rock solid build optics viewfinder clarity overall handling

what weakness

This is the best 35mm camera I've ever handled. It's rock solid and inspires confidence. Yes, it's heavy but it just feels right in the hand. All dials and swiches are logically placed for easy access. Viewfinder clarity is superb. I use it with a 100mm planar lens and the results are just top notch - second to none. Long may contax build camera of such highest quality.

Customer Service

Not needed to contact yet.

Similar Products Used:

Canon EOS-5, EOS 1, Nikon F90x

Strong body, excellent lenses, easy to use, versatile, work horse, very advanced features such as flash TTL metering, etc. wonderful.

Support/Service unavailable and even a sham.

I love my RTS III and have had it since 91. However, as others have noted, Contax support is a a joke, a sham, pathetic. My flash sync works only 70% of the time and I sent it in (NJ facility) twice, paid for it, yet it was never fixed along with a couple of other small bugs. I have never been able to reach anyone and no one has returned my efforts to contact anyone at Contax except when I was interested in their new model and a sales rep checked into my level of interest. Once I made it clear that I wouldn't purchase a new model until someone addressed my other problems I was never contacted again. Seriously, does anyone know what is going on with these people? This is likely one of the finest modern 35mm cameras available, as solid as they come in every respect. Why in the world would Contax and/or their importer allow for them to suffer to this degree? Truly ashame.

Customer Service

As stated above - as bad as can be and perhaps even worse. If I paid for my camera to be repaired twice and it wasn't fixed and the company wouldn't respond to my repeated efforts to contact them then it seems like there is something really really wrong.

Similar Products Used:

167MT

Great lenses Sturdy body (RTS III) even when dropped

Service, it sucks!

Since my first review of this great camera I have purchased a second body. Good timing since my original had a severe fall (OK drop, from a fairly long distance). I was convinced it would be a disaster when I went down the short cliff to retrieve it, but other than the filter on the lens being cracked, one of the rollers on the camera back popped free. But now the problem!! Trying to contact anyone from Contax is a JOKE! I honestly phoned these people for 3 consecutive days, trying every combination of "my parties extension" that they had to offer. NO ONE WAS HOME!!! Incredible. A possible reason why there are so few Contax dealers aroound. I went to a camera store that was a Contax dealer to see if they could help me get it repaired and they did (from an independent repair company). When I mentioned the problems that I had in trying to contact ANYONE in the Contax company, the guy laughed and stated that that was the problem they always had. Great cameras and lenses but TERRIBLE support from the company. I love my RTS III and Zeiss lenses, and I'm glad that I found an independent firm that will repair Contax, because the company itself offers '0' help.

Customer Service

ABSOLUTELY USELESS!!!!!

build quality, 100% viewfinder, handling, pre-flash

no matrix metering (if that would be a weakness), weight (pro-model)

...it feels like a rock. an almost perfect camera, heavy, but this is normal for a pro-model. Look at my detailed Review of the RTS III at: www.contaxinfo.com. This is the ultimate source for every Contax user. For every Contax-system!

Similar Products Used:

almost all Contax cameras, Leica R

Precise metering and operation. Has all useful mechanics to improve picture quality you can think of manual. Super capable of flash photography. Match to Zeiss lens.

heavy, screen under bright sun as menstioned in previous review, but no big deal! Not cheap, but you got one of the best.

Got an used one not long ago on ebay. It has all the functions I would need for a manual focus cameara. A little too heavy for outdoor but it is stable and fast on the other hand. All functions are easy to learn, operate, and remember. Flash capability is superb. The most important thing is that it gives excellent result on various weather conditions I tested.

Customer Service

No Need so far

Similar Products Used:

CANON AE-1 EOS3, MINOLTA X700 NIKON FM2

Fantasticly precise metering system. Solid built quality. Easy layout of camera features. Great pre-flash capability. Feel in the hands that is second to none.

It is difficult to see the blue color viewfinder information in sunny conditions. The location of the metering and vertical shutter switches makes them prone to an accidental change of position while handling the camera.

The Contax RTS III is a dependable and solidly built camera. It is a pleasure to use and has features that are intuitive and easy to navigate. It is the best manual 35mm camera that I have handled and is worth the nearly $1,000 investment for any ambitious photographer who would appreciate the camera''s superb quality combined with no nonsense attributes. A gem for anyone who appreciates manual cameras.

Customer Service

Stopped by in person at their Sommerville, NJ location to remove a few specles of dust in the viewfinder. The service was prompt and curtous.

Similar Products Used:

Contax Aria, Pentax K1000.

Very solid. Reliable. Incredible bright, high contrast viewfinder is best on the market. Built in spot flash meter is very useful especially for studio units. Wonderful ergonomics. Mirror lock up which is becoming rare these days. Vacuum back does actually improve film flatness. Average and spot metering is very accurate. Fully mechanical bulb setting.

Only major weakenss is that the blue LCD readout is hard to see in daylight. A bit on the heavy side although I have taken it backpacking to over 12,000 feet in winter.

A great camera overall. Exudes quality more so than even the Leica R8. Not a camera for those who want matrix metering or AF. Of course, you get to use Zeiss optics. Nothing more to say. Now if Kyocera or Zeiss would just license a few APO teles from Leica, it'd be perfect.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon, Leica R, Canon new F1, other Contaxes

Rugged, Great user interface, high quality, great features

Could use evaluative metering and bargraph on spot metering, heavy

Superb camera, great to use, great lenses and wonderful ergonomics. Only real downside for me is the weight.

Customer Service

Haven't needed any

Similar Products Used:

Contax Aria, Contax RTS, Minolta 600si, Leica M2, Minolta XK, Contarex Bullseye

Contax was developed in order to use the Zeiss optics. Zeiss lenses are probably the finest along with Leitz (Leica) lenses. Built-in flash metering makes this a great studio camera.

It is difficult (impossible for me) to read the metering system in bright sunlight. The PC terminal pulled out from one of my RTS III bodies; someone else told me of a similar experience.

I own several Contax cameras and use them for different reasons. The RTS III is my "studio" camera. The primary reason is that it allows me to meter flash right through the viewfinder. The meter is a "nulling" style meter in that one trips a flash lever on the camera which then shows, via a series of narrow bars (or lines) in the viewfinder whether the exposure reading is over, under or right on. By adjusting the lens aperture or the flash output, one can quickly arrive at the proper exposure. I find the readings to be absolutely accurate (however, I read off an 18% neutral gray card).

The idea of having a vaccum back is a novel idea that may or may not mean greater sharpness throughout the film plane.

The camera (now about a decade since its introduction) is quite easy to use as compared with contemporary, highly computerized, cameras that have so many features and functions that I have to refer to a manual, in hand, just to change the lens aperture.

But, basic settings allow for everything from a diopter correction in the viewfinder, to automated/manual shooting modes as well as different frame rates (motor drive), self-timer and multiple exposure functions. An auto-bracketing feature allows a three-shot bracket with either a half-stop or full-stop variation in exposure between shots.

The real reason to use a Contax, however, is for the quality of the image.

That quality is a result of using lenses which yield superb contrast. Ideally, one would choose to use Kodachrome film for color or a fine grain black and white film to truly appreciate what these lenses can do. For a long time, I did not understand "contrast" as it applied to lenses. But, I can best describe the difference as being that seen when one looks out through a window which has a slight film of dirt on the glass; then opening the window and viewing the same scene. Colors look more vivid and detail appears to be sharper and more distinct.

Finally, I also use my RTS III out of doors, but if the sun is high and bright (not my favorite time of day for most photography) I may switch to my Contax AX (whose meter is easy to read in any situation).

Stan Malinowski
(modelpix.com)

Customer Service

I get excellent service (as a professional)

Similar Products Used:

Canon, Leica, Minolta, Leica, Olympus

Heavy, which makes for good stibility at long shutter speeds. Zeiss glass, with excellent selection. Fast, quiet built-in motor drive. Built very very well. Excellent meter. Handles beautifully, controls are easy to use and intuitive.

Heavy (well, this is both a plus and a minus ;-). Auto Exposure lock is a lever, instead of partially depressed shutter button...time consuming to use. NO datA back, only datE.

Exceptional camera, even though it is a 10 year old design, it easily competes with current day high end 35mm cameras! It really is a pleasure to use!

Customer Service

no idea, never needed it.

Similar Products Used:

Contax Aria, Nikon F, Nikon FM2