Contax T4 - is this worth buying?

jesse1dog

jesse1dog

Light Catcher
Local time
1:22 AM
Joined
Sep 1, 2006
Messages
1,460
Location
Afon Fathew
View My Gallery
Got the offer of a Contax T2 but not sure if it's only an 'iconic' camera rather than a good optical performer - about £200 in vg condition and complete with presentation box and manual.
Could I get better results with an Olympus mju 2 (Stylus Epic) or a Yashica T4/T5?
I'm looking to upgrade my Canon Sureshot Supreme.
Any thoughts and experience?

jesse
 
I paid $15 for a Yashica T3D which has a Tessar T* 35mm/2.8 as opposed to the Sonnar 38mm/2.8 on the Contax T2. The pictures are outstanding.

Can we tell the difference between the two results-wise?
I'd be hard pressed to believe that I can 🙂
 
It's probably hard to tell the difference in regards to lens quality. I've never used a T2 but I assume the autofocus and build is better than that of the Yahica T's.
 
The Contax T2 is a step above the Yashica T4 and the Stylus Epic based on features. All three have very good lenses though. In the US, the T2 goes for $200-250 US or so.
 
Jamie123 said:
It's probably hard to tell the difference in regards to lens quality. I've never used a T2 but I assume the autofocus and build is better than that of the Yahica T's.
Click to expand...

I have a Yashica T5 and the Contax T2, the Yashica looks scratched and beaten but it works like new, the Contax T2 now only focus on infinity its AF system is very delicate, I only could sell it for spare parts.

The Konica Hexar AF is the better camera, not as small but it is easy to find a way to carry it without much notice.
 
jsrockit said:
The Contax T2 is a step above the Yashica T4 and the Stylus Epic based on features.
Click to expand...

Not if you want to use it under demanding conditions, it's not. The T4 Super/T5 and MJU II (Stylus Epic) are really, truly weatherproof. My wife used her T5 every day during grad school.

What does that mean? It means hundreds of days in an open boat in the Gulf of Maine with constant exposure to salt spray, splashing saltwater, drops onto a metal deck, jostling in bins of SCUBA gear, etc.

It still works perfectly. To get a tougher, more reliable camera, you'd need to use a Nikonos (which she also has, but the Nikonos 35mm lens isn't as good as the T4's).

The T2 is prettier, and it does have better controls. But it does not have better optical quality and it's not remotely as tough.
 
I have all of them (T2, T4, stylus epic). I love T4 - outstanding optics and simple controls. T2 - much better controls (aperture priority, manual focus - it helps a lot when I want dof control). Is it better optically? I did not do any large scan comparisons, but I do not see a big difference on resized scans. I can probably see the slight superiority vs epic stylus though.
 
I have the Yashica T2 and the Contax T2. Both have good lenses. The Contax is like jewelry. The Yashica is not.
 
That is a typical price for a T2 these days (a couple of years ago they were less). I bought one for my dad when he retired. Lovely camera and the results can be special. It has broken down twice in 10 years but was repairable. I usually grab it and shoot a few frames when I visit because I like it so much. I guess I should buy my own and leave his alone.
 
Ugly is an understatement for the T3D 🙂

712636490_905aabb993.jpg


But it produces good quality images, especially in B&W

4087711543_c158161444_z.jpg
 
Thanks for some pretty helpful comment - much appreciated.
Thanks for the photo shadowfox.
Agreed it isn't the prettiest of cameras.
However what is the difference between the T3 and T3D?
jesse
 
As a rule of thumb, all "luxury compacts" are overpriced by current standards, if you want a user camera - the last generation of up-market consumer compacts beats them in every discipline except for looks and tends to be a magnitude cheaper. And for the going rate of a T2, you can even get real cameras like a Contax G1, Nikon F100, Olympus OM4 or a quality LTM clone.

IIRC the T3D boasts a particularly useless fetish of the 80's, a databack.
 
Last edited:
If you've been handling the camera then I can understand your question but your signature offers a clue to my sensible thoughts on the subject, ie: "Olympus - almost certainly too many, and also miscellaneous other cameras."

And experience tells me that few people ask as much of their optics as the things can deliver. But it's your money...

Regards, David
 
LOL - point taken

LOL - point taken

David Hughes said:
If you've been handling the camera then I can understand your question but your signature offers a clue to my sensible thoughts on the subject, ie: "Olympus - almost certainly too many, and also miscellaneous other cameras."

And experience tells me that few people ask as much of their optics as the things can deliver. But it's your money...

Regards, David
Click to expand...

I must admit to being a bit of a sucker for a 'bargain'.
Wave a point & shoot or a simple rangefinder in front of my nose and say £5, and I will usually take the bait. £5 isn't much more than a pint of beer after all - and the camera should give more lasting pleasure than that. But £200 is a sizeable investment and hence the thread - instigated because the favourite point and shoot is showing signs of its age.
I'll bide my time and see how prices go - thanks David, brought a big smile to my face.
jesse
 
sevo said:
As a rule of thumb, all "luxury compacts" are overpriced by current standards, if you want a user camera - the last generation of up-market consumer compacts beats them in every discipline except for looks and tends to be a magnitude cheaper. And for the going rate of a T2, you can even get real cameras like a Contax G1, Nikon F100, Olympus OM4 or a quality LTM clone.

IIRC the T3D boasts a particularly useless fetish of the 80's, a databack.
Click to expand...

Last time I touched a T2 it felt real. G1, F100, OM4 feel all too real in a jeans pocket.
 
jesse1dog said:
I must admit to being a bit of a sucker for a 'bargain'.
Wave a point & shoot or a simple rangefinder in front of my nose and say £5, and I will usually take the bait. £5 isn't much more than a pint of beer after all - and the camera should give more lasting pleasure than that. But £200 is a sizeable investment and hence the thread - instigated because the favourite point and shoot is showing signs of its age.
I'll bide my time and see how prices go - thanks David, brought a big smile to my face.
jesse
Click to expand...

I was just about to add an apology to my post as I thought it was a bit blunt but then I read your reply and it seems we are on the same wavelength.

I'll jump at any thing I can buy for the coins in my back pocket and try to remember that a battery will be £5 or £6 and the first film about £15 to £20 once done... And there's the cost of a manual on ebay and - usually - a lens cap on ebay; together they can double or treble the cost of the camera and first film!

But we go on looking and worrying. So I'll wish you luck.

Regards - or should I say "Hwyl fawr" ? - David

PS and the spelling checker seems to accept anything yn Gymraeg: interesting...
 
Last edited:
This is from the Contax T2.
4862603269_0aef85375a_z.jpg


I love this camera. It's simple, AF is relatively fast, results are splendid. And I bought it for $200.
 
j j said:
Last time I touched a T2 it felt real. G1, F100, OM4 feel all too real in a jeans pocket.
Click to expand...

🙂

True, but given my past successes at Ricoh R1 bending, I would not dare to put a Contax T series in a jeans pocket any more. No light metal camera will survive sitting down on it without warping it well beyond the DOF range - if you are into that kind of transport, get some all-plastics thing as at least the better made among them will flex back when relieved of the pressure...

Sevo
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom