consumption" problems by purchasing the battery pack! It's also easier to hand hold with this accessory. Well worth the $400. The Contax *Zeiss lenses are tack sharp, in both medium format and 35mm. If you are going to attempt to use this for sports action photography (mistake), then the autofocus is too slow. For everything else it's just fine. Slow down and enjoy seeing that which you are taking a picture of. Need great speed, forget medium format and go to EOS 1V, now that's FAST! Body is well built, but it's a photographic instrument not a tool. Now if only Contax could build a quality 35mm autofocus camera, because the N1 sucks!

Customer Service

Not tested

Similar Products Used:

Mamiya 645AFD - Terrible metering

*Auto Focus *Superb Carl Zeis Optics *A quiet built-in winder *Ease of use

*Price of lenses *Battery life, however, buy the dual battery grip & you can illiminate the rapid battery drain. If you type dies, flip a switch and keep on shootin''

A truly fascinating medium format camera that is loaded with reliable, useful, and friendly features.

Customer Service

Not needed...

Similar Products Used:

Nikon F5, Hasselblad 503CW, Bronica ETRSi, and Mamiya RB67

- Superb, exceptional lenses
- very bright viewfinder
- surprisingly quiet for medium format SLR
- first rate TTL flash system with fill-flash
- good, but not great, AF: not fast, but very precise, and it uses USM style lenses, so easy MF/AF back-and-forth (hats off to Contax for this)
- Lenses are fast
- fantastic bellows (I hope they develop some short barrel lenses)
- lenses will work with newly developed Contax N1 35mm camera, if you were so inclined
- data imprinting is very nice feature

-expensive lenses, expensive flashes, expensive accessories; generally expensive
- shutter highly exposed when back is off
- Although fast by medium format focal plane shutter standards, I wish the flash synch were faster (it's 1/125)
- no leaf shutter lenses or short barrel lenses (to go with the bellows) yet
- does feel a little plasticky, though it is clearly well made
- TTL flash extension cord does not transmit fill flash info
-can't help but wish the viewfinder was 100%, instead of 95%
- can't help but wish that they had included matrix metering

This camera yields spectacular pictures. Sometimes I look at a print of what I know to be a perfectly ordinary shot, and the quality of the lens is such that my breath catches.

The camera works well. For the most part, the control layout is intuitive. It's confortable in the hand.

The flexibility of the system -- interchangeable finders and backs -- make it unique among the AF medium format SLRs.

There are a lot of good, useful features: The flash system is great. The viewfinder brightness and crispness alone could hook you on this camera. And, while I haven't compared the shutter noise to the Mamiya 645 AF, it is certainly considerably quieter than the Pentax 645n.

I would have loved an averaging spot-meter, like they have in the Rollei 6008i or the Olympus OM4 and OM3 models, but this is just a quibble. I will have to admit that I would have liked some sort of matrix metering, given all the electronic trouble they were going to anyway. I would also like to see leaf shutter lenses and short barrel lenses soon.

It's a marvelous, well-designed, well-manufactured camera. If you like a rectangular format (vs. square), you should give very serious consideration to this camera; very solid, professional piece of equipment.

Customer Service

I have got to say that while I have found Contax nice to deal with, I have found them slow to respond.

Similar Products Used:

wide range of medium format and 35mm SLR systems

The lens is very well built. The autofocus is relative fast.

1)Quality control: The camera body that I got had a major malfunction before I took the first photo. The first symptom is the failure to autofocus. Next, the mirror will lock half way. The source of the problem (according to Kyocera) is the failure of the second mirror inside the camera body. Since I got the camera band new, I am surprised that the mirror failed. I am expecting better quality control than that especially from CONTAX.

2) It is a little bit difficult to mount the Polaroid back when using the AE prism.

If the camera start having autofocus problem, it is time to send the body in to the factory for a mirror check.

Customer Service

The service department is responsive. I got the problem fixed within 1 week. However, I would prefer that the problem never happen.

Similar Products Used:

None

Great Ergonomics. Fast AF. 120/220 mag switch.Mag can be detached in middle of roll.

Small dials & switches.

Superb piece of functional engineering. Best AF system in Medium Format so far. Fast drive and reasonably silent. Standard lens is a small wonder. I've taking it on location a bunch of times and so far it has proven reliable. Only critic is THOSE LITTLE DIALS obviously designed and/or tested by people with small hands...try to switch mags in a rush !!! But this is a small price to pay for such a near perfect machine.

Customer Service

Never contacted but heard not the best at least for pros.

Similar Products Used:

Pentax 6X7, Pentax 6X45, Mamya 6X7

645 neg size,Carr Ziess Lenses,AF,pre flash metering

Battery only 8 rolls of 120,small buttons to take back off, pre-flash metering is confusing

This Contax mf is the best camera for the money every photo that i have taken have been superior.Prints 11x14 with no problem. Most of my photo are with the 45mm,must get the 120mm soon,I would Recommend this canera to anyone how want to step up from 35

Customer Service

None

Similar Products Used:

Mamiya C330,RZ67

Lenses are very very nice-great sharpness--smooth 'look'
Handling.

Grip is a little small--I should by the battery grip to get a little more handling room and the vertical shutter release.

The overall quality and convenience of this camera cannot be beat by any other MF camera out there. The lenses are unparalleled in my experience, and the AF is very responsive and accurate. Highly recommended for ANYONE shooting on location. Even in the studio is great--no longer confined to the tripod.
I urge to you try this system. It will not disappoint.

Customer Service

I have had to send mine back to have the data imprinting adjusted because it was printing flush with the exposed portion of the film.
Customer Service is very good. Ask for Nick Cheremsak--he is very nice.

Similar Products Used:

Mamiya 645AF
Mamiya RZ
Hasselblads