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Product is in good conditions as specified. It lacks a small cover pin but other than that is fine.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
theres a reason these cameras are so cheap these days... you could use it as a boat anchor.. not just weight but the simple act of taking pictures requires some really strong wrists. Ok now for the image quality. with the vacuum back it has a slight edge over the competition but it simply isnt something I plan on using much, in fact the one I bought got sent back a few days after using due to the AP mode stopped working. good door stop.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
The Contax RTS II Quartz 35mm camera should be owned by any professional that appreciates ease of use and splendid, predictable results from a tried and true camera. The Contax RTS II Quartz is excellent because it is a full size comfortable professional piece. It is only one of a few models that affords the use of the significant and high quality Carl Zeiss lenses with the C/Y mount, some of the best in the world. This is the strength of this body that pushes it past its counterparts. It is versatile and accepts a wide range of peripherals, such as remote shutter cable, TTL Flash, and three different Contax Motor Drives. Once a motor is attached, such as the Contax Professional Motor Drive W-6, for example, the user has the pleasure of a form fitted grip that eliminates fatigue and provides complete stability for your photographs. The feel resembles the Canon F-1 with the fitted motor grip, although slightly less room for your hand. But the results overall should be better with a Zeiss lens vs. any stock Canon glass. While Zeiss lenses are a bit pricey, they are cheap in comparison to the same piece in Medium Format size. Additionally, this camera also accepts other lenses such as Yashica with fine results as well if the user is on a strict budget. (But do upgrade to Zeiss when you can! Wow.) I recommend the use of a Motor Drives with your Contax to add weight and balance to the camera resulting in especially tack sharp images. The design of the RTS II resembles the medium format line of Contax, with its oversize white lettering on a jet black body. It will lend you the prestige and confidence your camera is used by the most elite professionals. It has shutter speeds to 2000 and easy to understand instructions and operation. The RTS II sports Quarts Timing for great tested precision; a 97% viewfinder (better than earlier RTS), and a horizontal titanium-foil shutter that is exceptionally durable. Of the 5 that I have owned at the studio, none have failed. Foams on the RTS are probably the first thing to go, as with most cameras. But I would rate the longevity of the Contax foams higher than a Leica, which otherwise compares well. Most of the many I have seen still have the foam in tact and are still fine with many more years of use remaining before service is needed. While some believe it is more realistic and better, 35mm film format can be more expensive than digital. It is not quite as nice as medium format larger film negatives (which are even more expensive). I would place this camera on a par with a nice Leica, Nikon, or Canon of the same 80's to 90's period and have confidence using it with pride in most professional applications.Read full review
The RTS lll is the best 35mm film camera ever made. There, I said it. My first roll of film through this body was a lucid frontal lobe massage. The body, with the 85 1.4 sits in my bag just begging to be exposing frames. Within 3 weeks I bought a back-up RTS lll body, and plan on completing my arsenal with the 50 1.4 and the 35 1.4 Zeiss lenses. Frames on proof sheets jump off the page. No more saran wrap fog from my previous system lenses. Zeiss lenses are legendary. Manual focus and prime lenses was not a hinderence, but an asset to serious photographers. Prime lenses enable you to visualize your frames perspective and puts you to work to put your vision on film. Let's just call it time to get real about your craft, no auto focus and no zooms. When auto focus started trumping image quality in the 1990's, Contax found themselves behind the popular trend. If an SLR body did not have auto focus and zoom lenses available new buyers simply discounted the whole system out of hand. Myself included. This system will enable you to shoot handheld and produce near Medium Format quality images, if you have the discipline. I shoot this system in aperture priority. The manual focus limits your images to composed and controlled compositions, therefore shutter speed is not an issue as much as depth of field. The AE lock is great for shooting several frames at the same exposure, just remember to unlock it. The finder information is not great, and many of the bodies have deteriorated displays. You will be paying attention to what you are doing so this is not a big issue. The built in winder of the RTS lll is really essential when shooting wide open. Thats right, wide open at 1.4. With that shallow depth of field it is necessary to rip off three or four frames of the same scene to ensure you have nailed your selected focus. If you do not mind,I am not going to critique the weight of such a beautiful instrument. I have been wet printing my finest work because of this system, and whether you are scanning or wet printing, you will see the difference too.Read full review
Last member of the RTS family from contax , The III represents a sort of summum in this generation of camera : solid , ultra precise , reliable ,vacuum system ,many convenient features and an excellent quality. For a Contax SLR collector , it's a must and a remenbering of a exciting period of photography.