Fastest, most easy to use autofocus of the 2 1/4 autofocus cameras available. Great lenses. Very good ergonomics. Shutter better damped than other 645's I've tried.

Typical of most 645's, hard to use, small release buttons on film backs, equally confusing 2-step release on Polaroid back. Polaroid back VERY hard to mount when using camera with a Profoto ringlight (OK, that's a niggling little detail, but it's true!). Camera is a bit of a battery hog.

This is a killer camera that needs only a little tweeking to really take off. The mechanics are flawless, I figured the camera out in about a minute without any help from the manual or sales guy. The autofocus kicks the stuffing outta the Mamiya in at least two important ways...1.) In low light/low contrast situations, the Mamiya hunts around forever and often doesn't lock onto the correct focus. The Contax worked like a charm in almost every situation I threw at it, and I specifically rented this thing because I KNEW I was gonna be in crappy, low light conditions, and 2.) The Contax has the ability to change the focus control from the shutter release to a button that rests under the right thumb, much like the Canon EOS system. This form of 'focus lock' allows you to pre-focus with the thumb button, then hit the shutter release without changing focus. The Mamiya has a more traditional, depress/lock focus/shoot form of focus lock which sucks if your subject is off-center.

The backs work very well dispite the tiny two-position release buttons. Why is it that camera designers insist on these little push & turn buttons on 645 cameras? And the Polaroid back is even worse...a push down and over button that besides not being that smooth may have some durability issues in the long run. The backs also burn in exposure data and lens used into the rebate are of the film, very helpful especially when your assistant screws up like mine did and sets the lens at the wrong aperture! I could tell from my clip tests that the camera was set a half stop under by just looking at the rebate! Very nice feature! My comment above about the Polaroid back not fitting when using a ringlight is important to more people than you might think...the 645 is used extensively by fashion shooters, and a lot of them LIVE with ringlights every day...the way the Polaroid back is designed, the camera has to be slightly turned sideways to get the back on and off...not very easy to do while you're holding a camera with a ringlight attached. (And again, it's not entirely the Contax design team's fault now is it?!!)

The battery hog comment refers to the fact that I went through two of those things in three days...no biggie I guess, but it would be nice if they had a nicad pack...somebody else posted that they make a AA pack, if so I would definately carry one of those. An AC cord for using in the studio would be a great idea too.

The only other thing Contax will have to do if they want to seriously compete with Mamiya is expand the lens line, and fast...right now they have a couple of wide angles, a nice, fast 80 f 2.0, a 140 and a 250, but they don't have any FAST APO lenses like Mamiya's 200 f 2.0...I live with that lens when I shoot covers, and even though the Contax lenses seem sharp, there is nothing like that APO in the lineup as of yet, and the Contax reps at PhotoEast wouldn't let me in on whether or not they will have anything like it in the future.

If it wasn't so easy to just rent this thing in NYC, I would probably buy it. Compared to the other autofocus 645's it's more money, but big deal...I've used the others and they can't touch this thing!

BeeT's

Customer Service

Contax is bending over backwards to try to get a toe hold in the 2 1/4 market...I rented this camera, but I have friends who are getting all sorts of free stuff from the Contax reps...

Similar Products Used:

Pentax 645 Autofocus, Mamiya 645 Autofocus (checked out at PhotoEast), regularly use Fuji GX-680, Rollei 6008 series, Pe

The quality of manufacture for both the camera body and lenses is excellent.

The manual does not explain the use of autofocus properly. then again, many manuals fail to address the product in a user friendly fashion.

This is my first autofocus camera. It focuses faster than I can manually. I also enjoy the TTL flash preview that is dead on accurate in my studio.

Customer Service

I had a quesiton about the use of studio strobes. I received an accurate reply in three business days and a follow-up telephone call.

Similar Products Used:

I looked at the Pentax and most recently the Mamiya. Both are very nice cameras. I selected the Contax 645 due to to i

Very good construction and ergonomics. The camera performs as advertized and the Zeiss lenses are outstanding. The auto-focus is faster than I can manually focus although I enjoy having the option of using manual assist. teh 220 Vacuum insert really makes a difference.

Battery life is not too good with out the 4AA pack. Then again I use the autofocus quite a bit.

This is a very good modern camera.I like the use of composites as they reduce weight and can handle the bumps of every day use.

Customer Service

Excellent both on telephone and by e-mail.

Similar Products Used:

Hasselblad 553 ELX system...I sold it and bought two Contax systems

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I'm very impressed with the Contax. This is the only medium format camera to date, in my opinion, that offers the functionality and portability of a high-end 35mm camera. The AF is reasonably fast, and the fast max shutter speed and excellent metering options are first rate. AF-MF integration is as good as the best in 35mm. The flash metering is extremely handy in the studio.

I plan to replace my Hasselblad and Leica with the Contax system. It's nice to have just one system for all work. That to me is the most attractive attribute of the Contax.

I disagree with Mr. Tam that the Japanese made Zeiss lenses for the Contax are not as good as the German made Zeiss lenses. Not a chance. From my experience as well as MTF charts from Zeiss, most of the Contax lenses are at least as good as their Hassy counterparts. Sometimes people give unfounded assertions that German Zeiss lenses are superior--that's ridiculous!! They all have the same basic designs and are subject to the same production processes and quality control tests no matter where they're made! I have friends working at Zeiss, and they too do not understand why certain people tend to fancy that differences exist between Japanese and German made Zeiss lenses. That's absurd. According to my friends at Zeiss, the reason why Zeiss lenses for Contax are made in Japan is because the proximity to the distribution channel of the camera bodies (in Japan). Besides, many subassemblies would have to ultimately come from Japan anyway. It's only adventageous to make these lenses in Japan.

BTW, the Contax system is also very inexpensive compared to a similarly equipped Hasselblad. (A Hasselblad 203FE with AE prism finder and winder is several thousand US dollars more.)

Similar Products Used:

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Feel, Autofocus, Lenses

645 format, backs are not real solid

A Great feeling camera, nice functions, decent flash sync though would like faster especially for outdoor portraits. Focus is not blazing but faster than I can focus manually. The lenses are nice. I have two gripes though, the backs feel cheap, not real solid (they work) but I'm concerned over the long haul how they'll hold up and second the format. 645 proofs never sell well in my area, customers will pay for 5x5 proofs but don't care for 3 1/2x5 proof. I know it's hard to please everybody, I think it's a nice camera but...

Customer Service

none

Similar Products Used:

Mamiya 7, Hasselbald 501 CM

ease of use; automation at user's discretion; fast Zeiss optics; sophisticated finish; portability; high flash-sync speed (for focal plane lenses); high max. shutter speed; TTL pre-flash metering; spot metering even with waist-level finder; AF-MF integration; expandibility; 2.5 frames per second;

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This is simply the camera with the fewest compromises on the market today. The only SLR system that I keep now.

Highly recommended!!!

Similar Products Used:

Pentax 645N; Hasselblad 203FE; Mamiya 645Pro

zeiss optics
af speed
portibility
ttl preflash metering
spot metering for waist-level finder
bright viewfinder
fast lenses

nothing so far

this is the most versatile medium format camera i've used. with its af, metering options, high shutter speeds and poritbility it can essentially replace a 35mm system plus a medium format system altogether. ttl pre-flash works with ANY flash equipment! zeiss optics are as good as the best i've seen, with even better corner resolution and distortion than my lenses for the 'blad.

i'm selling my 'blad soon (can't find a reason to keep it) to get the contax

adam complained about the flash sync, but keep in mind that 1/125s is already fastest for nonleafshutter lenses. when leafshutter lenses for the contax arrive we can probably expect 1/1000s or so. and i quite like the finish in fact. solid and feels unique and doesn't scratch. didn'y know plastic could be this good!

Similar Products Used:

mamiya 645 pro
'blad 202fa

fast AF; bright viewfinder with good information; exposure data imprinting; metering is spot on; the Zeiss optics are incredible; lightweight and compactness

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this camera is replacing my hassy for good! i agree with mr. kallel that the finish is nice and feels "sophiticated". the camera makes any rollei or hassy feel clumsy, and, above all, overpriced. the optics are as good, if not better, than my zeiss optics for the hassy, perhaps due to newer designs. i can't wait til zeiss puts out the tele-superachromat 350mm for the contax. solid five stars for sure.

Similar Products Used:

hassy 205 fcc

1/4000s shutter. Quite and fast AF with seamless MF integration. Zeiss optics. Exposure data imprinting. Fault-proof design. Ceter-weighted/spot metering. Excellent handling. Pre-flash metering. The list goes on.....

None whatsoever

FAR better value than any Hassy. Much more reliable than Hassy's mechanical linkages. Contrary to Adam I like the finish of this camera--the finish feels very nice in my hand. Smooth and solid and scratch-resistant. The camera is so versatile and agile that I have now sold my 35mm system. I'm now living with 1 system that's suitable for all kinds of shooting.

Similar Products Used:

Hasselblad 503CW, Rollei 6001

Zeiss Lenses, lots of features

Too much plastic for steep price, backs felt cheap

I was all excited about purchasing the Contax, but after having tried it, I returned it. It's very expensive, and felt too cheap, not rugged for real usage, flash sync is only to 125 of a second. Backs were very flimsy and focus was that of early generation 35 autofocus. The lenses are made in Japan, not by Zeiss in Germany. Plus it appearred that support for the camera would take years to develop. So after a week with the camera I returned it and bought a Hasselblad 503 CW instead. I'll post a review on it after trying the camera, but I already like the feel of the camera.

Customer Service

No experience

Similar Products Used:

Hasselblad 503CW, Pentax 645AF, Mamiya 645 Super