Contax T3 vs Minolta Tc-1 vs Ricoh GR1v vs Fujifilm Klasse

Swordman · Apr 20, 2020

Just for fun, if it was your money, which would you get?

I like the pocketability of the Gr1v, the design of the Tc-1 and the specs of the Contax. The Contax is stupid expensive, though, but there is definitely something special about it, and it is the best film point and shoot that realistically there will ever be. I think it's the only one with a shutter speed faster than 1/1000th of a second, which is extremely useful if you shoot fast film.

The Fujifilm klasse seems pretty good, but not as premium as the others. I had the Nikon 35ti, but I didn't like it. Currently, my compact of choice is the Rollei 35, but adding a flash to it makes it unwieldy.

Huss · Apr 20, 2020

I prefer the Rollei QZ35W. and I had the T3 before that. (A long time before that!)
The Rollei has a lens that matches up to my Leica 28mm Asph 2.8 at 28mm, and has insane specs - shutter speeds in auto and manual from 16 sec to 1/8000 sec.
Downside is it is big - the size of a film M, and has a small VF w/ no parallax correction.

Swordman · Apr 20, 2020

Huss said:
I prefer the Rollei QZ35W. and I had the T3 before that. (A long time before that!)
The Rollei has a lens that matches up to my Leica 28mm Asph 2.8 at 28mm, and has insane specs - shutter speeds in auto and manual from 16 sec to 1/8000 sec.
Downside is it is big - the size of a film M, and has a small VF w/ no parallax correction.

Ah yes, the Rollei. A beautiful camera, but as you say, it's big!

NortheastPhotographic · Apr 20, 2020

Fuji Klasse for sure. But in practice a Nikon L35AF since all of these are outrageously expensive for used cameras.

Paul Howell · Apr 20, 2020

My choice would a Konica Hetax, 35mm 2.0, very quite motor advance and shutter, great street camera, like post by NEP, I cannot justify the price, I use a Vivitar point and shoot with 35mm 2.8, a Konica Up with 38 to 80mm or one of a number of Pentax IQ zooms, depending on the lighting and film.

guangong · Apr 20, 2020

I have used Rollei 35 since camera was introduced. My wife and I bought ContaxT3 new to celebrate combined birthdays and wedding anniversary. Yep, it was expensive. But very handy and very good. I have no experience with other cameras mentioned. However, what attracted us to the Contax was it small size, which makes it a very handy point and shoot with a lot of control. If you buy one, make sure to get the adapter for e39 Leitz filters.

halfaman · Apr 21, 2020

Contax T3 sounds like the perfect compact camera, but price is ridiculous. T2 version it is substancially cheaper and I heard it is not so far from T3 perfomance.

Chan Tran · Apr 21, 2020

I don't know the prices of those cameras so I can not make decision.

halfaman · Apr 21, 2020

A Contax T3 is on an absurd 1500USD, I think it is now more expensive than when it was released.
A fully working Ricoh GR1v is close to 900USD, around 500USD with the LCD screen toasted .
A Minolta TC-1 around 700-800USD.

In 2015 I paid 250USD for a fully functional Nikon 35Ti, I sold it last week for 600USD. It is really crazy what is going on with film compact cameras...

Swordman · Apr 21, 2020

Chan Tran said:
I don't know the prices of those cameras so I can not make decision.

They're all silly money, to be honest. They're really for people that have a bit of disposable income, or those that have saved up and want to treat themselves. Think of it as a luxury item, like a Leica, Rolex, high end bicycle, etc.

The Fujifilm klasse starts from around £400 to just over £1000
The Contax T3 starts from around £1100 to around £2500
The Minolta Tc-1 starts from around £600 to around £1000
The Ricoh Gr1v starts from around £440 to around £800

The Contax T3 is the most expensive, but it's also the highest spec and is repairable.

Swordman · Apr 21, 2020

halfaman said:
A Contax T3 is on an absurd 1500USD, I think it is now more expensive than when it was released.
A fully working Ricoh GR1v is close to 900USD, around 500USD with the LCD screen toasted .
A Minolta TC-1 around 700-800USD.

In 2015 I paid 250USD for a fully functional Nikon 35Ti, I sold it last week for 600USD. It is really crazy what is going on with film compact cameras...

Lol, beat me to it by mere seconds!

I bought a pristine Nikon 35Ti a few years ago for around £330. Within 3 weeks of ownership, I dropped and scratched it. I then sold it a couple of months later for £370.

Chan Tran · Apr 21, 2020

Swordman said:
They're all silly money, to be honest. They're really for people that have a bit of disposable income, or those that have saved up and want to treat themselves. Think of it as a luxury item, like a Leica, Rolex, high end bicycle, etc.

The Fujifilm klasse starts from around £400 to just over £1000
The Contax T3 starts from around £1100 to around £2500
The Minolta Tc-1 starts from around £600 to around £1000
The Ricoh Gr1v starts from around £440 to around £800

The Contax T3 is the most expensive, but it's also the highest spec and is repairable.

All of those prices seem to be higher than new or the same as new so no I wouldn't pay anywhere near new prices for used cameras. I may have bought them when they were new but not now.
Checking the specs I can say I wouldn't buy any of them as none allows for full manual controls.

guangong · Apr 21, 2020

I know nothing about other cameras discussed, but market determines price, so some well heeled folks must think the T3 is worth the price. However, besides camera, price should include case and strap, lens shade, and, above all, e39 adapter for wide choice of filters. These may be hard to find used.
Seller should also give a warranty. When they work, the T3 is a marvel, but when I bought mine new way back when, I had to return two to BH before I got one that worked. On the other hand, as with the Leica M5, those with factory defects have been repaired long ago.

mohmad khatab · Apr 21, 2020

Japan is a lucky country, but it deserved this luck and managed to take advantage of this luck.
Japan has never invented any machine or equipment from scratch, it transferred technology and did not invent it in the beginning. It transmitted it in its entirety, and then began to modify and innovate little by little.
If you see this documentary, you will know perfectly well that Japan went to East Germany immediately after the war in order to transfer all German technology in the style of chameleon.
I went to East Germany, which is in the weakest position, and was able to transfer the technology of making cameras and even patents for the color film industry (ORWO) .. and everything I transferred and later added some adjustments in order to get away from the shame of imitation.
Watch the documentary.

Huss · Apr 21, 2020

Swordman said:
Ah yes, the Rollei. A beautiful camera, but as you say, it's big!

And incredible. Aperture priority, shutter priority, program or full manual just by moving two dials - the shutter speed or the aperture dial.
16 - 1/8000...
Nothing compares.

Someone mentioned the Fuji Klasse? Top speed I think is 1/250? Meter is very weak ev 4to ev 17?
Rollei meter is ev -1 to 19..

Price is about $500 for a nice one.

Now.. I also use the Fuji Work Project and Nikon ActionTouch LW35 (the waterproof one) and they both are superb, and cheap in comparison.

Patrick Robert James · Apr 21, 2020

If it was guaranteed to keep working, I'd get a GR1. Best controls of any of them and the lens. Man 'o man! Mine is broke though. Lost the lcd on the top and the finder then the shutter died and something else was wrong with it too. Shame really.

GarageBoy · May 1, 2020

GR1 has a great balance of an awesome lens (and a 28mm to boot) and a nice user friendly form factor - too bad they're one foot in the grave electronically

AndyH · May 2, 2020

mohmad khatab said:
Japan is a lucky country, but it deserved this luck and managed to take advantage of this luck.
Japan has never invented any machine or equipment from scratch, it transferred technology and did not invent it in the beginning. It transmitted it in its entirety, and then began to modify and innovate little by little.
If you see this documentary, you will know perfectly well that Japan went to East Germany immediately after the war in order to transfer all German technology in the style of chameleon.
I went to East Germany, which is in the weakest position, and was able to transfer the technology of making cameras and even patents for the color film industry (ORWO) .. and everything I transferred and later added some adjustments in order to get away from the shame of imitation.
Watch the documentary.

Thank you for sharing this. My German is very poor, but I was able to get the gist of this video. The East German photo industry is still underrated after all these years. Thank you for sharing this. My first SLR was a Praktica..

Andy

mohmad khatab · May 2, 2020

AndyH said:
Thank you for sharing this. My German is very poor, but I was able to get the gist of this video. The East German photo industry is still underrated after all these years. Thank you for sharing this. My first SLR was a Praktica..

Andy

Yes, my brother ,,Thank you
Allow me to ask you.
What is New Britain?
Excuse me for my ignorance.
God bless you

AndyH · May 2, 2020

mohmad khatab said:
Yes, my brother ,,Thank you
Allow me to ask you.
What is New Britain?
Excuse me for my ignorance.
God bless you

New Britain is an island in the South Pacific, but New England, where I live, is a region in the northeastern United States, comprising the states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island (which is not an island), and Connecticut. The region is generally thought of as quite progressive, and is generally centered on the city of Boston. It was the cradle of the American Revolution in the late 1700s.

Andy

mohmad khatab · May 3, 2020

AndyH said:
New Britain is an island in the South Pacific, but New England, where I live, is a region in the northeastern United States, comprising the states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island (which is not an island), and Connecticut. The region is generally thought of as quite progressive, and is generally centered on the city of Boston. It was the cradle of the American Revolution in the late 1700s.

Andy

Thank you for this great explanation.
God bless you
Greetings to you

Contax T3 vs Minolta Tc-1 vs Ricoh GR1v vs Fujifilm Klasse

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