Contax T3 - User Comments, Discussion (PART 2)

[paul_beiser]

Hello,

 

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Has anyone developed or know of a quick, small, summary of the modes

and custom functions? I'd like to be able to put this on the bottom

of my T3 for quick reference; if no one has one, I guess I'll just

fire up Word and get with it :-).

 

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Thanks!

[john_mccormack]

Paul,

 

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I have Word and Excel files with a list of the T3 Custom Functions,

but not the Modes. I carry it in my wallet for reference; it's not

quite small enough for the back of the T3. Email me if you want the

file(s). Let me know if you want it in Word or Excel or both.

 

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John McCormack

jpmccormac@aol.com

[jerome1]

I have my T3 since two days. I had no time to shoot pictures yet, but

I am very happy with the specifications.

 

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I confirm the spot AF with the AFL button, it is specified in the

documentation. And it is very easy to check by yourself, looking at

the distance scale.

 

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Three negative points:

1) The AFL button could also extend the lens, however it does not.

2) I miss a separate exposure locking button. Half-pressing the

shutter does the job, but it is not so convenient.

3) Flash in slow-synchronizing mode activates the red-eye system: it

is a bit odd ! Sometimes I need night mode without red-eye reduction !

 

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Otherwise I think from the point of view of ergonomics, it is the best

high-end P&S camera that exists !

 

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Jerome

[sergei_kantere]

John,

 

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You seem to have a lot of experience with both GR1(s) and T3. I'm

trying to decide between the two. My primary kit is Canon EOS, but I

want to have smallish wide-angle PS always handy. I presently use

Olympus mju-II which is fine, but lacks control severely. The lower

price of GR1s is very attractive, but I'm worried about its

reportedly high noise level (in comparison with T3) and some people

quote some tests where its lens shows results poorer than my mju-2!

Could you please outline the pros and cons of both and which you

think is better. Any other comments welcome. Thanks a lot.

Rgds,

Sergei Kantere

[ravi_nagpal1]

Gentlemen... a quick question... directed primarily towards John

Mccormack, Paul Bonner etc. who have actually been using this

camera... Judging from my screen and the uploaded pictures... I see

some vignetting ( dark corners) on the shots with the bright blue

sky. I am considering purchasing this and one of my biggest concerns

is vignetting... can someone please comment?

[philip_bonner]

My T3 has not shown any vignetting in any photos that I have taken

with it. This elimination of the vignetting may be explained in the

August '01 Shutterbug Magazine review of the T3 by George Schaub. He

states that the the placement of the shutter between the lens

eliminates the possibility of vignetting.

 

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I do not know about the flash sync but have had no trouble using the

TL-200 with SA-2 bracket when shooting narrow aperture (f/11) high

depth in aperture priority mode. The TL-200, is good to about 20-25

feet at f/2.8 program mode.

 

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The built-in flash is weak. Using 100 ASA film, it's good to about 7

feet in program mode at f/2.8; only about 3 feet in aperture priority

at f/8.

[ravi_nagpal1]

Paul... mmm.. I guess light-off is a better word to use... John

McCormacks test images show it in the blue sky.. a lot. So do Marc

Fogel's to a lesser degree...

[philip_bonner]

I know what you mean about vignetting - light fall off in the

corners. I have this with my Yashica T-5 but so far nothing

noticeable with my T-3.

 

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Every source that I've read states that the T-2 had this problem and

this was subsequently fixed by the redesign of the lens for the T-3.

 

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I would ask John and Mark if they would confirm the vignetting in the

originals or if it was just naturally fading light.

[james_lau1]

On the use of SA-2, which does not come cheap, I was wondering

whether a slave flash could be used to complement the built-in flash

of T3? If the slave flash can offer its own metering/light control,

would that be a viable alternative to SA-2? Grateful for

views/advice.

[philip_bonner]

Henry,

 

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Please refer to discussion of flash and suggestions for use of slave

units, August 21 and 22, above. I believe a pocketable slave would be

fun to use for "light painting" and creating effects in the

background.

 

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However, I beleive the use of a slave would require much

experimentatgion and practice to match the quick P&S shooting ease

and the reliability of the T3 combined with the SA-2 and TL-200.

[karl_siegmund]

I just purchased a Contax T3, discovered this listing and would

appreciate any information on just how to subscribe. Your help will

be appreciated

 

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73's, Karl

[john_mccormack]

Hi Karl,

 

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This discussion is not a "list" or discussion group, per se, but

rather a thread in the Photo.net equipment discussion section. Just

come back to this URL for updates.

 

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If anyone would like to start and moderate a discussion group/club on

the T3, it would be welcome. Personally, I like the format of the

Photography clubs on http://www.topica.com/

 

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Also, you view an earlier thread on the T3 here:

 

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http://greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=004u2K

[virgil_finley]

My T3 seems to be occasionally scratching the film, usually around

negative number 25, and usually on one to two frames only. It happens

on about one out of every three rolls I shoot. It is a very small

perfecly straight horizontal scratch. The scratch aligns perfectly

with one end of the shiny chrome tensioner bar (the little gizmo that

looks like a miniature bar-bell) which holds the film against the take-

up reel. I cannot feel any roughness or irregularity anywhere inside

the camera, including on this bar. I really hate to send the camera

back for an intermittent problem. Any ideas? Thanks.

[jon_lee2]

If anyone cares, the black version of the Contax T3 has been

available at B&H since a few days ago:

 

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http://www.bhphotovideo.com/default.sph/FrameWork.class?

FNC=ProductActivator__Aproductlist_html___234132___COT3B___REG___CatID

=376___SID=E9019B913D0

[philip_bonner]

Yesterday when attempting to load new film the spooler would not take

up the leader. It made a clicking sound of the sprocket/nub spinning

and on each revolution partially engaging the sprocket hole in the

film leader. However, it would not fully grab the file and begin

winding it on the spool. I tried two different unexposed rolls of

film and experimented adjusting the film leaders to various lenghts

but all attempts met with failure.

 

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Just get about six clicks (revolutions) then it stops with the LED

inidicating double blinking zeroes and the lens will not extend which

I imagine is a safety measure to prevent inadvertantly shooting w/o

film properly loaded.

 

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So off to Contax it goes.

 

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Anyone else have problems like this?

[ivor_quaggin1]

Having read all the good things about the T3 I was about to order one,

but one feauire held me back - the flash. I currently use a Rollei

Prego for point and shoot times, and while the Schneider zoom lens is

great, of course the camera lacks all the user set features which make

the T3 so attractive. However, the Rollei does have a very efficient

flash, with more than twice the ramge of the T3. I find I frequently

use fill flash, usually for shots with two to six people in them and

with its limited power the built in T3 flash would seem to be marginal

in those circumstances, even with ASA400 film. Can anyone comment on

their experience in this regard?. Thanks.

[kwen_wan1]

Phil, your T3's 'refusal' to take up the film problem, I haven't

experienced with my T3, but have done with my T4 and to some

extent my 35Ti. Generally as you say, no matter how far you pull

out the leader the camera does not take up the film. With my T4 I

found it was a matter of try and try again. If it was persistant at

failing to load up, it would finally do so perhaps after 6-8

attempts, usually with the film leader extended well beyond the

internal marking, also the film needed to be wound tight

manually by hand (by twisting the reel) so there is no slack in the

canister before inserting into the camera. It may or may not help

your cause.

 

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As you are an experienced photographer I assume you have

taken all feasible steps and (unfortunately) it could be a problem

with the camera.

[j.martin___]

I had a similar problem soon after I got my T2. I also had to

send it back to Contax for repair. That was at least 5 or 6 years

ago and the problem never recurred.

(And I want to thank everyone who has conributed to this

excellent discussion; I hope to buy a T3 in the near future.)

[philip_bonner]

Sent my T3 off for warranty repair of it's failure to take up the

film leader and begin a new roll of film. Luckily it occurred when I

was just reloading after shooting and did not need the camera for

anymore shots.

 

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I tried everything. To eliminate the possibility that the film was

the culprit I tried to load still another fresh roll of film but the

T3 still failed to take up the leader of the 2nd fresh roll.

 

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Since I've never heard of anyone else with this problem it appears to

be an isolated problem.

 

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In fact I've noticed in the past that sometimes when starting a new

roll the T3 would "click" (the sound of the revolving sprocket

missing the sprocket hole of the film), a few times before engaging.

 

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I noticed that the sprocket or nub protruding from the spool that is

supposed to snag the film appeared too slight to get a good

grab/hold.

 

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We'll see how it comes back...

[andrew_schank]

Some more T3 shots, a few where I was able to take advantage of the

high shutter speed. Also, The detail in the close up of the masks on

the negs is unbelievable--looks like my micro Nikkor.The more I use

this camera, the more comfortable I am taking it along instead of a

heavy bag of equipment.

 

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<a href="http://www.photo.net/photodb/folder?folder_id=147518">T3 at

the street fare </a>

[john_mccormack]

Andrew,

 

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The street fair shots are excellent; thanks for posting them.

 

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Agfa Optima 400 seems to work well in the T3. Anyone tried the new

Agfa Vista 400 or 200 in the T3? I've heard good reports on it from

several users.

[philip_bonner]

Just got some prints back from A&I. The last roll that I had taken

before the film leader take-up problem. Some shots of my boy standing

above and over me on top of a sliding board, silouetted against a

blue sky background filling the frame - with absolutely no, (not even

a whisper), vignetting/light fall off at the corners. Beautifull

contrasty shot, fill flash, using Portra 400 VC.

 

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BTW I on Sept 8, I sent it to Irwindale for repair and they had to

forward it to Contax, NJ. It's promised by this Thursday the 27th.

[jonas_yip2]

Hi, I have a question for T3 owners:

 

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One thing that has bothered me about most P&S cameras that I've

handled is the startup time, i.e. the delay from turning the

camera on to the lens extending fully. Right now I have an old

Pentax clamshell-type camera whose startup is essentially

instantaneous... slide it open and it is ready. Can somebody

comment on how the T3 behaves in this regard? I think any delay

more than say, 0.5-1 sec would bug me...

[philip_bonner]

The T3 "on" switch pops out/uncovers the lens instantaneously. If you

have the custom function focus setting selected to focus at 1/2

shutter depression, the T3 focus locks on to your subject as quick as

any auto focus SLR that I have used. It's very quick from the pouch,

turn it on-take the exposure-return to pouch: Nearly one fluid motion.

 

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BTW today I got mine back with the film take up spool replaced as a

warranty repair.

[john_mccormack]

FILTER/HOOD ADAPTOR FINALLY ARRIVES.

 

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I finally received the (back ordered) adaptor ring for mounting

filters and the lens hood on my T3. The ring works nicely on the T3

and allows you to mount the hood and/or filters to the camera even

when the camera is off. I picked up a couple of 30.5mm filters at a

camera swap last week and will try to post some comparison images as

time permits.

 

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I agree with Phil's comments on start up time for the T3. Though not

instanteous, the T3 is fast starting (comparable to the GR1) - I'd

estimate about 1 to 1.5 seconds. The best thing about the T3 in this

regard is that it doesn't have the pesky "auto off" feature, which I

like.