built like a tank. superb lens

very expensive to just conk out after a year of use.

The Contax TVS III is the most expensive paperweight money can buy. My sister bought this camera for her use upon my recommendation. I`ve read a lot of good reviews from magazines extolling the features of this great camera. the lens is sharp and the colors are downright perfect. But after a year of enjoying this camera, i heard strange clicking noises inside and the lens started to move uncontrollably. I have to take off the battery to stop the camera. Now, it is sitting on my desktop and I am wondering who would buy this piece of junk. It is totally useless and dead. My Nikon PS is better because I still use it even though it was bought 9 years ago. I withold my desire to sell my Nikons and buy a G2 because of this disappointment.

Customer Service

With a grand as its price tag who would think it should need any servicing.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon FM2, Nikon F100, Nikon D70, Nikon zoom 310 AF, Pentax PS, sold my Canon Elan IIe and Digital Rebel

Compact size after switched off. Good colour reproduction, sharp images. The automatic lens cap opening and closing is very nice and interesting. Focusing is accurate too. Flare control is good.

In my opinion, distortion at 30mm is significant. Vignetting at 30mm is acceptable. Built in flash is not powerful enough especially at 30mm.

It is my good partner when travelling coz I use medium format camera all the time and such camera set already occupy my bag lots of space, cannot spare more space for other backup camera. Thus, Tvs III is a good choice to solve about problem which provide common zoom range, all round functions and flash. Also, its image is very colourful (I use Provia) I bought it from secondhand market at HK$3700, so it is acceptable for its performance. I would give higher value rating. Of course, if I pay more for a brand new body, it is quite expensive.

Customer Service

Nil

Similar Products Used:

Contax T2, Oympus u-II

The TVSIII and Leica are, if nothing else comparable in lens quality. Both offer images better than what you''ll get with most SLR''s. Shooting side by side and comparing images under a 10X viewer, I couldn''t determine a clear winner. Each has fantastic color, contrast, resolution. On this size camera handshake plays almost as much a role as lens quality (see shutter speed comment below). In reading various reviews it''s maddening to hear people lament the speed of the lens or the bokeh doesn''t compare to some prime lens or the results aren''t as satisfying as what they get with their Hasselblad. Give me a break! No these aren''t inexpensive camera''s but they are nonetheless P&S and subject to the limitations of that size camera. In the Leica, for your $700 you get programmed auto exposure-only, top shutter speed of 250, center weighted only meter,a plastic lens cap (be sure to order extras at $20 a pop, you''ll need''m), 2EV of compensation, no viewfinder info and a wrist strap. That''s it folks - I don''t count the vaunted hot shoe as a benefit. If I wanted to lug around all that stuff I would strap on my F100. Forget depth of field control because you can''t. For similar mone

Wish the lens were 28-80. Oh, also, f1.4 with image stablization, focus tracking, depth of field preview and a 5 frame motor drive. It''s a joke - really!

Like you I surfed this review to find some user insights into the TVSIII. If you''re considering this camera you''re also probably looking at the Leica Minilux Zoom. Having tired of the endless purchase the dispose cycle fo the mainstream P&S products, I purchased both the Minilux Zoom and a TVSIII to test for myself-both were as new, used camera''s. Without a doubt these two camera''s are the crown jewels of the class! The sad part is the "Leica Legion" is far more vocal than the proponents of the Contax products (P&S or otherwise) and excuse the short comings of the Leica. So if you want the short version: Minilux Zoom is a very good camera only because of the lense. The TVSIII is a great camera because of the lens, the technology and the user interface.

Customer Service

Not needed

Similar Products Used:

Argus to Olympus you name it. None can compare.

Size, lens, construction, focusing, great cover, but...

THe d*** great cover just sits out there all the time. It would be great if you could slip it into body. Who wants to carry the body with the cover in that position, all the time. What do you do open and close it all day? Could use a storage mode.

Worth the bother of that cover. Like having a bodyguard on your tail. One solid great camera.

Customer Service

Never used it.

Similar Products Used:

T2, TVS II

Lens is very sharp. Fast shutter speed compare to Leica's. Viewfinder is big enough for eye-glasses wearer.

Slightly too much distortion at 30mm, it's more noticable than other cheaper cameras such as Canon SureShot that I've used. Aperture control buttons are small and not too convenience, but I use them only occasionally. Titanium body might be better than black one as I constantly need to wipe off fingerprints.

I've got my black TvsIII for $900 from CameraWorld several months ago. No tax, no S&H. A pretty good deal. If you want to take lots of pictures of people, especially group pictures, you may want to consider other P&S due to distortion at wide angle. But with other features that come with this camera, I'm fine with walking back a step or two and zooming in a little.

Similar Products Used:

Leica Minilux Zoom; Leica Z2X; Canon SureShot; Canon Elph2

low weight, lens quality, & zoomability makes it an acceptable alternative to lugging around back-breaking SLR system all the time. Comes with soft leather/vinyl case that has sturdy belt loop making it possible to do many things without camera interference - yet camera is quickly available when needed. No one knows I'm a pro when I carry only a p&s so candid photo opps abound. At 60mm f8 this lens is as sharp as an average SLR zoom lens at same settings.

Image sharpness improves as one zooms from 30mm to 60mm. I estimate 60mm f8 has an MTF rating (see photodo.com) of 2.8-3.0 but 30mm f3.7 is about 2.0-2.2 with significant 1 stop vignetting on the left 10% & right 10% sides when shooting horizontally. This vignetting can sometimes be used to enhance a photo by drawing attention to the center of the image. To avoid vignetting one should never shoot wider than 37.5mm (zooming is not continuous - there are 5 positions: 30mm, 37.5mm, 45mm, 52.5mm, 60mm). The spot auto-focus has limited sensitivity & requires a strong vertical line when shooting horizontally.

Bought mine at Unique Photo (800) 631-0030 for $969 plus $16 shipping. Camera's ability to make me "invisible" while shooting stock meant that it paid for itself within the first few rolls.

Customer Service

Contax technician available by phone: (800) 526-0266
She is a knowledgeable tech, but not an honest-to-God photographer

Similar Products Used:

my first p&s

Very sharp lens. Simply the best P/S compact.

None.

Before getting this camera, I did lot's of research and came to the conclusion this is the best compact camera. Sharp Zeiss lens with aperture priority mode is what makes this camera second to none in compact camera. For a review, read the march edition of both popular photography and practical photography. Both of these magazines gave this camera very good review.

Similar Products Used:

Leica Minilux

Quality construction,ease of operation,fun to use,sophisticated design and great pictures.

None

It is a Beauty but very expensive.

Customer Service

No problems.

Similar Products Used:

Olympus MJU

Size, lens, build, incredibly sharp pictures for a compact.

Very expensive!

This camera shoots incredibly sharp pictures on par with an SLR. But then it does have a Carl Zeiss lens. Its features outweighted its predesessors and the Leica MiniLux zoom. Its built tough! Glad I bought it!

Customer Service

Prompt E-Mail responses when I was making a decision which high end P&S to buy. I expect their other services to be excellent as well.

Similar Products Used:

Various Point & Shoots, Minolta XTsi, Maxxum 9, Canon T-70.

size wide zoom shutter speed range silent operation protection cover

manual focus can not be confirmd unlike t2

everything that you would want the t2 to become 20 x24 prints superb lens is ultra sharp but remember film stock and processing makes the difference on all cameras but on the tvs3 wow

Customer Service

none

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t2 35ti