Contax RTS II - How to Use with Light Meter

[braxus]

I have a Contax RTS II Quartz camera that I use with a Zeiss 50mm 1.4 for it. I brought along my Canon Elan 7 and used that for the light meter, so I set the Contax to the same settings when using the same film speed in it.

But using the Contax on its own, I was confused on what the light meter was telling me as far as what to set the camera dials to. It was flashing a couple different speeds and I wasn't sure about aperture either. For example. I put the camera in A mode on the shutter dial, which I believe is Auto. I have the aperture set to F4. Inside the light meter, it shows 60 with a second shutter speed flashing above or below that, or sometimes a few speeds lit up, depending if I move the aperture around. So what is this thing actually setting the speed to? In manual mode, it flashes a couple speeds, yet I dont know which one it wants. What is the procedure on what to set the camera to, according to what the info on screen tells you? I'd like to use the camera more, but find its not so simple to use.

 

[shutterfinger]

https://www.butkus.org/chinon/contax/contax_rts/contax_rts-splash.htm
download the copy you want.

 

[braxus]

I have the manual, but it still doesnt answer all the questions.

 

[cowanw]

http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/contax/contaxrts2/htmls/index2.htm
In a automatic exposure operation (when the shutter speed dial is set to lock at "A" position or If the photographer wishes an indication of the approximate shutter speed the camera has selected, this is provided by the Viewfinder Data Display at a single touch of the Exposure Check Button, which turns the display on for 16 seconds. The auto-selected shutter speed will be displayed by a digital LED steadily lit, to the right of the finder frame.
If two adjacent LEDs are lit, this indicates that the camera has selected a shutter speed which is in between the standard settings. (Both "500" and "250" lit would perhaps indicate a speed of 1/350 sec.). In case the ambient light is too intense to provide a correct exposure at the working aperture, the display will signal the need for selection of a smaller aperture by lighting the "OVER" LED indicator. If the "B" indicator lights, the exposure will fall between 4 and 16 seconds, or the scene is in danger of under exposure.
Manual Exposure Mode

Although in auto exposure is sufficiently good to cover most photographic situations, however, there may be time where the surrounding lighting condition is changing too rapidly to call for manual mode operation for consistent exposure control or for any reason If the photographer wishes to use the RTS II Quartz in Manual mode, setting shutter speed/aperture combination himself, the Shutter Speed Dial should first be unlocked from the "A" setting and set to any desired shutter speed.
After pressing the Exposure Check Button to activate the Viewfinder Display, the photographer will see two of the shutter speed LEDs lit up. One of these will be lit steadily, indicated the proper shutter speed as determined by the camera's own SPD metering; the other will flash at regular intervals to indicate the actual speed at which the shutter dial is set.
To achieve a correct exposure, the photographer should adjust shutter and/or aperture settings until only one shutter speed LED is flashing steadily. At this point, the photographer may release the shutter, or may make fine adjustments of the aperture ring to achieve slight over or under exposure.

 

[Horatio]

The Nikon N2000 is similar in A mode. Mine seems pretty accurate.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

Also, just as a reminder, the "A" on the RTS II is not full auto, but rather Aperture preferred. Full automatic was not possible until the advent of the MM lenses and the later bodies like the 167MT and RX.

 

[petrk]

Inside the light meter, it shows 60 with a second shutter speed flashing above or below that, or sometimes a few speeds lit up, depending if I move the aperture around.

You have locked the exposure (there is the exposure lock lever which can be moved by accident without your knowledge) In A mode it shows both the locked and actual value. In M mode it shows the value you have set manualy and the actual value. See manual how to lock and unlock the exposure

 

[braxus]

Ok that makes sense. I'll check it.

As for aperture priority- Im fine with that, as I tend to want to adjust aperture myself anyway.