Honestly, for what it is (p&s rangefinder with variable aperture zoom lens), this is more than what I expected. And it takes filters. I regularly use a circular polarizer on the lens along with exposure compensation, and Colo egg print film always comes out great. The thing is, so does sd life film of you know what you're doing. I love the contrast and color of the T* lens. I also have shot with leica minilux zoom, which I think had a magical lens given its contrast and color, but it died and what good is a dead electronic camera? Pay $300-400 for a mint Contax tvs-ii and shoot it until it (or you) dies and you will get fantastic rangefinder type pics throughout. Even b&w is somehow engaged through its glass given the zoom nature. Love Ilford hp5+ in this for b&w.

its a slower variable aperture zoom with less sharpness than fixed length, but you (should) already expect that going in. Great tool for intended discreet travel.or street use.

Pure quality. Beautiful lens, lots of manual controls, ergonomically perfect, accepts filters. This camera is very well built, its rugged titanium is handsome with an expensive jewell-like feel to it. The controls are a joy to handle. It is like a very expensive watch or pen, one of those products that just 'feels' right. It really is one of 'the' best point & shoot analog cameras ever made. Perhaps if digital hadn't come along they could have found ways to improve it but I doubt it. Reliable too and ages so well! Despite being 8 years olf mine looks brand new!!

None at all.

I bought this camera new in 2001. Have used it ever since. Even though I have various digital and analogue systems I still love carrying this little beauty around when out and about walking. It's a point & shoot but has plenty of manual controls and feels more like a classic rangefinder than a p&s. The photos it takes are gorgeous and just dripping with rich colour, contrast and sharpness. An absolute classic and prices have already started to go up. If you see one for a decent price. Buy it!!

Customer Service

Have never needed to use them. Camera is so reliable.

Similar Products Used:

Leica Minilux

Like a tank, with titanium cover it makes one of the best.
Perfect flash and the legendary lens.

No databack for TVS version.

I had this camera for good few months before I replaced with it's brother Contax tvs which I'm happy.
Contax is known for its fine products especially p&s classic/professional cameras with many features include manual modes, as well for the rangefinder G series.
It's in same group with other 35mm professional 35mm cameras, loke Nikon 28ti&35ti, Ricog GR1, Fujifilm Klasse etc.

Customer Service

Not needed.

Similar Products Used:

Ricoh GR, Leica Minilux.

Excellent lens, especially at 5.6/8.0/11.0 Solid, quick operation. Just turn the lens and the camera is on. Custom set the camera to AF before the shutter is pressed and shutter lag is minimal. Viewfinder bright.

None

I was looking for a lightweight travel camera and decided to see how the TVSII stood up against an Aria with 25mm prime lens and 35-70 F3.4 Zoom. Most lenses perform best in the aperture range of 5.6-11 and it made sense that a travel camera would be used primarily in this same range. The results surprised me. There was virtually NO DIFFERENCE between comparable shots taken with the Aria and Contax TVSII. I concede that primes would have superior perfomance in low-light situations but for me a travel camera is about compromises and 95% of the time the Contax TVSII performed just as well as the Aria/25/35-70mm system. So for me, the TVSII is an excellent solution covering 28-56mm to which I can add a Contax T (38mm) for B&W. Contax T in the pocket and TVSII on the belt.

Customer Service

none

Similar Products Used:

Leica Minilux Zoom. This camera had a great lens but 28mm is good for travel.

Lens.Ruggedness.Ergonomics.Manual Zoom.

none

An awesome camera! Outstanding picture quality, contrasty, autofocus always spot on. Possibility of manual focussing comes in handy. Flash is good, not very strong of course, but excellent fill-in. Does not "bleach" subjects in close-ups, gives very natural skin tones even indoors. The camera body feels perfect, buttons/switches are self-explanatory and easy to use. Viewfinder information is good to see. I love the manual zoom, which is easy and - quiet! A really big plus. The sound of the Ricoh Gr-1s I had before drove me at times crazy. Overall the best camera I can imagine. I carry it much more often than my N90 gear and don't feel I'd compromise too much.

Customer Service

not needed.

Similar Products Used:

Nothing really similar. Nikon N90, N50, Ricoh Gr-1s, multiple cheaper P&S.

Titanium body, ruggedness. Carl Zeiss 28-56mm lens beautiful camera to look at Quality f stops excepts filters and lens hood manual zoom - very quiet

View finder not as sharp as my Fuji dl mini zoom (my only complaint).

I have wanted to buy the TVS II for a long time but it was always hard to justify paying $1100.00 for a point and shoot camera. I have owned many point and shoots over the years among numerous SLRs. You can't beat a point and shoot for portability and availability. I found the TVSII at KENMAR in E++ condition for $445. The camera is as beautiful and rugged as the Contax T2 I owned before it. I accidently had dropped my T2 from 6 1/2 feet onto a concrete side walk below and it left only minor marks on the (no dings or dents) titanium top cover. The TVS II is as easy to use as the T2, almost no buttons to push (thank goodness). I received a manual with my camera, but you really don't need it to figure out this camera. I have large hands and the TVS II fis in them perfectly. The camera has a manual zoom which makes this camera very quiet and perfect for taking pictures of kids or street scenes. My Fuji DL mini zoom (a good camera) is very noisy and would alert the subject that you are taking their picture before you want them to know. I have only shot one test roll of pictures through this camera so far but I shot it in all kinds of conditions and the pictures came out very well exposed. I loved my Contax T2, but having the 28-56mm zoom and practically the same body style, ruggedness and quality as the T2 was hard to turn down. This camera used is now a value at a good price.

Customer Service

N/A

Similar Products Used:

Contax T (new - when it first came out), Contax T2, Niklon L35af, Rollie 35 SE, Fuji DL mini zoom and a lot more not worth typing.

Sharp lense for its class; Well built, solid and good looking; Small but not compact; Can use filter; Enough functions for good photo;

Slower lense - better with ISO400 film; Weak built-in flash - need SA-1 flash and exterval flash; Dim viewfinder; Not well handeling without SA-1; Quiet heavy for small cammera

I''ve just bought this cammara from my friend - it is TVS not TVS II. Frist, I do want a cammera that I can carry together with my kids and good quality of lenses. I usually carry SLR for more over 15 years, and I think that I need some thing lower my load. Therefore, I got Contax G1 with 3 lenses (21mm/35mm/90mm) 5 yrs ago. All 3 lenses do not make me disappointed but it is seem not convenine to use comparing to Cannon EOS with 28-70mm/2.8 L. So, I need to find both small and easy. My freind offer me to use it before buying it. He wants to go for Cantax T3 with faster lense but smaller. For my first use, I has to accept the dim viewfinder and slow speed lenses. Moreover, very weak build-in flash always ruin my indoor photos. I find out that SA-1 flash accessary is worth to buy, therefore I bought one with Olymplus S-20 flash unit (guide #20). Both can solve my indoor photos and the total system is still small and better handeling with SA-1. I do not need to explain about quility of the lense because it is still Contax quality for both sharpness and color. Only one thing that you need to keep in your mind - do not shoot at 28mm with f=3.5. This is already notified in the manual, so please concern. Now, it is my favorite cammara but I need to use some faster film to maintain speed. I heard from some dealers that TVSII has some problems on switch on/off. My cammera is TVS model - so it has this problem. TVSII is more bright viewfinder. It is worth to have it, but you cannot buy the new one. If you can find a good condition used one, it is worth to buy it. If you want new one, you may go for TVSIII. Anyway, 28-56mm is better for me. Moreover, TVS & TVSII is more machanical than TVSIII. Last, you need to buy accessaries as following to enhance this cammera performance: - SA-1 flash - One auto flash -> Olympus S20 is recommended (compact with 2 AA power) - Contax UV filter Now, I put this cammera with SA-1 & Olypus Flash S20 in one belt pocket, and enjoys travelling together with taking photos.

Customer Service

No need

Similar Products Used:

Contax G1 Canon EOS with 28-70mm /2.8L

A saturated Zeiss len Accept filter Very accurate flash programm Feel solid and rugged

A slightly light fall off after wide open Enlargement are not hair-line sharp but acceptable. A little bit expensive.

A saturated len with light weight and durable body that combine to be the best of the P&S. With the aperture piority mode, you can easy beat most of the 35mm body. It is very suitable for travelling.

Customer Service

Not need

Similar Products Used:

Lecia Minilux Zoom; Nikon 35Ti

elegant
sapphire
high quality feel

very blue dim finder

The optics are very rich and contrasty, but is not sharp. There is noticable fall off wide open and my enlargements are not hairline sharp. My Olympus Epic is far sharper, but does not have that color saturation and super contrasty lens. Handles flare well. Feels high tech and high quality, but using it feels clumsy and archane. The finder is incredibly dark. Small size is pocketable, but I worry about damaging it. The TVSIII should be better.

Similar Products Used:

None

Small and compact. Setting the camera to focus when pressing shutter speeds thing up.
Good flash exposure, especially fill for portraits
Gives the appearance of being well made and looks good (though not a gorgeous as the Nikon 35Ti).

Vignetting at 28mm quite noticeable with widest aperture.
Lens fairly slow at 50mm or so.
Reliability for me has been very poor(maybe I'm unlucky).
Contax UK seem to do more harm than good in their bumbling efforts at repair.

A good idea but the lense has too much vignetting at 28mm and is too slow at 56mm.
Good flash handling (compared too the poor Nikon 35Ti).
At the price of this camera I expect reliability, and if things go wrong that Contax UK could actually fix it without repeatedly making things worse.
The T2 although having a fixed lens and having a noticable time lag when pressing the shutter release is a much better camera, a lense that fully retracts and a smaller body size make it much more convenient to carry.
The Konica Hexar is the best of the quality compacts I have owned, although its just a bit too big to be totally pocket portable

Customer Service

Totally useless.Camera sent off for repair several times. Came back once with hair inside lens, then with body not reassembled properly: then for some reason with a totally different baseplate (serial number now different from box!) All in all Contax UK are a bunch of bumbling idiots.
I finally sold my TVS to some poor soul: and GOOD RIDDANCE!

Similar Products Used:

Contax T2; Nikon 35Ti; Konica Hexar