Choices for an inexpensive camera with the Contax/Yashica Mount?

[GarageBoy]

I don't want to spend money on the box; I'd rather put the money into film and lenses

I'm currently using the 35 1.4 Distagon and 50 1.4 Planar on a Yashica FX-D (the same body I learned photography on, 14 years ago)

I love the FX-D, but would like something different

I don't like the later RX/ST models, and the Aria is expensive

The Yashica FR I and Contax RTS are nice, but I'm not sure if there are known electrical issues (I know the RTS II has a mirror slippage issue). Also early, non-quartz timed shutter

There's always the FX103, FX70, 107/108/109 MPs...

Or, old reliable, the FX3 Super 2000

(I do want one where the ASA dial goes over 1600)

Thanks

 

[Mudman]

167MT? It was a decent camera when I owned it.

 

[lam]

I have a 139Q, got practically for free with inclusion of a Zeiss 50/1.4 I enjoy it. Simple. Light. No stupid motor film advance that breaks.

 

[oftheherd]

My first C/Y camera was a 139Q. I really loved that camera. The off the film plane metering, especially the flash metering was unbelievably accurate. Sadly it died on me, probably from being exposed to smoke residue after a house fire. At the same time I bought a Yashica FX3 (not Super) as a backup. It has yet to fail me. That was about 1983.

A couple or three years ago I got a 167mt. I would prefer it didn't have a built in motor drive, but that is the only complaint I have, and I can live with it. Everything else about it is great. I have zooms from 18mm to 150mm, and a 2X extender. With a 283 flash and the FX3 as a backup, I have a great and relatively light kit.

Before the 167mt, I got an FX103 to replace the 139Q. It would make a great backup except that if I were traveling, and it wasn't convenient to get a new battery, I didn't want my backup to depend on batteries to work. YMMV.

 

[BW400CN]

I´ve got an FX-3 - very nice and simple full mechanik cam.
If I wouldn´t had so many differnt systems, I would love to use this more often and with good glas.

 

[viggi]

I use the FX3 quite a bit - it works. Light and reliable. I also use the FRI a lot. Hard to find an FR with a working film counter but otherwise it is a good choice. So for cheap bodies I suggest FX3 and FRI. I also used the MT167 until electric issues put it out of commission. I found the film advance motor too noisy. A high pitched whine. But otherwise a really nice camera.

 

[mbisc]

I love my Aria, but if you need something less expensive, the FX3 Super 2000 is it. I use one for rough conditions (hiking/backpacking etc.). As far as reliabilty of the FX3 Super 2000 is concerned, just make sure you get the earlier version (marked "Made in Japan"), rather than the later version (marked "Made in China").

 

[GarageBoy]

Thanks
Probably gonna grab an FX3 for kicks and giggles
(I've seen them go for the price of two rolls of film)

 

[BW400CN]

Yashica FX-3 von Michael Relguag auf Flickr

The 2 lenses I have on the 2 Yashica FX3 I got.

The one in front is a bit ugly and was bought for donating parts - but I repaired it too - so I have 2 bodies ;-)

 

[ColSebastianMoran]

Most of these are quite cheap right now. I have several of them, most came almost free with lenses I wanted to purchase. To me, they are cheap enough to take a risk on condition and not worry about modes of failure... Keep a backup copy and pull it out if your primary camera fails.

Mark Hama (in Atlanta) can put most of these bodies into perfect working condition. I've done that with a couple I really like.

You have great lenses. I think the 167MT would be a perfect complement, one of my favorites of the bunch for it's excellent feel in the hand. Same for the original RTS and it's close cousin the FR-1. The Aria, of course, is a very sweet camera.

I bought a "Bargain" grade 167MT from KEH for $35; to me it looks and works as new.

 

[Greyscale]

They practically give away FX-2 cameras on eBay. It is a good, simple, no-frills fully manual camera, with not much that can go wrong with it.

Prices are also pretty low on the Contax 167 MA or MT bodies, if you prefer a motorized body. MT is aperture-priority only, MA offers manual shutter speeds as well.

The FR series are known for broken film counters. They are really nice cameras otherwise. I like the idea of the FX-103, but in two tries I have two faulty cameras, both non battery-related electronic failures. But that might just be my luck. If you can find a working example, there is a lot to like about them.

 

[Penny Lane]

Some notes on repairing the FR framecounter can be found over here. I've done it, it's relatively easy to fix.

Derk

 

[lam]

I just picked up a 159mm and currently own a 139q (which I actually really quite like). Also have owned the Aria, RX (have one on loan too). I love Contax's.

Could be a interesting combo combining with new A7/R. I just also bought a Zeiss 35/f2.8 Distagon C/Y and own a Planar 50/1.4 C/Y.

 

[f16sunshine]

If you are using the 35 f1.4 Distagon an fx3 is not going to balance very well.
I like the FX3 2000 model a lot but, use it primarily with the f2.8/45 and f2.8/85.
There is an RTSii in the classified that was just CLA'd by Steves Camera and has a mirror fix complete. It was under $200. It's not mine and I have nothing to do with the sale. It's a great price for the best camera of all the Contax line imo.
That's your best bet for the big fast Zeiss lenses if you don't like the later motor drive cameras (RX, ST, RTSiii etc...)

 

[Ranchu]

I like the 137 MA. FR II's finder hurt my eye somehow.

 

[oftheherd]

...

one of my favorites of the bunch for it's excellent feel in the hand.
...
.

I didn't mention that above, but I was immediately impressed when I got it, with the easy way it fit my hand, especially one handed. I don't like wrist straps, but if I wanted a camera to use with one, it would be the 167mt.

...

Prices are also pretty low on the Contax 167 MA or MT bodies, if you prefer a motorized body. MT is aperture-priority only, MA offers manual shutter speeds as well.
....

I never heard of the 167ma. Also, all the 167mt I have seen have multimode exposure; program, ap, tl, manual, bracket, continuous exposure, and are just nice.

 

[M Currie]

The FX-3 or FX-7 are about as no-frills as they come. I have had good luck with this one, but watch out for rotten light seals. The FX-3 has more light seal material (and more goo when it dies) than most cameras.

I had an FX-1 for years that was very good, with more features, nice and hefty and well made. The shutter finally packed up on that one, but it served well for years. The later FR's have nice features, but more plastic in the gear train, and it's possible to strip gears if not careful on the FR-1.

 

[Greyscale]

I never heard of the 167ma. Also, all the 167mt I have seen have multimode exposure; program, ap, tl, manual, bracket, continuous exposure, and are just nice.

Typed 167 when I meant 137. My bad. 137ma and 137md, with the md being the aperture-priority only version.