Mirror lockup Remote control Custom functions Construction AF speed and accuracy More features than similarly priced competition. | concrete slabs

Not able to K & M lenses Slow sync flash Harsher mirror

Solid body with manual controls Excellent lenses Ergonomics

Slow AF (depending on lens)

I moved from Minolta (Dynax 9) to Contax for two primary reasons: great Zeiss lenses and the N Digital. I had been waiting a long time for Minolta to introduce a digital SLR with a full image sensor but eventually came across on announcement for the N Digital. I investigated further and traded the Dynax 9 for the N1 and a set of Zeiss AF lenses. I love manual controls on cameras (that's why I moved from Nikon to Minolta) and although the N1 is not as solidly build as the Dynax 9 (what is?), it's a non menu driven body with dials and knobs for all settings. Feels great and overall performance is what I expected. A plus is the phantastic sound the drive makes :-) The AF system takes a bit of getting used to but the N1/Digital has a niftly little control for selecting the AF mode and sensors to use. I use this feature extensively and with great results. As other reviewers have stated, the main drawback of the AF system is that it's fairly slow but I found speed depends on the lens. With the vertical grip/battery pack mounted, the camera feels well balanced. I don't regret the move from Minolta and have now added a N Digital and NX body to the set. The ability to use the Contax Zeiss AF lenses on all three bodies makes this a superb film/digital setup.

Customer Service

Not used

Similar Products Used:

Minolta Dynax 9 Nikon F100

Excellent metering reasonably fast focusing excellent image quality in deep color balance Sturdy and reliable body quality and ergonomics Equipped with all necessary key features

viewfinder brightness and focusing is still behind Minolta Dynax 7 Slightly slow auto focus

Excellent layout New useeful diagonal AF focusing system excellent ergonomics excellent auto exposure: metering system Solid built Fine focusing ABC useful dual focus mechanism

Customer Service

Never contacted except focusing problem in MF/AF swiitch in 24-85mm Vario-Sonnar lens, but I can get refund from Brooklyn Camera Exchange

Similar Products Used:

Minolta Dynax 7 Leica R-E Minolta 600 Si Contax 167 MT Nikon FE2 (manual) Pentax ZX M (manual)

Ergonomics Build quality Lenses

Slightly slow autofocus

Everything about this camera seems right. It fits into my hands perfectly and the layout is perfectly intuitive. Just a few rolls and using this camera felt completely natural. I can fous on the subject and not on making the camera perform. And then there are the lenses-perfect colors and loads of detail. I acknowledge that the autofocus isn't as fast as some other cameras, but who cares? The results are spectacular!

Customer Service

Not needed.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon 8008 Nikon F100

Dual focusing system. Excellent handling. Solid contruction. Access to new Zeiss optics.

Expensive optics. Limited lens system not yet fully developed.

Like most Contax N users, I came from the background of using the Contax C/Y manual system for some time. It is a hard decision for me to get into the N system because I still currently own 11 Carl Zeiss manual focus lens with the Contax AX and Aria bodies. Recently both my Aria and Ax broke down at the same time and they are to be repaired. So I decided to take the plunge. I fell in love with the N1 instantly. It is a dream machine! Its control layout and handling are intuitative, remarkably similar to the AX. I bought it with the 24-85 Vario-Sonnar. The dual focusing system is excellent with smooth and well damped focusing ring. With a FX-1 micro prism, manual focusing is as easy as with the old C/Y manaul camera bodies. The AF sensors are positioned at the diagonal lines of the rule of the third divsions. I think this is better design than the Canon or Nikon counterparts in which they cluster the AF sensors mostly at the center and people's photo tend to suffer from autofocus symptoms in fast action shots (subjects in dead center in their pictures). I own the EOS-3 and I don't think its AF and control system are that great particularly if you mount a slow speed zoom lens to it. As a personal taste, I dislike the absence of aperture ring and dial/button control of the Canon EOS system. I am selling my Canon system. Many users complained about the AF speed and accuracy of N1. But I personally find the AF of N1 is very good and accurate. I don't shoot sport and wildlife so the N1 can satisfy my needs. Now I will keep my beloved Contax manual focus system and enjoy the best of both worlds.

Similar Products Used:

Contax AX Contax Aria EOS 3 EOS 30E EOS 1000NF Mamiya RZ67 Pro II Bronica ETRSi

Design,lenses,ease of use,quality.

none so far

TOPS!!!!elegant design, enough usefull features,the ability to switch from autofocus to manual in such an easy way is great, and of course the Zeiss lenses are fenomenal.

Customer Service

none yet

Similar Products Used:

nikon f100, canon eos3

- Support of autofocusing - Rigid body as other Contax bodies - Inherited support of Carl Zeiss lenses - Have same mount as medium format 645 so you can use same lenses with 35mm and medium format body which is a big big plus.

- Expensive. But remember you will never get 0% financing on Ferari. - Selection of lenses not big (inherited). But remember, an average user dont need 10 lenses. 2 or 3 lenses are enough but it depends person to person but on average you just need 2 or 3 and it most of time cover "important" ranges.

First of all, a person who is Nikon or Canon user will see the world with Nikon glasses. Biased reviews. A person who is Contax user will be having biased view about Contax. But the bottom line is that if you are happy photographing with some equipment then its end of story. I'm Contax user and among many many people who converted from Nikon. Visit any message board, go to Contax section, will see a lot who converted from Nikon. Got to Nikon section, will see hardly anyone who converted from Contax. Reason? Go check those message boards yourself? N1. Masterpiece like other Contax bodies. If you are considering that autofocusing must be state of art and highly intellegent then Contax is not the right choice for you. Nikon and Canon are much mature is this area than Contax. But a very important point here is that "its me" who can decide the best about what is the "perfect focus". When I bought my N1 then I also bought focusing screen. Because, I dont think that there is any engineering/electronics in any of camera who can do better focusing than manual. If someone has some problem in vision then thats another story. But focusing of N1 is not that bad that its not usable. Contax users are special kind of group of people who never bothered about fast lenses, USM motors, wide variety of lenses. If your kind of photography is shooting wild life, chasing fast animals, hummingbird then go for Nikon or Canon cuz they will serve you better. Every company has its speciality. For Canon its lenses, for Nikon its variety and on and on. Contax is known for 2 main things. Inherited support of Carl Zeiss lenses and tank bodies. N1 is a good body. I'll definitely recommend it. BUT, most important thing before buying camera is that what kind of photography you doing. What features are must for you. Which features you can live without. How often you use? For my kind of photography, I can live without "fast" lenses. I can live without soooper zoom size lenses. I'm kind of guy who spend quite sometime in reading the situation and then setting the camera and taking picture. Not like, move left "shoot", look up "shoot", look down "shoot". All varies person to person. The only professional thing I'm missing is mirror lockup. But how often you want that? Personally, I wanted it hardly 3 or 4 times in all of my photographic life. But once again, decide, is it you

Customer Service

Not yet needed

Similar Products Used:

Contax Aria Contax NX Nikon F100 Nikon N70 Nikon N80 Yashica

Zeiss glass, design, quality, compatibility with Contax 645 lenses.

slow zooms

The N1 was a natural choice for me, 1 - because I own a 645 system (can use 645 lenses on the N1 with the adapter), and 2 - I have become a devoted fan of Contax. The most important part of any camera is of course the lens, and Contax uses zeiss glass - need I say more. Well yes I do, it is not just zeiss, it's Contax zeiss and I believe there is a difference. After noticing exceptional results with the 645 I decided to do a test between that camera and my Hasselblad 503cw - same lighting, exposure, focal length, film, etc. To my surprise the Contax film was sharper, more saturated and just plain better. I immediately traded my Leica for the G2 and have now traded my Nikons for the N1. If Contax comes out with a larger format...bye bye Hasselblads! The camera......personality, intuitive simple design, quality through and through. All of the buttons and functions are easily accessible and not overly complicated. The lenses focus smoothly and accurately. I know people have complaints about the auto focus but it is fine as long as you know how to use it and are not shooting a fast moving object. Another concern of many is the size and weight, I read the reviews before purchasing mine and expected a monster. The body is only slightly larger than most slr's and the lenses do have a little weight but keep in mind the large chunk of glass inside. I even ordered the p-9 battery grip because I think that the body is better balanced and easier to grip with the additional height. The only thing that I would have liked is faster zooms. I know they have very rigid quality issues, but come on - give me a 2.8 at least. I had to get the 50mm 1.4 for the speed, not to mention my fast 645 lenses are fully compatible (even the focal length stays the same!). All of my shots are exactly what I expect from Contax - well exposed, contrasty with excellent color rendition. It's the kind of camera that makes you love to make a photograph.

Customer Service

very good, can be slow

Similar Products Used:

Contax G1, G2, Contax 645, Hasselblad

Like a tank. Zeiss glass. Manual AF override.

AF system.

Funny people these Contax People...they make the most expensive imperfect camera systems in the world and yet, you're sucked in by the 'difference' in personality compared to the rest. I own a TVS, a G2 system, a Contax N1 and have owned a Contax 645 system for a year. I also own different Canon EOS and lenses... But most of my successful pictures have come from Contax. OK. Let's get a bit technical. The bad news first. I don't care what everybody says: the AF system with the zoom lenses (especially the short 24/85) just plainly sucks. There is NO excuse to dump on the market such an expensive pro-camera with such a faulty AF system. Try and follow somebody coming at a fast pace towards you with any EOS with the same zoom focal lenght and the AF will MAYBE miss 2 or 3 shots in a roll...with the N1 you'll spend your time looking at the AF hunting the subject in the viewfinder. Unacceptable. After 20 years in fashion and celebrity photography...I do a better job manually. Contax has to go back to the drawing board on this one. The good news: that Zeiss glass will have you in love forever...it's just so different from all the other lenses, once you see those skin tones in color and that contrast in B&W, anything out of a Canon or a Nikon looks flat and with no personality. The camera body is a Contax. More mechanical, heavier, less forgiving, quircky, a reminder of the old style bodies. You actually feel you're holding a camera and not a small Computer. And that is a good thing. The jog stick to change focusing zone is quick and fun to use but nowhere near as fast as Canon Eye Focusing device. The manual focus override is one of the smartest things built in this camera. One general note about Contax. They better open a Professional Photographers Service similaar to Canon CPS because their repair prices are absurd and this new system where any major repair has to go back to Japan...is just laughable. If they need to keep your equipment for ONE month and you make your living taking pictures...they better give you a replacement on loan while you wait.

Customer Service

Customer what?

Similar Products Used:

All

Zeiss optics?? (Japenese, not German) I was impressed with the 50mm, but felt that the micro and short zoom were were on par with my Nikons.

-Inaugural venture into AF - Build quality of body. Lenses were solid. -Rediculous price for the format and results -Contax service does not have a great reputation in the industry. -Outside of major cities, tough to find a lot of well stocked Contax dealers.

I recently attended a "Contax Day" in NYC where I was able to use the N1 and several lenses for only a few hours. At the end of this brief encounter my main question was "why the REDICLOUUSLY high cost of the lenses?" Lenses tried were the 50, 100 macro and 17-35, all of which I own in Nikon. Results were very nice, as with the Nikon. Purchase price of the Contax body and 3 lenses would cost $5,925.!!! F100 body with the same 3 lenses in Nikon would be $3,185. What makes this even more rediculous is that this is the Contax companies first venture into AF body and lenes (AX is a different breed). Auto focus is annoyingly slow, similar to earlier generation Nikon and Canons. I had a hard time using matrix metering scale in AV mode. Overall I was disappointed in the build quality of the body and thought the lenses to be too bulky, similar in size to my medium format but only delivering 35mm size negatives. Before jumping into this system, do yourself a favor and check out the Canons and Nikons, proven systems with great lenses and track records.

Similar Products Used:

Nikons in the same size lenses.