rock solid body , light wiegth , like 1/250 flash synch , super brightness of viewfinder , user at all speed without battery

pricy , louder

this isa frist rate manual camera probably the best its built to lats forever...... i love it

Customer Service

no need

Similar Products Used:

canon ,f1,t70,f1n,a2,elan2e,eos1n,eos3, contax 139q 137,159,167,rts2,rts3,ax nikon fm,fe,fm2n,fe2,f90x,f100,f3,f4,f5,f70,f2,fa pentax z1p,lx,mx,645n leica r5,r7 minolta 7000i,9xi

A beautiful camera, that make me want to go for photography.

LOUD , crank sound. No TTL flash. EV 4 limit. Aperture information in viewfinder.

If the sound is nicer, quieter, I will love the camera a lot more.

Seal should be better (bottom)

Similar Products Used:

OM4T. ST. 167MT. EOS1. FM2n.

nice finder
clean design
light

flimsy feel
back door can pop open
loud and 'ringing' shutter
far too expensive

Just pick up the S2 camera body (w/o lense) and operate it. Now pick up a Leica R5 camera body (w/o lense) and operate it.
There is *no* comparison. Leica is head and shoulders better than
the Contax. Too bad, really, because I personally like the mechanics
of the Zeiss lenses better than the Leica lenses. In my opinion,
the S2 is not even as good as my FM2. You need to look at their
other bodies from the 137 on up to the RTSIII. I bought an RX
which is heavier, but has a much better fit, finish, and smooth
operation. I'll review it after having used it a while =)

Customer Service

good

Similar Products Used:

fm2

robust and strong. Zeiss lens...

shutter is not dead quiet. a little heavy

Lots of previous review forget the point of this camera, and spend too much time criticizing price. Durable and easy operation are the point to me for this camera. I use it in snow days or in a dessert and it never failed to work like other AF camera. The other one has similar quality is Nikon FM2 but S2 has that strong feel to my hands (although heavier too). However new FM2N's price is raised quite a bit and you can't call S2 expensive and FM2 low price anymore. I think FM2 survive the market (may be only mass production 1) and NIKON starts to take advantage of the only surviver by raising the price.

When you have a Zeiss lens on it and it is durable, that means a lot to some photographers. The complain about the noise make no much sense. How many people really care? Unless you are shooting a dinosaur(she might eat you). I used to have a minolta(x700?), not bad camera and very quiet. But compared to S2 on picture quality, you will be quiet on your quiet camera. Don't attack a camera just because it is expensive. Look at the pictures they take at good/bad weather condition! BTW, like the spot meter too.

If you already have one, don't treasure S2 like a baby bca it is expensive(I bet some people do). After you see its durability in tuff condition, then you know it deserves some $$. Not only it works, the bright viewer make it better to see at bad weather than FM2.

5 star for durable body and nice picture quality.
4 star for price and functionality(manual! so what you expect)

Similar Products Used:

Nikon FM2

accurate spot meter,Zeiss optics

no ttl flash

For demanding photographers it has all features.I have had a lot of success with this combination of FM2 body and Carl Zeiss lens

Customer Service

no need

Similar Products Used:

f100,f70,minox

Basic, solid, excellent build, very good spot meter, very accurate overall

none

Though on the expensive side, It's a very accurate, reliable, and solid camera for those who want total control of the image.

Customer Service

Very Good

Similar Products Used:

Various Nikon (previously owned F, F2, F3) also own Contax RX