Summary:A solid, manual-focus, but auto-everything else, high-performance camera.
I shoot both film and digital. The RX is my go-to camera when I want to shoot film, but don't want to worry too much about exposure (my other film cameras at the moment are meterless). Or, when I just want to shoot the phenomenal Zeiss 28mm f/2.8 (which is often).
I got mine as a kit (with Zeiss 50mm f/1.7) off eBay for about $450. You just can't beat that value. I added a Zeiss Distagon 28mm f/2.8, which is a phenomenal lens.
Strengths:Super build quality. Super lens system. Great metering. Intuitive controls (I love the exposure compensation knob's location). Super-quick film loading, and rewind with an option to leave some leader out (great if you want to switch film type mid-shoot). Bright finder. With the split/microprism finder, focusing is pretty quick and easy. Digital focus confirmation is useful under some conditions. I like having it.
Weaknesses:Heavy. But that's the cost of a very fine build quality.
Similar Products Used:Miranda Sensorex, back in the day. Nikon N4004. Canon EOS 630. Digital SLRs (if that counts).
Customer Service:Not needed yet. I expect it would be spotty on a 15-year old camera :-)
Summary:I took an opportunity on that one, aiming for an Aria in first place.But i don't regret this buy at all. Constuction and handling is amazing, viewfinder is clear and bright ( grid screen ) which might be disturbing in first place , but is very useful for achitecture and landscape shots.
The keys are incredibly well placed on this camera, as in most late Contax bodies with this speed dial on the left, and the rest of the right, well done. Not too much gadgetery, and the custom functions are quite useful. I'm not using the DFI , but it might be helpful in macro i guess. Not overload indications in the vf, i use av info. Shutter is quiet, i love the sound of it.
I really appreciate this camera more and more. Use it with a 50 mm Planar 1.7, a perfect combo for me sor far. I plan to add a 85 mm and surely buying an Aria, lighter and smaller.
Highly recommended, the price being now affordable.
Strengths:Built quality, handling, metering , totally customisable and of course Zeiss lenses, but we all know this :)
Weaknesses:None disturbing to me.
Similar Products Used:None yet. I got a 139 and will get an RTS soon.
Customer Service:My camera got a mirror issue that hitted the back of the lens, it was some 5 mm in the wrong place. Fixed easily, now working perfect.
Rating Reviewed by: Ray Nieves(Unregistered User)
(Intermediate)
Review Date October 9, 2009
Overall Rating 5 of 5
Value Rating 5 of 5
Used product for 3 Months to 1 year
Visitors rate this review 5.00 of 5,
5 votes
Review 3 of 31
Price Paid:
$400.00
from ebay
Summary:My last stop in film cameras. Have used different 35mm cameras since the 70's: Nikon, Canon, Konica, Minolta, Rolleiflex and Leica M. 2 Years ago I got a Contax G and was blown away by the quality of the camera and the Zeiss lenses...so much so I sold my Leica M outit as quality was comparible. I then got a 137MD cheap and again was blown away. I have put away my Maxxum outfit for good. I then got an RX used and some AE lenses (18/4, 28/2.8, 50/1.4, 85/2.8, 135/2.8 and 300/4). This outfit is so good, so well made, I don't mind going back to manual focus (my older eyes appreciate the focus confirmation in the RX). This is it; my wonderlust is over, no camera has ever impressed me as this one has.
Strengths:Built like a tank: heavy but substantial
well designed
Leitz optics: no better made
Nice viewfinder
Focus confirmation
Durable and reliable
Summary:I have an old 139 fully manual CONTAX camera and i like it loads but since digital has been around i have been playing with a MINOLTA dimage7 UG. YUCK!!! I hear you cry... I agree, but its very handy still.
I was / am a very casual photographer and it brings me peace of mind, but I am also a very fussy person when it comes to quality. I saw this CONTAX RX sitting nicely in a secondhand camera shop next to an array of CARL ZEISS lenses, my mistake was to pick it up and play with it.. love at first touch.. it felt so good to have a REAL machine in my hands again and the old feelings came flooding back, I havn't had time to really check it out fully yet and I am trying to download the manual in english for it too but in saying that this baby slotted into my hand as if it were made for it. I was impressed, my second mistake was to attach the 80-200mm ZEISS lens to it and start to zoom around the room, clearity is an understatement. Next mistake was to check my wallet to find i could afford the camera AND the lens so now it belongs to me...muahahaha. It's a beast of a camera, I dont need to worry about the picture quality, CARL ZEISS, say no more. Being a casual photographer I will need to study the manual to get to grips with it but it does seem to be fairly simple to use. I am going on a shoot to KYOTO next week and i will be taking her with me for a test run, my old CONTAX camera is getting a bit tatty now but still takes wonderfull shots (a good eye helps). Its a bit early really for me to talk but i am so excited by this camera i had to tell someone.
Strengths:Very well built. CARL ZEISS, CARL ZEISS. viewfinder is very cool, weight is well balenced even with a long 80-200mm attatched
Weaknesses:are you kidding?.. the only thing that is frightening is the price of new lenses but you get what you pay for.
Similar Products Used:I have an old 139 but not really similar, I had a 136 too but my friend has it on a permenant borrow, its a semi-auto with a YASHICA lens at 55mm.
Customer Service:doubt i will ever need it, i haven't so far with any of my CONTAX machines
Summary:This is the finest camera I have ever owned. The RX is a beautiful machine that I fell in love with as soon as I held it in my hands. It is user friendly and its heft is so well balenced that you don't really notice it.
Strengths:DFI, well built &solid. Contoured perfectly for my hand. Takes Zeiss lenses. It is user friendly.
Weaknesses:none
Similar Products Used:RTS,167MT,137 md, Aria,Yashica fx2000
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