Contax SLR Feedback.

[Bjørn Joachimsen]

I´ve been using several Contax SLR´s since 1992, including 167MT, RX, AX & Aria. They are all excellent cameras in every respect. Ergonomy and build quality is as good as it can be. AX is a quite big camera of course, and will not be ideal for small hands. Conversely, Aria might be somewhat smaller than optimal for big male hands. I find the Aria difficult to handle when using heavy lenses and/or heavy shoe mount flash. I will recommend Aria for travel/documentary when shooting in available light with light/moderate weight lenses. When using the Aria together with the "pancake" Tessar 2,8/45 the whole kit is only a tad bigger/heavier than the G2 with same focal length.

 

[snegron]

Any comments on the RTS or RTSII?

 

[Tom Hoskinson]

I have 2 Contax RTSII cameras, one of them has a long roll motor back. I have been using them since the early 1990s, they are excellent cameras.

I also have an RTSIII and it is an excellent camera, as well.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

What is the battery life like on your 167MT?

I did much better than 40 rolls on a set of batteries in the 167, but then I was using the P5 battery holder with it, that lets you use AA instead of AAA batteries, and as previously noted, I wasn't shooting out the back of an airplane at 10,000 feet. If you want a 167mt, find one that has the P5 battery holder. It also serves as a nice vertical grip, balances the camera better, and centers the tripod socket on the lens axis. Why they ever put the tripod socket out at the end like that on the original stock baseplate is beyond me.