Contax T2: makes you want to shoot more

[GarageBoy]

Please tell me there's a sense of irony in that?

Someone's going to be "so deeply inspired" by that...

 

[abruzzi]

Please tell me there's a sense of irony in that?

Nothing is more hipster than irony, hence the line "digital is dead, except when I’m digitally transferring my film shots to digital"

 

[macfred]

Hey Darko - play it cool ...


Let the children have their way,
Let the children play ...

 

[Ko.Fe.]

I already sold M3 and 90mm. Planning to get 40 2.8 for my EOS300.

 

[Arthurwg]

I have (somewhere) a Contax TVSII with Zeiss zoom lens, which I took on a trip to Sri Lanka and got some of the best pictures ever. It eventually stopped working and I put it away. Wonder if I can get it fixed? Probably cheaper to get another one than fix the one I have. And BTW, I see that the T2 is worth lots more then the TVS II. I wonder why.

 

[darkosaric]

I have (somewhere) a Contax TVSII with Zeiss zoom lens, which I took on a trip to Sri Lanka and got some of the best pictures ever. It eventually stopped working and I put it away. Wonder if I can get it fixed? Probably cheaper to get another one than fix the one I have. And BTW, I see that the T2 is worth lots more then the TVS II. I wonder why.

You can sell it for good money even when is broken. T2 worth more not only because of the prime lens that is highly regarded, but also because those famous persons make it more popular and desired than it deserves.

 

[darkosaric]

I already sold M3 and 90mm. Planning to get 40 2.8 for my EOS300.

Kostya, that was you who wrote recently that you love Nikon FG with 50mm E series pancake lens? I had this combo long time ago as well - and I agree that small SLR with pancake lens can be good alternative for rangefinder like Leica M. Unfortunatelly my FG-20 broke, I tried also with Nikon F55/F60, but the viewfinder is simply too small for nice usage (not only small, but also showing only 85-90% of the negative).

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Kostya, that was you who wrote recently that you love Nikon FG with 50mm E series pancake lens? I had this combo long time ago as well - and I agree that small SLR with pancake lens can be good alternative for rangefinder like Leica M. Unfortunatelly my FG-20 broke, I tried also with Nikon F55/F60, but the viewfinder is simply too small for nice usage (not only small, but also showing only 85-90% of the negative).

Yes, I managed to get FG-20 and 50E in pristine condition, plus Nikon strap. Tried it and sold it. My EOS 300 is more connected with me, plus I have bunch of AF and quality EF lenses and TTL flashes for it.
I'm not the only one who needs Leica not all of the time. https://www.35mmc.com/07/10/2017/canon-eos-300x-40mm-f2-8-stm/
Another reason I sold M3 was due to Zorki 1:1 RF window and SBOOI VF 1:1 window. It is more pleasing for 50mm lens than M3 is. True 1:1, M3 isn't.

 

[michr]

Don't want to be a buzzkill, but someone has to say this:
It would be much better if prices for point & shoot cameras were anywhere near adequate value. Right now T2 goes for 700$. I understand that some cameras are more of an indicator of social status than mere machines that capture image on film, but 700$ is way too high. There are other cameras that utilize Zeiss optics and have much more features.

Just to avoid any confusion, I'm the guy that thinks Leica is overpriced and overrated, so don't mind me

It's crazy the prices those cameras go for. What's more to the point, is the Contax and Yashica cameras with Zeiss lenses, the Ricoh GR1, the Fuji Klasse are some of the rare lot that actually are worth as much or more than when they were released. Everything else has fallen to almost nothing in comparison. There are literal tons of cameras which cost $100,$200, $300 which are now not worth as much as the battery they require to operate.

I'm skeptical these high-class compacts offer anything at all over the mid-range TLRs (RicohFlex or Ciroflex for example) now that the difficulty of finding processing for 35mm is on par with 120 film. I remain unconvinced Leica has anything to offer over much cheaper medium format options.

 

[M-88]

It's crazy the prices those cameras go for. What's more to the point, is the Contax and Yashica cameras with Zeiss lenses, the Ricoh GR1, the Fuji Klasse are some of the rare lot that actually are worth as much or more than when they were released. Everything else has fallen to almost nothing in comparison. There are literal tons of cameras which cost $100,$200, $300 which are now not worth as much as the battery they require to operate.

I'm skeptical these high-class compacts offer anything at all over the mid-range TLRs (RicohFlex or Ciroflex for example) now that the difficulty of finding processing for 35mm is on par with 120 film. I remain unconvinced Leica has anything to offer over much cheaper medium format options.

Thry offer social status and "head turning" . I'm pretty sure my Olympus OM-1 does just as fin as any Leica rangefinder in terms of image quality. Not in biuld quality, alas, but hey, it was only 25$.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

Thry offer social status and "head turning" ...

But where? The last time I saw someone with a film camera was 2013. Even in a place like the zoo, all I see are phones and the occasional compact digital camera.

 

[M-88]

But where? The last time I saw someone with a film camera was 2013. Even in a place like the zoo, all I see are phones and the occasional compact digital camera.

In my country, most tourists have either 4/3 Olimpai (or Olympuses?), or film Leicas. Minority carries around Canons with L class lenses or something similar from Nikon. So yeah, all those people withbfilm cameras went abroad, Sir.

P.S. There was one tourist with Japan-only Minolta X-600 as well

 

[Theo Sulphate]

In my country... So yeah, all those people withbfilm cameras went abroad, Sir.
...

Ах - Грузия! Я думал что ты живешь в штате США.

 

[M-88]

Я думал что ты живешь в штате США.

Вот так всегда

 

[Dismayed]

I had a T2 that would leak light when the lens extended or retracted, so some of my shots would have a semi-circle on them caused by the light leak. Hen Ruth wasn't able to fix it - he advised that I shield the camera from light on start-up and shut-down. So I sold it with the problem disclosed, which is more than the person that I bought from did for me.

Would I pay $700 for one without the light leak? Hell no! I'd rather use a Nikon S2 or a Fuji GS645.

 

[darkosaric]

Here are some snapshots from my vacation made with T2. As they are not best of the best , I printed them on small 3.5x5" (8x12 cm) paper, and then scanned them.

 

[darkosaric]

And from another side - couple of snapshots done in the same time with M3 and 90mm Elmar-C

 

[M-88]

I'm sure 35 RC, or QL 19 would do fine too.

It is remarkable how people allow you to photograph them. In my country there's not much difference between pointing a camera and pointing a pistol, in terms of reaction from the target.

 

[darkosaric]

I'm sure 35 RC, or QL 19 would do fine too.

It is remarkable how people allow you to photograph them. In my country there's not much difference between pointing a camera and pointing a pistol, in terms of reaction from the target.

35 RC is my everyday camera that is always in the backpack. I just smile with the people, on some rare occasion I get no photos - then I don|t take the photo, and that is it .

 

[M-88]

35 RC is my everyday camera that is always in the backpack. I just smile with the people, on some rare occasion I get no photos - then I don|t take the photo, and that is it .

One has to look like a tourist here in order to take a picture effortlessly. It really kills the mood for streetjob. And by the way, which film is it? I like the look and corrently looking for a decent BW.

 

[Dismayed]

A wardrobe update could change your entire concept of which cameras are pocketable.

 

[blockend]

I already sold M3 and 90mm. Planning to get 40 2.8 for my EOS300.

I have that combination sitting next to me loaded with film.

 

[blockend]

A wardrobe update could change your entire concept of which cameras are pocketable.

You could get a 6 x 9 folder in there no problem. A 5 x 4 might require braces to avoid embarrassment.

 

[michr]

Thry offer social status and "head turning" . I'm pretty sure my Olympus OM-1 does just as fin as any Leica rangefinder in terms of image quality. Not in biuld quality, alas, but hey, it was only 25$.

I wonder what non-photographers and "point-and-shoot" amateurs see when they look at a Leica or Contax or whatever fashionable camera that photographers tend to drool over. I don't know what they would regard as head-turning, but what photographers regard as beautiful or desirable has to be a learned response. I think anything besides an SLR or point and shoot has to catch people's attention.

As far as build quality goes, I have a Leica IIIf and an OM1. The Leica shutter curtain has a hole burned in it by the sun. The OM1 does not, since it's made of metal. So score one for Olympus.

 

[darkosaric]

And by the way, which film is it? I like the look and corrently looking for a decent BW.

Those are shoot with Kodak TriX@400, developed in Tmax developer 1+4. I did overdeveloped a bit, and agitate a bit more aggressive (I like my negatives dick). Papers used are: for T2 Ilford multigrade RC, and for Leica Fomaspeed RC multigrade.