philip_bonner

Hi John,

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I'd follow it and contribute.

Here's the main page for the Popular Photography 2001 camera ratings

including the following summary of the T3:

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"Finally, conspicuous kudos to the gorgeously finished, supersharp,

and pocketable, pricey Contax T3, one of the prettiest new point-and-

shoots in years."

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http://www.popphoto.com/Camera/ArticleDisplay.asp?ArticleID=118

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Looks like we got a winner!

Popular Photography has listed it's top P&S cameras with a small

revierw and a star rating for each camera. The reviews are in .pdf

format.

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The T3 got the most stars with the Konica Hexar Silver a half a star

behind. The reviewers repeated their assessment that the T3 has the

best lens of any P&S tested.

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http://www.popphoto.com/pdfs/1201/top_cameras/35mm_ps/contax_t3.pdf

<p>

I've found Kodak Portra 400VC to be a great film for portraiture,

especially in bright, sunny conditions and general outdoors use.

Here's a link to the first look/review of the Panasonic (Lumix LC5)

version of the Leica Digilux 1.

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Note: Questions from serious sources are being raised whether the new

Leica/Panasonic zoom lens is the same zoom lens as on the Sony DSC 85

and the Canon G2. Specs and Photos of the three appear identical. It

may be possible that the Leica has Leica coatings.

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http://www.steves-digicams.com/2002_reviews/lumix_lc5.html

I misspoke with an errant "Not" above.

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In view of all the advances since their release Leica should be able

to upgrade both the fixed focal length and the zoom Miniluxes to

better compete with Contax in the high-end P&S market.

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Maybe Leica is focusing all of it's R&D towards producing a digital

still camera in it's joint venture with Panasonic .

My wife's Leica Minilux Zoom (35-70mm) is a real pleasure to use

framing shots in group gatherings, parties and portrait shots due to

the 70mm. It renders superb photos. It is also a nice size.

<p>

It seems that with all design and materials advances since the

release of the MLZ, a 1st class, nice sized 35-90mm could not be made.

Still no Contax answer to my query whether the single sprocket film

take-up/winding spool is a common/frequently requested T3 warranty

repair item. Contax is usually very responsive. Therefore, their non-

answers, in lieu of a denial or an acknowledgment of problem, could

be viewed as an begrudging admission.

I have the ever ready case. Use both the belt and the ever ready

depending on shooting/activity. This weekend was in the mountains.

Very cold, snowy weather. Kept the T3 protected inside my jacket

hanging around my neck from straps of ever ready case with cover

removed. For a walk in the park on a nice day I'll jut use the hip

belt case. Nothing is faster and more convenient.

I have a feeling that this thread will have a limited life. I have

learned to get the most from my T3 from the experiences posted by

others here.

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Also, if problems arise with the T3, the combined voices of everyone

in a T3 Group could speak with Contax with far more force of

authority than just an individual.

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Great idea.

I sent a message to Contax about the possible take-up spool sprocket

weakness and included copies of all the related posts from this board.

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I would treat this problem as a "toothing" problem which all new

equipment is prone. I believe Contax will design and provide a

permanent remedy to the problem for those who have trouble with it.

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Overall, the camera has proven to me to be a great photographic tool

that fulfills the P&S role better than anything else out there, i.e;

it's design lends itself to ease of carry and quick P&S applications.

Due to the quality of the photos that it renders I do not feel that I

am compromsing image quality by using it instead of my SLR ficed foal

lenght lenses.

<p>

To the contrary, the T3 lense has given equal

contrast/color/resolution performance, and has less flare and

vignetting than my Canon 50mm f1.4 - my baseline for

quality/sharpness.

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I've already reported about the wide latitude that the camera's built-

in features and accessories afford the user - virtually most of the

exposure control of an slr and dedicatred flash but in a much more

handy "point and shootable" package.

<p>

I have confidence that the take-up spool problem will be researched

and corrected. It should not be considered a major flaw and is not

indicative of the overall quality that I have found when constantly

using the T3.

<p>

BUT, we'll see how Contax handles it.

I believe that a company with the reputation of Contax will identify

the weakness, install redesigned/stronger ones on new T3's and

respond to those that go bad by replacing the defective ones with the

stronger redesigned one.

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I'll send an email to Contax about the recurring reports here which

seem to indicate an inherrent weakness. If it is an inherent

weakness, I would imagine that it would already be reflected in

repair requests.

<p>

Anyone have a good email address for Contax?

Been experimenting with taking flash photos using the TL 200 wired to

the T3 through the off camera cord and SR-2 bracket. Have great

results with portraits using normal flash sync speeds aiming the

flash offset high and wide of the subject. Also good results obtained

in LT (Long Time) mode firing the flash as a fill. With the T3 flash

set to no flash, the camera chooses the LT exposure time and the TL

200 will still fire. Results were slightly overexposed. Does anyone

know if I can use the exposure compensation adjustment for LT shots?

<p>

Pardon me for asking this again. This was asked before but I did not

understand whether the answer was a "yes" the exposure comp works in

LT mode or a "no" the exposure comp does not work under LT mode.

And I was hoping that my sprocket problem was a one-of-a-kind, one

time, problem. Looks like we may have discovered a weak spot.

I had the same problem with the take-up spool losing the sprocket and

failing to wind film. Contax fixed it under warranty.

My wife and I have both the Leica Minilux Zoom and the T3. Both

deliver superb results. The T3 shots may have a slight edge of

crispness/sharpness while the Minilux Zoom shots, particulalry in

skin tones of portrait shots, have a certain glow about them which

render them equally appealing. I guess this is the "Leica look." Both

cameras have a solid, high quality feel.

The below post about focus appears above. Kwen Wen did somne

interesting experiemnts focusing on objects ... very helpful.

<p>

Kwen Wan said: "One thing I did notice (on my T3) is that the

autofocus area is approximately 5 ovals wide (if you take the

autofocus 'oval' and lay them out 5 times) and it prevents my T3 from

focusing through a gap in the door which is half open -if I sit stand

about 2 metres back from it. (by the way, are the U.S. T3 distance

scales in feet?). If I take a vertical shot the autofocus area

doesn't clip the edges of the door and focuses through into the

distance."

I did find out that contax T3 have 2 different focusing methods! when

you use AFL lock button to focus, the focusing area is EXACTLY the

Oval you see in the viewfinder and when you use halfpress, focusing

area is somewhat 5 ovals wide! sorry about my english, thats not my

strongest skil:)

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-- Heikki Nurkkala (heikki.nurkkala@luukku.com), August 24, 2001

A correction to my last post - should read Kodak Portra 400 VC

("vivid color") and not Kodak NPC. NPC is a Fuji film.

<p>

Again, I've heard that the newest Fuji Superia 400 with the 4 layer

emulsion is giving very good all around results for the 400 speed

films. I've used Fuji NPH 400 outdoors with decent results. Also used

the Kodak Supra 400 and got very nice, high color/contrast, outdoor

results.

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Every review that I've seen on the Kodak Supra 800 states that it is

one of the best - if not the best - 800 films with very low

graininess comparable to the best 400 films.

Tony,

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I may be wrong - please correct me if so - but you may have over-

ridden the flash AE/Program by using aperture priority and force fill

flash. If so f/11 is closed down pretty good and would probably have

resulted in under exposure.

<p>

Niki is correct the Fuji's are really where it is at! Fuji pro NPS

and NPC (asa 160) deliver beautiful portrait shots of olive and

darker skinned subject. My wife is kind of dark skinned SE Asian and

my son has olive skin. Check out John's close-up portrait of his

daughter using NPC. The exposure is perfect and the color is rich.

That photo has inspired me to use the T3 and NPC to get in close.

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NPH (Fuji 400 asa) is also another great portrait film that you

should consider. I've heard that the new Superia 400 with the 4 layer

emulsion is a good film too.

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IMO Reala is the best all around film for both scenics and people.

<p>

Lastly, try taking your Kodak NPC 400 negs to a pro lab. I use A & I

Labs, one of the best in the U.S. And even they sometimes print too

warm/yellowish. At A&I, they'll gladly reprint to your specs.

<p>

Does anyone know whether the irradiation of the mail to kill anthrax

will damage unexposed or exposed film?. I buy and process my film by

mail.

Tony,

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I used the 400VC in my T5 to photograph my fair skinned, red haired,

nephews in bright sunlight on the beach. I was worried because I had

read that the film was best suited for cloudy overcast conditions.

However, the results were absolutely spectacular.

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What subjects and conditions were you using it for?

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This film has generated many love/hate reports on Photnet. The film

Dept. Manager at Samy's in LA recommended it to me as her personal

favorite for fair skinned subjects so I took a chance and got a 5 roll

pack.

Ming,

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NPC is higher contrast. I believe the "C" in NPC stands

for "contrast." BTW both are great films.

Ming,

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The everyready case does not provide for attachment of the SA-2

bracket. The SA-2 has several small spring loaded pin contacts for

the flash circuit and also a slightly larger mating pin that fit into

the bottom of the T3.

<p>

BTW the case is of very supple leather and does not increase the

overall size of the T3 to a significant degree. It remains small and

is nearly as unnoticable around my neck or slung under one arm as is

the T3 in the pouch on my belt.

More excellent "hand's on" information to get the most range out of

the TL-200. Thank you both Cosmo and Niki.

John and Tony,

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I have been using the Contax brand UV filter with the hood w/o any

noticeable vignetting. Tony's pics scared me into taking the filter

off and just using the hood for everyday shooting. I wonder if anyone

has tried the thin heliopan filters with the hood on the T3?

<p>

Phil

Cosmo,

<p>

I was hoping to be corrected and that I was missing the TTL feature!

But you have the great idea of using the self-sensored flash as a

slave which would sure take a lot of guess work out of "light

painting" with a slave.

<p>

Also a few people who wanted more flash but did not want to go the

route of the SA-2/TTL-299 were interested in using small slaves

instead. The self-sensored flash fits the bill perfectly. I wonder if

there are any very small, pocketable self-sensor falsh units.

<p>

Phil