Control everything you can. It's the spirit of the legendary Contax S, refined to the point of perfection. The RTS III is a manual focus 35mm SLR that delivers precise user control backed by cutting-edge technology, including the Real Time Vacuum system, ultra-fast shutter and more. And, of course, its manual-focus Carl Zeiss T* lens set is regarded as one of the finest optical systems in the world.
This is the best 35mm SLR I've ever used. I've often read that it is a rock. I can think of no other description which better describes it. Not only is it solid, but it is also the quietest SLR I know. Awesome!
Strengths: Amazing Optics and mechanical fluid movements of the focus and the aperture ring.
Weaknesses: None.
Bottom Line:
Just got a bunch of T* Lenses 50/1.7 & 85/2.8. awesome 'BOKEH' and quality. Have used all types of Lenses and system cameras LEICA M&R,CANON FD,MINOLTA ROKKORMD,PENTAX K,OLYMPUS ZUIKOS, but all these lack that magical glass like quality of these T* lenses. The CONTAX RTS III just for the lenses.
Strengths: Viewfinder, lens quality (we all knew that), very solid, rugged build, good hand-holding balance with most relatively mid-range lenses, good spot and pre-flash TTL meters. In short, most everything that's important in an SLR.
Weaknesses: No intermediate apertures except in shutter-priority mode and intermediate stops (shutter only) in manual mode must be accessed via the exposure compesation dial which I dislike. Exposure meter difficult to read in bright or backlit situations. I'd caution that it's kind of heavy, a hinderance to some more than me (it's well-balanced which mostly atones for it in my opinion), and, well, it couldn't be much more costly, could it? Though I wouldn't give or sell it back for 4 times what I paid for it used, I give it a value rating of 4 instead of 5 acknowledging that's it's about as costly a 35mm film-based SLR as they come (Leica's of course excepted).
Bottom Line:
You know, generally from a philosophical point of view I don't believe in gear-worship which a lot of people succumb to. The emphasis should never be on equipment unless you truly simply enjoy using cameras and not photographing the world, but really belongs on the vision and point of view and message of the photographer.
That said, this camera sometimes makes me lapse into a state of near-gear worship. All in all it (along with a couple of the lenses I mount on it) is definitely one of the finest pieces of photographic equipment I've ever owned, and certainly gives me the most joy to use.
First and foremost, an SLR camera is essentially a light-tight box that holds film behind a lens and allows you to look through that lens to see what the film is going to record. Getting a good, clear, bright and accurate view of that is an aboslutely ESSENTIAL function of an SLR. A camera that is neither light-tight (and most of the time we can take this for granted thankfully) nor gives an excellent view through the lens is useless. This is the RTS 3's strongest aspect, hence it is a very good camera. Looking through it I can "feel" the light on the subject, the contrast range, the color, a certain 3 dimensionality (as much a function of lens design as camera design, and yes we all know Contax uses excellent Zeiss glass) that for me is a conduit to creativity. All else, though important, is secondary.
As for the rest (also important), the build is as solid as a 35mm SLR comes, eclipsing even my past experience with Nikon (which is saying something). Unimportant technically but a strong personal preference of mine is the use of big, (mostly) easily manipulated and intuitively used dials and levers instead of LCDs and modal buttons and so on and so forth. I hate pushing buttons when I'm shooting, the only button I really want to push is the shutter. Ergonomically speaking, camera rates a "very good, plus" as opposed to excellent. For my work I'm very cranky about shooting on tripod, my creativity when I feel nailed to the ground takes a nosedive, so "hand-holdability" takes a certain precedence and the camera performs more than adequately in that arena. It's somewhat heavy but fortunately well-balanced with most lenses that I use most frequently (all my glass I own for this system is in the 28-85 range, mostly fast primes, though I've occasionally used others). It's got a built-in battery grip with a vertical shutter release button that, while not quite as comfortable as the oversized grips they build in or add on as accessories to many other 35mm and DSLR systems (a la Nikon and Canon) it's relatively comfortable. Most of the control and function dials are easily reachable with the notable exception of the exposure mode which is locked and must be released with the push of a button on the side of the body underneath the dial, a pain in the butt as much as it keeps you from accidently switching, but I rarely move mine out of manual so it doesn't really matter much to me. The most frequently used dials in my experience, the shutter dial and the exposure compensation dial (the only way to access intermediate stops, something I find a weakness) are easily reached. The switch from spot to center-weight metering is also easily reached and appropriately out of the way of the other primary controls; you're not likely to change meter modes accidently without noticing. Though the viewfinder image is bright and beautiful (and I strongly believe covers very slightly less than the "100%" that Contax claims) the exposure meter display is a bit dim when shooting backlit subjects, which I find an irritation, and though a traditionalist you might call me, I actually prefer the "picket fence" exposure readout of my Canon. One convenience I do enjoy is the TTL pre-flash meter lever which measures not only hotshoe flash but studio flash plugged into the PC sync as well (I use it most often to monitor changes in my ringflash exposure when either my model or I move around and change flash-to-subject distance). I hear a lot of hot air blown about the benefits of the much-touted vacuum system which keeps the film flat to the back, theoretically a big plus. I'm sure it is but I don't concern myself with it (and I don't have to fortunately, it works automatically). Let the camera designers and equipment measurebators debate its relative virtues or necessity, the end result either way is that correctly exposed images carefully focused and shot with a fast shutter with Zeiss glass and this camera are SHARP.
All in all, this is a wonderful camera, a joy to work with, my first choice when picking up a 35mm unless it's a clear AF situation or I just wanna putt around with a rangefinder for purely personal work. I honestly doubt I'll ever use a better 35mm camera, ever, I don't know if it's more attached to me or I to it.
Similar Products Used: Lots of 35mm SLRs, but most relevantly for comparison Canon EOS 1v and 1n and 3, and Nikon F4.
Type of photography: People
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
baga
a Intermediate
from Switzerland
Date Reviewed: May 1, 2003
Strengths: Feels great to hold in hands.
The fastness of the "blind-phase"
The mirror look-up.
The rock solid build.
Weaknesses: No weakness! Only suggestions:
A viewfinder that compares to the slides!
Just a bid less heavy!
A dioptric wheel that can be countersink
A viewfinder that's Quiet!
Bottom Line:
When I held it the first time in my hands i was a bid scared ;-) about the wait!
But it feels handier than my friends Nikon F4 (which is less heavy)
I like to hike and photograph on holydays
and since I changed making almost only
Slides I really like this "Rock" :-)
This camera has an incredible short "blind" phase (the time beside the exposure time you can't see anything through the viewer)
The lenses are top (in my opinion as good as the best Nikon and Leica lenses)
A personal critic point of view about the 100% viewfinder:
100% sounds great, I know! And in the beginning I was convinced this would be a great innovation. Today i'm not convinced anymore because I did made several architecture photographs and when I let develop them the last "lines" on the negatives are not on the picture!
The same problem on slides!
I would suggest the best would be somewhere around 95% as the Leica R9! (This would be the slide-size)
Once I have worked with the RTS 3 I do not feel comfortable an other camera!
It gives me the kind "ALL IS OK" feel!
Similar Products Used: Minolta Dynax 7000i (i know, it's not similar :-))
Nikon F4, Contax RX
Type of photography: Outdoor
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Steve
a Expert
from Key West, FL
Date Reviewed: April 16, 2003
Strengths: Precision and Function.
Weaknesses: none
Bottom Line:
A tank. This camera is simple and intuitive. The RTS 3 for me is the perfect combination of exceptional quality and functionality. It really does take sharper chromes than my 167mt. I love this camera , worth every penny.
