Contax S2

I have been offered a mint Contax S2 plus Carl Zeiss 35-70mm f3.4.

 

Does anyone have any user experience of this camera or lens?

 

Any input much appreciated.

 

Bruce

http://www.photo.net/equipment/contax/s2

<p>I have the S2b (grey version with center-weighted metering) and love it.<br>

Keep in mind these are mechanical cameras with no automatic functions - but that's why I like it so much.<br>

You will only need a battery for the light meter, if you want to use it. <br>

If you are comfortable using a completely manual camera, then enjoy. If not, then you will learn and be a <br>

better photographer for it. <br>

Some people like them, some people ridicule them, but of all my cameras (I have many of all sizes), it is my favorite,<br>

and looking back over my images, for some reason I have made my best ones with this camera. </p>

Bruce, Jump on it! I own the Contax S2 (The Silver top with the Spot meter). It is a great camera that should last you the rest of your life. I bought mine last year and I love it. It exhudes quality, the film advance is buttery smooth and, like what was written above, it is a completely manual camera. The only thing the battery (button cells available at any drug store) runs is the meter -- if the battery dies and you are in the middle of nowhere the shutter will still work. The objective of this camera is to have you think and plan more as to what you are doing photographically. I read somewhere that it is recomended that you use the S2 or S2b like a view camera. I find that it does slow me down a bit and has me be less grabby as to photography.

This Camera (Like all the Contaxes) is aesthetically beautiful. I have been tempted from time to time to get another one but I already own along with the S2, the RX, Aria and Yashica FX3 S2000.

AS to the 35-70 zoom, I have heard and read some very good things about it but never used one. I have been sticking to using prime lenses like the 50 and 35. But do not fear the Zeiss zooms are generally great and from what I understand the 35-70 is right up there. Good luck and if you do decide to purchase the S2 let us know what you think of it.

I have the 35-70. I don't use it much, but I think it's terrific and not noticeably inferior to the primes (at least with small prints -- I haven't enlarged anything taken with that lens). I don't know if this is attributable to the lab or the lens, but color prints seem particularly warm in a good way, and sharpness is plenty good. Build quality is superb -- rock solid, no zoom creep, and well damped. Also has a useful macro ability. Reviews suggest it is much better than the 28-70 that was made for the Aria and almost as good as the much heavier and bigger 28-85 (or 24-85 -- don't remember). It sells for less than $400 from KEH, and at that price is excellent value.

Bruce,

<p>

The S2 camera has a lot of craftmans' appeal. I'd rank it as the most reliable and favourite Contax SLR body I've used. I use the S2b version. This

<a href="http://www.luxcamera.co.uk/pages/Galerie%2035/Lux%20Terra/LuxTerraPeggysCove.htm" > portfolio </a> was shot with the S2b. There are plenty of others on Richard Sintchak's <a href="http://www.contaximages.com"> the Contax Images site </a>.

<p>

The 35-70mm Zeiss zoom is a fine performer and a great start.

<p>

Perhaps it is not the most characteristic Zeiss zoom lens. There is nothing startling about it's specification compared to the prime lenses from the same stable. The viewfinder is relatively dark with a f3.4 aperture. It's still a great combination and the zoom lens can be sold off for a combination of a 50mm f1.4, 35mm f2.8 lens and a 85mm f2.8 later.

<p>

 

Good luck.

Many thanks for all the very useful feedback. I take delivery today.

 

Bruce

jorge(check fredmiranda.com) uses the 35/70 on his canon 1dsmark II. it beats them all. with the s2 you will have a fully mechanical camera. i will also reflect byuing one despite lacking motor-option, no ttl-flash and no switch to spotmetering. contax-metering system is relieable.

i have contax/yashica/zeiss since 1978. i switched from olympus om-system. still a wonderful system. but when i recognized that olympus had thrown second quality-lenses onto the market i decided stopping lens-testing....i want to shoot razorsharp images. its the right moment to invest in zeiss-lenses. prices are down. 21mm is a sensational lens. i have 35mm shift. unbelievable results fully open at 2.8. i have 18,28,35,45,50/1.4,60makro 1:1,85(1.4 and 2.8) and 135.

all non MM(i dont need). program mode can be used on yashica 109mp.

i will buy contax rts III(with worlds unique and only film-vaccum-system and flashmeter-any flash). despite of all the debate about no new digitalcamera and old ae/mm non working on the n-system i will stay with c/y(ae/mm). maybe invest in a sigma sd and adapt c/y-lenses.

The 35-70/3.4 lens has low distortion