Contax T-2 Titanium

Robust, attractive P&S camera with a sharp Carl Zeiss Sonnar lens that rivals many SLR lenses (including my Contax SLR lenses). A useful focal length for both people photography and landscapes. Has a good feel in the hand without being too big or small. Reliable metering and a good range of manual overrides.

Easy to use. Logical and practical layout. Scratch resistant viewfinder/flash windows that are flush with body for easy cleaning. Takes superb pics that retain good detail even when enlarged. Superb lens.

Nothing really springs to mind.

Leica CM, Yashica T5

Contax/Kyocera UK. Answer e-mails promptly and courteously. Helpful.

This is a very good camera and for the price used (415.00) in LN- condition is a bargain. The camera is very well made and is beauftiful to look at. The T2 takes beautiful pictures and is very rugged. I took mine cycling one day and I had the T2 in my rear pocket of my cycling jersey. At the end of the ride, I was taking the jersey off (pulling it over my head) and the T2 fell out of my pocket 6 1/2 feet to the concrete sidewalk below. The camera landed on the titanium top cover. This impact left only some minor marks on the titanium (no dents or dings), and the camera worked just fine. Any other camera that I have owned (with the exception of my Nikon FM2) would have been finished. The camera really is that rugged.

Titanium body, very rugged. fast Zeiss 38mm 2.8 lens quality - beautiful camera Very easy to use lens retracts into body bright clear viewfinder (one of the best) quiet

none

contax T, rollie 35 SE, nikon L35AF, fuji DL mini zoom,(just bought contax TVS II)

N/A

Having read most of the rewiews, this seems to be sort of a "love/hate-camera". A few people really don't like it, others love it. I like it, but not without a few reservations. I bought mine second hand (or actually "third hand") at NOK 2700,- (approx. USD 360,-), and it has obviously been used, but optics etc. are perfect. First of all: The pictures are great. Take a little care in strong backlight, but otherwise the exposure is spot on, contrast and sharpness is very good. I have compared it directly to my Yashica T3 Super, which also have Zeiss lens, and it is even better. However, I could always use more manual override, i.e. the possibility to combine flash and long exposures. The build quality is good, but I am a little disappointed that the lens is so loose and wobbly when the camera is on. However, the service guys says it's OK. The 38 mm lens is, after all, a good compromise. Not always wide enough, but then I can focus on details instead. I have used a Ricoh GR1s, but to have only a 28 mm lens is not to my taste. Portaits get strange etc. The near focusing limit could be better.

> Picture quality. > Clear, large finder w/ good info. > Good light metering. > Manual focus. > Exp. compensation. > Strong body.

> Limited manual override. > Max. 1/30 s with flash. > Only 0,7 m near focus. > Wobbly lens does not match the over all sturdy feeling.

Tashica T3 Super, Ricoh GR1s, Olympus AF1 Twin, Olympus Mju 1

Not tried

HAVING ONLY TRIED "SNAPS" I WANTED TO TAKE GOOD PICTURES IN A SOCIAL CONTEXT, OF THE COMMUNITY I WAS WORKING IN. THE CAMERA NEEDED TO BE POCKETABLE AND EASY TO USE BUT ALSO HELP ME DEVELOP KNOWLEDGE OF PHOTOGRAPHY. FOR ME THIS WAS A VERY EXPENSIVE PURCHASE, ESPECIALLY FOR A USED PRODUCT. I FELL IN LOVE WITH THE T2, EVEN THOUGH MY INITIAL THOUGHTS WERE THAT I'D BEEN RIPPED OFF.

THE CLINCHING THING WAS THE QUALITY OF THE PICTURES WHEN I GOT SUCH THINGS AS COMPOSITION ETC RIGHT. THE DETAIL AND QUALITY OF THE GOOD ONES MEANT I WAS MAKING GREAT IMAGES AND NOT JUST TAKING PICTURES.

THE BEST I REMEMBER WAS AN INDOOR SHOOT OF SCHOOL CHILDREN USING AMBIENT LIGHT, A WIDE APERTURE AND 400ASA FILM. THE GLOW OF THE SKIN, DETAIL AND COLOURS WERE SPECTACULAR. AS A CLUMSY NOVICE I WAS WELL PLEASED.

A LONGER FOCAL LENGTH LENS MIGHT BE AN ADVANTAGE FOR PORTRAITS. IF I HAD THE MONEY I WOULD DEFINATELY GET A T3 EVEN THOUGH IT COSTS AS MUCH AS TWO MONTHS INCOME. SLRS AND RANGE-FINDERS ARE TOO BIG AND FIDDLY.

I WOULD RECOMEND THIS CAMERA FOR A NOVICE WHO WANTS SOMETHING FOR SNAPS AND SERIOUS PHOTOS, WHO DOESN'T WANT TO BE ENCUMBERED BY A BUCKET LOAD OF EQUIPMENT. THOUGH THE COST IS CERTAINLY A MAJOR PROBLEM.

UNFORTUNATELY THE CAMERA WAS STOLEN. SO DUE TO FUNDS I HAVE PURCHASED A CLASSIC OLYMPUS TRIP 35 FOR $30 AND AM YET TO SEE THE RESULTS.

SIZE, USABILITY, BUILD QUALITY, LENS, EASE OF USE, THOSE LOVELY PICTURES.

NOT AS USER-OVER-RIDEABLE AS IT COULD BE, DUE TO THE WAY OPTIONS ARE SELECTED. LENS COVER JAMMED AT ONE STAGE.

MINOLTA AFE.

DIDN'T TRY

The prints from this camera were better than those from my Nikon 8008s with zoom lens. The Zeiss optics are spectacular! But I've had trouble with it taking too long to focus and not finding the object to focus on. I would call this shutter lag, but I think it's really focus lag. I know the new Contax T3 is supposed to have updated focusing, so I hope this problem is fixed. I also had trouble getting it to lock focus so I could reframe the shot, but that could have been operator error.

Incredibly sharp lens.
Can override automatic settings.
Built like a tank.
Great daytime outdoor fill flash.

Auto focus seemed to take too long, causing me to often miss "the decisive moment" shots.

This is the only point and shoot camera I've ever owned.

didn't need