Contax T4 - is this worth buying?

[Fujitsu]

about £200 in vg condition and complete with presentation box and manual.

A bit too much for a film compact if you ask me.

 

[David Hughes]

Hi Jesse,

Did you buy it? What do you think of it?

Regards, David

 

[jesse1dog]

Hi David
Left the Contax T2 - thought it was priced a bit over the top and had odd 'fibes' about it. And, of couse, I heeded your 'advice'!!!!
Have wondered since about a Yashica T3 & T4 - but still wondering.
Then I remember the advice I was given long ago - 'if in doubt, don't.'
It's probably good advice in this case.
Thanks for asking.
jesse

 

[akremer]

Go for the T4. It's worth every cent.

 

[David Hughes]

Hi David
Left the Contax T2 - thought it was priced a bit over the top and had odd 'fibes' about it. And, of couse, I heeded your 'advice'!!!!
Have wondered since about a Yashica T3 & T4 - but still wondering.
Then I remember the advice I was given long ago - 'if in doubt, don't.'
It's probably good advice in this case.
Thanks for asking.
jesse

Thanks for coming back and telling me. If you've an Olympus XA in the collection then that's probably the best "shirt pocket" camera going with some version of control over the thing. I alternate between it, the XA2/3 and the Konica A4 (completely automatic but it was only a pound... ). The little plastic Leica mini is nice also but none of them feel the same in your hand as that posh little Contax does.

Regards, David

 

[daniel~]

With Contax T2, you not only get a p&s, but also control over exposure, you even have the option for manual focus, all that you just won't find in Yashica T4/T5 or Olympus Mju I/II. So I don't really think it's just the posh look & feel that makes T2 more expensive. It really is a more sophisticated machine.

Anyway, when I want keep things simple, my favourite would be Yashica T5. Got it used for approx. $100 USD-- a bargain for a camera with a Zeiss T* lens. Problem is that nowadays a Yashica T5 with box & manual can easily go for $200... then itself becomes overpriced, IMO.

I use Olympus XA and Hexar AF, too. Love them as well.

 

[peterm1]

The Contax T2 camera is extremely competent (as well as being very well made.) I have no hesitation in saying that the results I got from mine when I was using it regularly were every bit as good if not better than I could get from my M4P Leica with 35mm, 50mm summicrons. The colors and sharpness were just outstanding. The only sin I could find in the camera was that at close range the flash could overpower the subject - something that was in any event easily fixed by using the exposure compensation.

 

[David Hughes]

My curiosity is getting the better of me. I can remember a dial at the top, right hand side but thought it was for the aperture. So how does it focus manually? A picture of one would be appreciated.

I've done a quick search and found little that's more informative than hype: raving about it having close focus frame-lines seems a little OTT to me! Ditto "B" modes...

Regards, David

PS Anyway, I'll put it on my list of things to buy when I get suddenly rich...

PPS Has anyone ever typed to the end of a sentence and still been logged in?