How much risk to buy a used Contax 645 system?

sdzsdz · Nov 11, 2015

Hi folks!

I fell in love with this beautiful middle format camera. I had the opportunity to try one and really liked it. Exspecially the fast lenses, the autofocus, the overall quality. But Kyocera ended service on 1.5.15. What to do now if something fails? Is it stupid to inverst some 3000+ bucks into a contax system and throw it to the basket if the shutter fails in one or two years? How reliable are these cameras?

Would like to hear your opinion!

Best regards, Sebastian

TheFlyingCamera · Nov 11, 2015

Even if the shutter were to fail a year or two from now, that doesn't mean it can't be fixed. It just means the factory is no longer repairing them. For a bit of perspective, I have and regularly use a trio of Rolleiflex cameras the newest of which was made in 1959. They can be serviced easily enough. The thing to be worried about with the Contax, as with ANY other electronic-dependent cameras, is the printed circuits inside. if past experience with other Kyocera-sourced cameras is anything to go by, they've got a good 30+ years before you have to worry about them failing. The first generation Contax RTS, which is closing in on 40 years old, is experiencing some failures now. And I'd think we're better at making electronic components now than we were in 1974. So if you're really in love with the camera, go get one and shoot it until you wear it out.

RobC · Nov 11, 2015

I've never used one but they were extremely popular with professional photographers for studio work due to high quality zeiss lenses.

If you are in Europe then contact these people to find out what service levels will be like.

http://www.tritec-service.de/

Just be sure it hasn't been hammered to death before you buy it.

sdzsdz · Nov 11, 2015

Thank you so far. The thing is that I was very close to buy ine system but phoned Tritec before, because I wanted to make sure that I wont buy a dying horse. unfortunately they told me, that they don´t offer any more service on Contax 645 cameras

RobC · Nov 11, 2015

can't help then. The contax recommended repairer in UK stopped doing contax a while back and pointed me at the link I gave you.

I think the 645 ceased production in 2005 and Kyocera should have given 10 years support which takes us to 2015. I guess that means no more parts unless you can find someone who has stocked up with them.

Its a risk, maybe one worth while taking and maybe not

Since contax is really about the lenses I would suggest getting a hasselblad which has equally good lenses and a 645 back if thats the format you want. At least there are repair companies everywhere and they can get parts.

sdzsdz · Nov 11, 2015

Thank you! I just sold a Hasselblad 503CW to get a cemara with AF ;-) My alternative would be the Mamiya 645AFD II or III. But the little devil on my left shoulder is constantly whispering: Contax...Contax...Contax

RobC · Nov 11, 2015

sdzsdz said:
Thank you! I just sold a Hasselblad 503CW to get a cemara with AF ;-) My alternative would be the Mamiya 645AFD II or III. But the little devil on my left shoulder is constantly whispering: Contax...Contax...Contax

Mistake!!!

But then again, since support and parts supply has stopped then prices may drop. You may find more contaxes being sold off as a result. Wait a year or so and see.

sdzsdz · Nov 11, 2015

Maybe. of couse the Hasselblad is a beautiful camera but besides the lacking AF and in camera metering (of course I have a hand meter, I have also a LF Camera I love but for Portraits I often miss some speed in shooting with the Hassi) I never fell in love with the 6x6 format, exspecially when shootin landscapes.

Jeff L · Nov 11, 2015

I stumbled onto this info about a month ago. Here's a link for a Contax repair facility in Japan.
I have not used them, and have not researched their reputation.
Just an FYI.
http://www.repairservice-suwa.com/ripeasabisu_zou_fang/toppupeji.html

Richard S. (rich815) · Nov 11, 2015

sdzsdz said:
Maybe. of couse the Hasselblad is a beautiful camera but besides the lacking AF and in camera metering (of course I have a hand meter, I have also a LF Camera I love but for Portraits I often miss some speed in shooting with the Hassi) I never fell in love with the 6x6 format, exspecially when shootin landscapes.

Fuji GA645i

macfred · Nov 11, 2015

Another Contax repair facility in Europe :

Alpha Digital Services Limited
Kyocera House,
111 Loverock Road
Reading
RG30 1DZ Tel 01189 337000

http://www.contaxcameras.co.uk/support/support.html

spijker · Nov 11, 2015

sdzsdz said:
Thank you! I just sold a Hasselblad 503CW to get a cemara with AF ;-) My alternative would be the Mamiya 645AFD II or III. But the little devil on my left shoulder is constantly whispering: Contax...Contax...Contax

If autofucus is the main motivation, then you may want to read these old pages:
https://web.archive.org/web/2012122...011/03/16/phaseone-645af-mamiya-afdiii-review
https://web.archive.org/web/2011082....com/2011/02/06/contax-645-first-impressions/
https://web.archive.org/web/2013120...645-vs-phaseonemamiya-645-the-final-showdown/

I upgraded recently from the Mamiya 645 Pro to the AFDIII to get autofocus. After much searching and reading on the web, I got the impression that the AFDIII has the best AF of the FILM medium format cameras. Pretty much every manufacturer dropped medium format film back compatibility on the newer cameras many years ago so we're stuck with relative old AF. Candidates for me were the Contax 645, the Hasselblad H2, the Mamiya 645AFD/II/III and maybe the Rollei 6008 AF. The Rollei Hy6 is definitely out of my price range. The Pentax 645N doesn't have interchangeable backs. The AF on the Mamiya AFDIII works pretty good, although not great by modern DSLR standards. Lenses for this system are easy to get, fairly cheap and of good (enough for me) optical quality and improved over the 645 manual focus N lenses. People bash the polycarbonate barrels of the old Mamiya AF lenses but they're pretty sturdy and lightweight. Sticky barrels can be cleaned easily with rubbing alcohol. If you have a larger budged, you can opt for the nicer but more expensive Mamiya/Phase One AF-D lenses. You can also rent lenses at many locations see https://www.phaseone.com/en/FooterMenu/Rental-Locator.aspx?. The Schneider Kreuznach leaf shutters do NOT work on the AFD/II/III models but I think that you can still use the LS lenses with the focal plane shutter. All in all you get a relative compact modern camera with accurate TTL metering, decent autofocus, interchangeable backs and a wide range of available lenses. And there is a lightweight rechargeable Li-Ion battery available now that lasts a long time. I don't care for leaf shutters or a waist level finder. I don't have any experience with Zeiss lenses so I don't know what I might be missing out on in that respect. But I think that my photographic skills are more a limiting factor than the quality of my lenses.

Anyway, this was my personal reasoning to get the Mamiya. This may not apply to you or others. Good luck in deciding.

Menno

sdzsdz · Nov 11, 2015

Hi Spijker!

Defenetly some good points and I'm rethinking everything again. The only problem is: no 80mm/2 and no 140mm/2,8. And that IS defenetly a difference in terms of depth of field.

spijker · Nov 11, 2015

Well, at 2m subject distance the DOF difference for 80mm/2.0 versus 80mm/2.8 is 8cm versus 11cm according to DOF calculator Barnack with 0.03mm CoC on 645 format (=0.02mm of 35mm format). For the 140mm/2.8 vs 150mm/3.5 it is 3cm vs 4cm. I took the 2m subject distance as that is fairly typical for portraits where a shallow DOF is mostly used. Personally I don't think that it makes all that much of a difference. I prefer a bit more DOF for portraits anyway so I usually stop down a bit (4..5.6). But that's just my preference.

Then there is a Mamiya AF 150mm f/2.8 D that people on getdpi.com rave about how good it is. Or the 75-150mm/4.5 zoom ... You can rent them from http://www.711rent.com/en/digital-equipment/phase-one.html in Germany. They also show up used at more affordable prices.

Yeah, I know .. decisions decisions.

Irakly Shanidze · Jan 31, 2017

sdzsdz said:
Hi folks!

I fell in love with this beautiful middle format camera. I had the opportunity to try one and really liked it. Exspecially the fast lenses, the autofocus, the overall quality. But Kyocera ended service on 1.5.15. What to do now if something fails? Is it stupid to inverst some 3000+ bucks into a contax system and throw it to the basket if the shutter fails in one or two years? How reliable are these cameras?

Would like to hear your opinion!

Best regards, Sebastian

Well, at this point, the best way to go is to buy a Leica S2, or S006 body and a Leica to Contax 645 adapter, which preserves all functions (AF, Av, P) and transmits lens data into EXIF. Considering current prices for C645 lenses and the fact that S2 used body going price is some $5000, it is more affordable than Pentax 645D

chip j · Jan 31, 2017

I guess my Contax G system is good to go for 20 more years>

choiliefan · Jan 31, 2017

How about a Rollei 6008 AF? Not as pretty a camera as the Contax but great lenses...

TenSpeed · Jan 31, 2017

id love a clean contax 645

choiliefan · Jan 31, 2017

You may be buying a very attractive doorstop.

Huss · Feb 3, 2017

I feel the OP's pain. The Contax 645 is a gorgeous system that is no longer supported. One comment mentioned not to worry about it and then compared it to an old mechanical camera which can still be repaired. The reason it can is that it is mechanical ! The Contax's point of failure is its electronics. And those parts cannot be repaired and/or are not available.

But.. are these cameras prone to failure?

Patrick Robert James · Feb 3, 2017

This is an old thread of course, but just in case someone is googling it the Hassy H system would be the one to go with today if you are insecure about the Contax. As great as the Contax was, I would go with the Hassy today.

How much risk to buy a used Contax 645 system?

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