Lens, lens, lens accessories, customizable features

AF, depending which one you are using

Geat camera, many professionals features, Af with surprises. Look at my review at www.contaxinfo.com The ultimate source for every Contax/Zeiss user!

Similar Products Used:

leica minilux zoom, contax TVS III and all other Contax cameras

Small, well built, great Zeiss lens, FILTERS!!!

Cannot set film speed manually (I would prefer compensating for the filter factor via a reduced film speed and free the exposure compensation for backlighting, frontlighting compensation) but oh well, can''t have everything in a super small package!

At last a quality point and shoot that will accept filters! All of my work is B&W, I need filters to create the look I am after. I had a Minilux, great camera, but could not use filters so I sold it. This camera has all the controls of the Minilux, albeit a bit harder to set, a lens that is comparable to the Minilux, perhaps a little better, but the fact that it will accept filters puts it over the top!

Customer Service

not needed, not worried! If Contax gives me a hard time (doubtful), B&H won''t!!!

Similar Products Used:

Minilux, Olympus Stylus Epic, Contax G2 system, Rollei zoom p&s

Super sharp. Great size. Custom settings. Shutter speed in view finder. Aperature priority mode. Short focus distance.

Would be nice to have more accurate shutter speed, but hey, this thing is tiny. Not cheap so you have to take good care of it. I put it in plasic bag when I ride dusty roads.

I considered the Minilux and T3 but Opted for the T3 because of size and faster shutter speeds. I have run 5 rolls of slide film and the results are fantastic. This thing takes as good of pictures as my F100 and Nikon pro lenes. At first I had trouble getting it to focus. Sometimes it focused right off and other times it would not focus at all. I finally realized I sometimes had my fingers in front of the focus port. You have to be careful not to touch the lens or cover any ports. Not a problem when you get used to it. The focus and exposures are great. I use the custom setting to allow focus when I half press the shutter. The shutter speed in the view finder is not real accurate but it gives you an idea. (better than nothing)This feature reduces shutter lag to a tolerable level. I carry the T3 when I do wild life outings. I can take scenery shots and leave the tele on the F100 and not feel bad about getting sub-standard pics. It is MUCH easier to carry than a second SLR. I take it as my only camera when I hike, bike or off road motorcycle.

Customer Service

Not needed

Similar Products Used:

Pentax P&S

size, lens, ease of use.

none for me at this time

I purchased this camera to have a take anywhere camera, especially one to fit in the back pocket of a cycling jersey. I purchased a Contax G1 kit last year that stays virtually unused as it is not easy to just put in a pocket. This camera takes care of that..it fits in my coat pocket, or I can fit it on to my belt in the case if desired. Since I have always favored a 35mm lens this is the perfect set up for me.

Customer Service

This item was purchased from a seller overseas..US service will be a pain I am sure, so I am hoping that there will be no problems. As the warrantee is still valid I would need to send to Japan for an

Similar Products Used:

Stylus Epic, Olympus zoom P&S

Rock solid construction and excellent build quality and it is small enough to be able to carry anywhere. The small size makes hand holding at slow shutter speeds to be quite easy. Wonderfully contrasty and fast Zeiss lens. Aperture Priority. Wide range of shutter speeds and it has absolutely fantastic low light performance

The built-in flash is weak at ISO100 but more than adequate with 400 speed film. I have the optional flash bracket that enables me to use the more powerful TLA200 flash from the Contax G and also gives a cable release,

This is the best fixed lens point and shoot camera that you can get! I carry it with me everywhere and, recently, when I shot the 2002 Auto Show with my Contax SLR, I used the T3 as my second body. Because I have the T3, I don''t need to have a 35mm lens for my SLR..it more than serves the purpose.

Customer Service

Never needed any service but the parts department was very helpful when I purchased accessories

Similar Products Used:

Yashica T4 Super

Lens is magnificent, manual exposure control with exposure compensation, ability to select aperture used, customizable functions - especially ability to make camera focus immediately when the shutter is half depressed. This allows you reduce shutter lag.

Shutter speed read-outs in view finder should read for all values more precisely.

I needed a light weight high quality camera while I am recuperating from a traffic accident (hit by a red light runner...). I read the reviews on this site and based on that, and the fact that I already use a Contax RTS system I am aware about the quality of the Zeiss lenses. And yet I was still astonished at the sharpness of my photos. I shot one test roll of Kodak B&W 400 type C41 process of my new nephew and the results are astounding. At 10 by 8 enlargements you can still count every little eyelash! In fact, I could see myself reflected in his pupils! The only way you will get unsharp photos from this camera is from camera shake. Worth every penny for the lens. Oh, and the metering was spot-on too.

Customer Service

Not needed. Cameraworld.com were nice though for purchase, make sure you pay a couple of bucks more for US 3 year warranty i.e do not buy grey-market models.

Similar Products Used:

Assortment of Yashica T4s, Olympus Stylus/Mju etc

Very small and light, almost as tiny as the Olympus mju-2 ( aka stylus epic). The lens is excellent, not quite as good as the Canon EF 35mm f2 but very close especially in the centre area of the frame. I especially appreciate the ability to control most camera functions including aperture, focussed distance and long exposure times, manually just like a SLR. The separate AF lock button is a great idea. Seven custom functions enable the camera to be set up how you want it. The viewfinder is reasonably accurate. The frame lines are hard to see in bright light but this matters little, I just use the full size of the viewfinder to frame up a shot. The camera with filter ( yes you can fit one with the special adapter), lens cap, CFN card, spare battery and 2 rolls of film all fit easily in a Lowepro Z10 pouch. Shutter and lens operation is commendably quiet. Shutter time lag is less than most compacts especially if CF2B is set. I find it surprisingly easy to hold this diminutive camera steady by means of pressing the body of the camera against the bones of my forehead and nose. A bit of practice works wonders with this technique. The default flash mode can be user set.

The controls are a bit fiddly at first, but you get used to that. Practice is needed to keep one''''s fingers from bumping the lens barrel.

The Contax T3 appears to be the best of the posh compacts, delivering high quality results difficult to distinguish from top of the range SLR equipment.

Customer Service

Good from Tasco in Sydney Australia.

Similar Products Used:

Olympus mju-2, Konica Hexar, Nikon 35Ti

- Autofocusing in low light - spot on metering - great lens - SLR like features - size

- The standard leather case doesn''t have room for the lens hood so it must be carried separately - Switching between the automatic mode and aperture priority modes is a little fiddly requiring a button to be depressed before turning the dial.

An astounding camera for a point and shoot. Bought this primarily as a happy snap camera as well as to back up my SLR system. Pictures are pin sharp and exposures are spot on. Was originally going to get the Ricoh GR1 but was sold by the Contax''s features and its Leica lens and I haven''t regretted it. I also considered the Minilux but ruled it out based on its size. The fact that there are enough features to allow the shot to be shaped gives me the flexibility to compose quality pictures when I''m not carrying my SLR around. For it size, the flash is very good, especially with ASA400 film. I''ve found the Contax to be so flexible that I now carry this camera around with a miniature tripod almost everywhere I go. If you''re looking for a top quality point and shoot, the Contax must be considered. It doesn''t replace my SLR, but it isn''t meant to.

Customer Service

not used

Similar Products Used:

Leica minilux; Ricoh GR1

Very well built body. Compact and light and easy to carry. Terrific lens - I like the perspective of the 35mm lens, outstanding sharpness and contrast I''ve never seen from other P&S (and most SLR).

Expensive! Internal flash is too weak. The main dial is a bit too difficult to use. I personally prefer a power on switch instead of using the dial, and I have to press the centre button at the same time. I also don''t like the way T3 indicates the shutter speed in use - simply not accurate, why not just show the exact shutter speed instead? Shutter lag is not too bad but I just prefer a much shorter lag for the price I''ve paid.

I have read many positive reviews about Contax and Leica cameras. The T3 and the Minilux Zoom were the two P&S I was considering before making up my mind to go for the T3. I believe both cameras can produce the finest pictures than rival my Canon and Nikon systems. I finally decided to purchase a T3 because I personally believe the new Zeiss prime lens and design hava edges. I also like T3''s overall design: elegant, compact, light weight yet well built. Frankly, I have high expectation to this camera - it is very expensive considering it is only a P&S. But I never think of it can produce some truly amazing pictures that are even sharper and more contrasty than my Canon L lenses do. After the first two rolls printed from an one-hour lab, I was shocked by the quality of pictures from my T3: so sharp - edge to edge, the contrast is one kind I''ve never seen from my non-L lenses. Exposure is accurate no matter using flash or not. Though prepared, I was still deeply impressed by how good those pictures were. The camera is indeed a present to my wife on her birthday. Even she is not familiar with photography at all she can tell the difference between the pictures taken by a T3 and an Olympus. Now I''ve already begun saving for my next-to-buy G2.

Customer Service

Not needed yet.

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A lot others (P&S).

This camera offers lots of functions which we''''re longing for. exposure compensation, good flash mode, AF lock, long time exposure, manual focusing...etc and finally, the Zeiss lens quality These are great features for taking good photos.

The design of the handling makes the features not easy to use. All functions displayed on the LCD but how come it w/o backlight. I love the lens and the features it offers but the interface really make me engry.

Zeiss Lens produce crystally clear image, that ''''s the reason most people go for it. But the handling is not upto my expectation : 1.)exposure compensation interface. need to press the mode buttom then rotate the dail to set the value. after that the LCD will only display + or - which you cannot ensure the setting when you put down the camera for a while. Why don''''t like the design of GR1??? why? 2.)The flash mode. 5 modes offers but have to switch by the flash key and displayed on the LCD. The worst is the LCD doesn''''t offer backlight. 3.)too much functions need to be handled by the mode buttom and the LCD display together but still no backlight on the LCD 4.) the camera shape looks elegant covered with tatanium but hard to hold. The shape like a cigarette box. The tatanium cover become slippery when your hand get sweat. The engineer and marketing of CONTAX treated us as big spender more than people who love photography. So, to build an elegant look camera might be their priority. They should have tried the GR1 ,3-year-old design. We paid addtional US$250 to get the T3. Except the lens, all we got is cosmetic functions.

Customer Service

no need

Similar Products Used:

GR1s