+1 suggestion from @TheFlyingCamera . I left my pentax kit and went to RTS for two reasons. Highest priority was to have a camera body that had mirror lockup MLU. It really sucks when one can use a tripod for an image and there is no MLU. Second is that I was never satisfied with images taken with my pentax 28/2.8 lens. The 50/1.4 was amazing, the 28 was disappointing. So I had to choose to go a route that had lenses I could trust (not so hard a decision) and a body that I could trust that had MLU. I love to use my RTS. I have the RTS II. I wish I had the RTS III. This all caveated by I don't really do much small format photography due to time available. When I can go out, I like more to take one of my view cameras.
BTW, Matt - I am going to the White Mountains in June to hike Carrigan, Whiteface and Passaconaway peaks to finish the 48 over 4k. Hope to bring the 8x10 and spend a couple hours at Diana's Bath, inspired by your photos of a couple years back. >michael
Even though I suggested the Nikon FE2, I just had a chance to handle a friend's Olympus OM2, and it was a nice camera. In aperture priority mode you dont have to mess with the shutter ring around the lens mount if that turns you off. The downsides compared to the Nikon FE are no mechanicql fallback speed if the batteries die (just carry spares), and no mirror lock up, although I hear the Olympus has extremely well damped mirror operation. Often these things come down to what camera is available and what condition, so just a thought.
Congratulations! KEH right now has a f1.4 50mm lens in MM (multi-mode for Program) listed as EX and f1.4 in AE (auto-exposure) in EX+
I ended up ordering a Contax RX body. Now to find a lens for it. I realize it doesn't check all my boxes but I'm looking forward to it none the less. If I decide to shoot more 35mm then I can already see that an rts III is going to be in my future.
So a seller on ebay took the offer I made on Saturday for a Zeiss 50mm 1.7 that had a RTS body and winder attached to it for not much more than the 50 1.7 goes for alone. So looks like I end up with 2 Contax cameras and a lens.
Great!
If you are into the C/Y system, consider also getting a Yasica FR-1 camera. It is a very good camera, in some senses almost pro-grade.
And if you want to go truely insane you can try the Contax AX >;-)
And if you want to go truely insane you can try the Contax AX >;-)
Why did Kyocera call Yashicas, Contax? And all these "Zeiss" lenses made in Japan. Yashica always made a damn good camera, why did they hide behind a German name?
I understand (not having used them personally) the Japanese made Contaxes and their lenses are indeed, excellent, but I think, in the case of "as Zeiss as it gets", that, my 1936 Dresden-made Contax and its Jena lens would both like a talk with you, actually.the Contax/Yashica system really was a cooperative between Zeiss Germany and Yashica(later Kyocera), the lenses where designed by Zeiss West-Germany with most being made by Kyocera in Japan, some lenses (the 28/2, 15/3.5, probably more) were built by Zeiss in Germany.
As 'Zeiss' as it gets, or are Leica lenses in Canada also "Leica" ? I think there is a Noctilux somewhere that wants a talk with you in that case.
Very different situation to Voightlander, which only existed as a name owned by a german distributor. Cosina aquired a license to use it in the late 90s but it has otherwise nothing to do with the old german company, the lenses are still awesome however
Here is a another option for you convert one of your cameras to use adapted lenses using a adapter and get old vintage glass that is cheap..IE M42 screw mount Takumars, yashicas, chinon lenses. Be wary though old vintage takumars have thorium in the lenses that will taint it yellow so you would have to put it in direct sunlight for a few days to clear up the glass again from the UV.I won my bid for a Zeiss 35-70 3.4. So 2 cameras and 2 lenses. No more purchases for a while I swear.
Here is a another option for you convert one of your cameras to use adapted lenses using a adapter and get old vintage glass that is cheap..IE M42 screw mount Takumars, yashicas, chinon lenses. Be wary though old vintage takumars have thorium in the lenses that will taint it yellow so you would have to put it in direct sunlight for a few days to clear up the glass again from the UV.
I don't mean to put down the modern Contax cameras, Yashica/Kyocera make excellent products. The Cosina lenses are really quite nice. I guess I never could understand "Branding" I worked for 20 years at Amana Refrigeration in Iowa. We were bought 4 times while I was there. Whirlpool still makes a LOT of product there, the Engineering has all been moved to other sites. Over the years we made product labeled Amana, Maytag, Kitchenaid, Whirlpool, GE, Viking, Dacor, Jenn Air, etc. We bought product from Electrolux and had it branded Amana.I understand (not having used them personally) the Japanese made Contaxes and their lenses are indeed, excellent, but I think, in the case of "as Zeiss as it gets", that, my 1936 Dresden-made Contax and its Jena lens would both like a talk with you, actually.
Jon Voight.
Voigtländer.
Spot the "h".
The 35-70 is one of the best, most versatile lenses in the Contax lineup. I had one for years and it practically lived on the camera, only coming off for shooting extreme wide-angle stuff (I had a Sigma 18-35), longer telephoto and/or low-light (the 80-200 or the 85 1.4). It has terrific macro capability - 1:2.5 or 1:3 IIRC - and will let you do some very nice closeups of flowers and the like. I don't know where the print is that I made from looking straight down into a tulip blossom, shot wide open, but if I can find it I'll frame it and hang it somewhere in the house. It's a 16x20. That lens is that good.I won my bid for a Zeiss 35-70 3.4. So 2 cameras and 2 lenses. No more purchases for a while I swear.
The 35-70 is one of the best, most versatile lenses in the Contax lineup. I had one for years and it practically lived on the camera, only coming off for shooting extreme wide-angle stuff (I had a Sigma 18-35), longer telephoto and/or low-light (the 80-200 or the 85 1.4). It has terrific macro capability - 1:2.5 or 1:3 IIRC - and will let you do some very nice closeups of flowers and the like. I don't know where the print is that I made from looking straight down into a tulip blossom, shot wide open, but if I can find it I'll frame it and hang it somewhere in the house. It's a 16x20. That lens is that good.
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?