What I'm targeting is f/2, not a price point. The use of the word "expensive" was an observation, not a complaint.
It's no good targetting some of the best quality lenses on the market in their day and then claiming they are expensive. You get what you pay for. If you want the best then you have to pay for it. If you want cheap then buy the tokina or other equivalents which ain't so bad but just don't have the branding you are looking for.
I hope you can clarify the characteristic of the RTS shutter as compared to the Yashica FR that I have. The shutter is just an electronic on/off switch. There is no resistance - no "half press" to meter. TIA.
So this weekend I was at the camera mall, looking for what is on offer in the way of Contax SLR's. I visited a half dozen or so shops and found 8-10 Contax RTS III's, where the prices seemed to be in the $700 range or so. I saw many Contax ST's, priced around $400 or so. I saw a bunch of the numbered model SLR's but those are not interesting to me. Finally, I saw one Aria and a bunch of S2's and S2B's. The S2 is a noticeably smaller camera than the ST.
As far as lenses go, I saw 60-75 lenses, pretty much the whole line I think, even the telephotos. It was the Contax lenses that gave me reason to pause. I found that the lenses are backwards! The focus and aperture ranges are set to the opposite direction than my Nikon F and Fuji rangefinder lenses turn. I'm not 100% sure how I will like handling lenses that rotate in the opposite direction than what I am used to.
Now I have to think about that for awhile......
I wish we had a camera mall like yours over here! Just one thought: if you do decide to go the Contax route (you'll get used to the lens focusing very quickly) it is important to consider the main difference between the S2 and S2b - the S2 uses spot metering and the S2b was introduced as a result of complaints from photographers about that (not a major issue in reality) and so uses average metering. It seems odd that S2b did not offer both like most Contax models but it is a joy to use and that mechanical shutter is sweetness itself - the S2b also has slightly better mirror damping than the S2.
So this weekend I was at the camera mall, looking for what is on offer in the way of Contax SLR's. I visited a half dozen or so shops and found 8-10 Contax RTS III's, where the prices seemed to be in the $700 range or so. I saw many Contax ST's, priced around $400 or so. I saw a bunch of the numbered model SLR's but those are not interesting to me. Finally, I saw one Aria and a bunch of S2's and S2B's. The S2 is a noticeably smaller camera than the ST.
As far as lenses go, I saw 60-75 lenses, pretty much the whole line I think, even the telephotos. It was the Contax lenses that gave me reason to pause. I found that the lenses are backwards! The focus and aperture ranges are set to the opposite direction than my Nikon F and Fuji rangefinder lenses turn. I'm not 100% sure how I will like handling lenses that rotate in the opposite direction than what I am used to.
Now I have to think about that for awhile......
Next I go look at some Contax SLR's. First off he brings out FOUR RTS III's for me to play with. The highest priced one looks like it is brand new, fresh out of the box. It feels great to hold. The viewfinder also seems amazingly high quality. I have him put a 50mm f/1.7 lens on it and again, it feels great. The focus point is pretty small, but clearer than my FM2n. The reversed directions don't seem to bother me. I can get the RTS III 50mm combo for about $850 or so. Is this a good price? This is for the super mint RTS. For a few hundred dollars off, I can get one with a bit of used look, but not extreme by any measure.
The ST's that I thought he had were in fact, Contax NX's. I didn't hold one of those, but it seems very close to the RTS III, just a bit smaller.
I should not have held that Zeiss Ikon. Now I am in massive conflict. Such a hard decision!
The ZI is a great camera RattyMouse. It has the best VF ever put on a RF. If you decide to get one, you are on a whole other level for your budget. ZM lenses cost a fortune. They usually sell for $800-1000. They are a good deal compared to Leica though. The ZM lenses are pretty spectacular. Worth every penny.
I think he's just having a bad bout of gas. Earlier in topic it was suggested he go down the RF route with zeiss glass and he dismissed the idea as he's already catered for that. Now he's changing his mind.
So lets have lots more suggestions like 20x24 Lotus and really inflate the possibilities.
$850 for an RTS III plus the 50 1.7 is a very good price. I was in it to the tune of $1K for my RTS III (which is definitely a user piece, not NIB) and the 50 1.4 (which was a NIB piece).
The ZI is a great camera RattyMouse. It has the best VF ever put on a RF. If you decide to get one, you are on a whole other level for your budget. ZM lenses cost a fortune. They usually sell for $800-1000. They are a good deal compared to Leica though. The ZM lenses are pretty spectacular. Worth every penny.
Well, the 50mm f/1.4 is a lot more expensive than the 1.7 so I'm not sure the price I have is great. Good maybe but not great.
A 50 1.4 in the Like New condition I paid for mine is around $500. A 50 1.7 from KEH is around $250. I paid around $500 for my used but good RTS III body - it would be a KEH BGN grade. I still see RTS III's on Ebay in high grade going for $750-800. So, $850 for a mint body plus a lens is like getting the lens free.
I owned an RTS III once and it is a superb camera in every way. Still, I prefer the RX as a user camera, as it is smaller, lighter and still a superbly capable, modern camera.
regarding the expensive 21mm: what I did was to buy a Contax G rangefinder and use the 21mm Biogon-G, as it is an even better lens, smaller, lighter, cheaper.
Erm. Of course it is a C/Y mount camera.
LOL!!
I'm really leaning against rangefinders, but holding one in hand is pretty powerful stuff. I have two rangefinders for medium format photography, and I know that I'd miss the SLR experience if I bought the Ikon.
If you're stuck on buying Contax lenses for their reputation, you have little option but to purchase a Contax body. If you just want a high quality SLR with fine lenses to fulfil a practical photographic role, there are many to choose from. Being tempted by the ZI rangefinder suggests you have some money burning a hole in your pocket you need to get rid of, fast! In those situations I wait until the feeling goes away and assess my actual photographic needs. Just remember, there is no photographic decision that doesn't have a downside.
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