Easy to use. Logical and practical layout. Scratch resistant viewfinder/flash windows that are flush with body for easy cleaning. Takes superb pics that retain good detail even when enlarged. Superb lens.

Nothing really springs to mind.

Robust, attractive P&S camera with a sharp Carl Zeiss Sonnar lens that rivals many SLR lenses (including my Contax SLR lenses). A useful focal length for both people photography and landscapes. Has a good feel in the hand without being too big or small. Reliable metering and a good range of manual overrides.

Customer Service

Contax/Kyocera UK. Answer e-mails promptly and courteously. Helpful.

Similar Products Used:

Leica CM, Yashica T5

Titanium body, very rugged. fast Zeiss 38mm 2.8 lens quality - beautiful camera Very easy to use lens retracts into body bright clear viewfinder (one of the best) quiet

none

This is a very good camera and for the price used (415.00) in LN- condition is a bargain. The camera is very well made and is beauftiful to look at. The T2 takes beautiful pictures and is very rugged. I took mine cycling one day and I had the T2 in my rear pocket of my cycling jersey. At the end of the ride, I was taking the jersey off (pulling it over my head) and the T2 fell out of my pocket 6 1/2 feet to the concrete sidewalk below. The camera landed on the titanium top cover. This impact left only some minor marks on the titanium (no dents or dings), and the camera worked just fine. Any other camera that I have owned (with the exception of my Nikon FM2) would have been finished. The camera really is that rugged.

Customer Service

N/A

Similar Products Used:

contax T, rollie 35 SE, nikon L35AF, fuji DL mini zoom,(just bought contax TVS II)

> Picture quality. > Clear, large finder w/ good info. > Good light metering. > Manual focus. > Exp. compensation. > Strong body.

> Limited manual override. > Max. 1/30 s with flash. > Only 0,7 m near focus. > Wobbly lens does not match the over all sturdy feeling.

Having read most of the rewiews, this seems to be sort of a "love/hate-camera". A few people really don't like it, others love it. I like it, but not without a few reservations. I bought mine second hand (or actually "third hand") at NOK 2700,- (approx. USD 360,-), and it has obviously been used, but optics etc. are perfect. First of all: The pictures are great. Take a little care in strong backlight, but otherwise the exposure is spot on, contrast and sharpness is very good. I have compared it directly to my Yashica T3 Super, which also have Zeiss lens, and it is even better. However, I could always use more manual override, i.e. the possibility to combine flash and long exposures. The build quality is good, but I am a little disappointed that the lens is so loose and wobbly when the camera is on. However, the service guys says it's OK. The 38 mm lens is, after all, a good compromise. Not always wide enough, but then I can focus on details instead. I have used a Ricoh GR1s, but to have only a 28 mm lens is not to my taste. Portaits get strange etc. The near focusing limit could be better.

Customer Service

Not tried

Similar Products Used:

Tashica T3 Super, Ricoh GR1s, Olympus AF1 Twin, Olympus Mju 1

Clear and contrast rich images from an excellent lens.
Especially good when using T400CN B&W film and enlarging to 9 x 6. Sonnar lens is definitely better than my Minolta f1.4 50mm lens.
Clear viewfinder and easy controls.
Infinity lock and manual focus essential to me.
Excellent feel and looks and non-scratch viewfinder.

Fingers can occasionally get in the way of the lens movement. (But soon got used to this.)
Would have preferred 'ideal' focal length of 43mm but 38mm is close.

Capable, solid and good looking camera that draws no unwanted attention in use.
It produces the sort of image quality that larger, more conspicuous, cameras ought to but often fail to.

Customer Service

No experience as the camera seems reliable. (Have got 3 year cover just in case)

Similar Products Used:

Yashica T5. (Now my daughters camera) Olympus mju 2. (Now my wifes camera)

As an experienced photographer, I looked for control. The T2 has good manual control + a good lens. I bought it used for about $450--I've bought almost everything used. I certainly wouldn't pay more, though.

The one thing a serious camera needs even more than a flash (and I'd consider this a serious camera for the price) is the ability to use filters. I depend on an 81-B filter in color and yellow and orange in B and W. Although you could hold a filter over the lens, it seems there should be a better way.
I also dislike the shutter time lag.

A good solid p/s camera, but don't pay more than $450.

Similar Products Used:

My old Olympus RC was a fantastic camera until the shutter died for the send time. The Leica minilux is ridiculously ove

- Lens
- Fill Flash
- Aperture Priority
- Quality build
- Bright and Large Viewfinder
- Flash does not automatically turn on every time you power the camera

- 1/500 sec is not avail in apeture priority
- f2.8 is only avail in program mode
- Typical loud rewind
- Some shutter lag

This is an impressive camera. I did my homework for weeks and debated between the Leica Minilux or the T2 and went with the T2.

The lens is amazing for something in such a compact package. Color rendition is slightly saturated, just what I wanted! Sharp images.

This definitely is a camera that pros will enjoy because of the creatice control over exposure. Build quaility is tanklike, it is heavier than the Minilux and most cameras in this class. The titanium finish adds a luxurious feel to the camera.

There is some shutter lag that has caused me to lose some shots, the lens doesn't rack into focus until you actually take the photo. I wish there was a feature where the lens would rack itself into focus upon pressing the shutter release halfway down. The minilux does this.

The fill flash is one of the best I've seen. As a matter of fact, the builtin flash is much better at fill flash than night time flash needs. It's on the weaker side for nite time images.

The viewfinder is large and bright. There is all the important info shown onit: shutter speed, flash ready and focus confirmation.

Now for my complaints. The camera's shutter speed range is up to 1/500, only in program mode. In aperture priority mode, it only fires up to 1/200. Another flaw, f2.8 is only available in program mode, not aperture priority mode. Those are really my only two complaints about this otherwise perfect compact point and shoot camera.

The control layout is all based on dials, no LCD panel. This makes it faster to control.
I live in the city and wanted this camera so I can take candid urban scapes, much more discreet than my SLR. You get the quality of an SLR prime lens in a small compact camera.

I purchased mine used for $450, so that is an excellent value. However, at the original prices of $700 or so that it was going for when still in production, I would that it was too expensive.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon F4s
Contax RTS
Yashica T4 Super

carl zeiss are the best lenses.

not very durable

Buy a yashica t4 and give the other $900 to charity.

Customer Service

I've sent 3 contax cameras to contax for repair now, and it takes them months to return equipment. All 3 repairs have been $130 which leads me to believe that they charge the same even if the repair is minor. They don't support your local camera repairperson, so you have no choice but to send equipment to them.

Similar Products Used:

contax 139
contax 159,
contax t
contax rx
contax rts

Very sharp lens, fabulous color rendition, nice handling, quality feel.

Focus target is larger than the G2 target, and can get "fooled"

A great point-and-shoot. I have to respectfully disagree with the previous reviewer -- the T2 provides better results than the Nikon 28Ti, as long as the focus is not fooled. The "target" is larger than the focus "target" on a G2. See also my review of the Fabulous Contax G2 and my experiences with it versus Nikon F3's.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon 28 Ti, Contax G2

Titanium body
slim, good looking design
sharp lens

not competitive with newer posh P/S cameras

A great, dependable little camera. Sold mine 6 months ago for the Nikon TI - superior lens quality and metering system than my old T2.
The T2 is discontinued(as is the GR1 from Ricoh)so they will get harder to find, but worth it. The
TVS zoom is junk. Putting a slow zoom on a point and shoot is a waste. With the T2, Contax got it right the first time.

Customer Service

not needed

Similar Products Used:

Nikon 28TI
Ricoh GR1
Minolta TC1

Very Sharp lens with Aperture control.

Shutter speed to only 1/500.

I used both Contax Tvs III and Minilux Zoom.
In my opinion this camera is much better in it's lens quality even in comparison to two of the top end compacts mentioned above. The results from this camera is simply outstanding.

Similar Products Used:

Contax TYSIII
Minilux Zoom