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Reviews (4)
12 Jul, 2018
Perfect light seals
Perfectly cut light seals
30 Jul, 2010
Probably the best film point and shoot
2 of 2 found this helpful The Contax TVS (not II) is a solid 28-56mm zoom that produces first class pictures. Turn it on with the knurled lens ring knob which removes the nifty OFF screen in the viewfinder. This also manually zooms through the range. The zoom feels stepless and the focal length is displayed in the small LCD with a light press of the shutter button. The shutter button is quite sensitive and when fired it seems hard to believe that the camera has had time to focus as it is so quick, with this camera do not think of normal compact shutter lag, it is streets ahead.
The camera can be used in full Programme - the P setting on the larger lens ring - or in aperture priority by simply turning that ring to the desired aperture. Note that as it is a variable aperture zoom (f3.5-6.5) the black dot represents apertures at 28mm and the red dot at 56mm until f8 is reached. This is not as limiting as might be imagined, this is afterall a compact, and so the normal shooting apertures of a walkabout camera are usually sufficient - just pick your film to suite your conditions/style. I have found that it is a very responsive, quick to use and accurate walkabout camera. The shutter speed is displayed in the viewfinder, so in aperture priority experienced users can judge if the exposure is to their liking and/or, like me take occassional light meter readings to keep tabs.
Automatic focusing -green AF on the dial - is confirmed with a solid dot in the viewfinder and black parallax blinds appear with close ups. Keeping light pressure on the shutter button locks focus and the metered value so you can recompose if needed before fully depressing the button for an off centre subject. If your central or focus subject is particularly light or dark then you need a little photographic nous to dial in some compensation + or - using the recessed dial on top left. This compensation remains fixed until you turn it back again so check the top left LCD or indicator in the view finder if you aren't sure what compensation is on.
Manual focus setting with the large top dial can be set if you know your depth of fields and makes shooting even quicker, for example set between 2m and 5m at F8 at 28mmm and you will cover most street eventualities or set infinity for some landscapes on a walk.
One slight disappointment is that the flash setting is'nt memorised between switching on and off, only between shots when the camera is kept on. The flash button works by scrolling through the options -pretty self explanetary with the signals- with each press when the camera is on. But, if you choose flash off, for example, then switch the camera off then you have to scroll to flash off again if that's your choice. This sounds more of a deal than it is in practice, and I don't think any compact offers the ideal solution.
The film goes in, pull leader across to mark and winds on when back is closed and rewinds at the end (fairly slow if you are in a desperate hurry), so you can't ask much more from that. There is a dot of a rewind button on the base to change film mid way and a selftimer button on top -self explanatory- but nice it's seperate. Oh, there is also a panoramic switch by the eye piece which is good only if your processor prints the panoramic format or irrelevant if you do your own processing, like me.
Is this camera for you. If you have some photographic knowledge and like great results, Yes. If you want to gripe about what it hasn't got, No. This camera gives me as much joy as any.
19 Mar, 2012
A superb, high quality wideangle lens. One of the very best.
1 of 1 found this helpful This is a first class lens. The third (and final) 55mm for Pentax 67, it is significantly better than the original 55mm f3.5, which is the only other one I have used. The resolution is stunning, resistance to flare is excellent and corner fall off or vignetting haven't been noticed. The out of focus areas are very smooth and there is no noticeable barrel distortion - a highly corrected lens (I think with 8 elements). This is one of the best wide angles of any format and manufacturer that I have come across, a real joy. I cannot fault this lens optically or in its build quality.