Contax Aria vs. RX a few observations for the few considering these cameras

[osborne]

thank you Dirk ! The Aria is a very small body, may be too small in some occasion. But it as a lot of specs that it make so appealing.
Just one idea : this flimsiness is a bit worrying.
The RX is a "little" RTS III ; but without the heavier weight of it.
I think that I've got the two : Aria for snapshot and RX for fine composed pictures.

 

[Ming The Merciless]

I have two Aria bodies and an RX body, plus six Zeiss lenses - the 85,50 1.4,50 1.7, 45, 35 and 25. My favorite is the RX with the 50 1.4 on it. What a combo! I also love the Aria with the 45mm pancake lens. It is great for those hot summer days. The reason I have two Arias is because the film transport broke and I was able to get another before my first one was fixed. I love these cameras.

 

[osborne]

I agree. They are so beautiful.
Before, I've used a Canon EOS 1N : a tank. The Aria have the same specifications (minus one or two) with a body two more smaller !
Actually, I've only the 50 1.7 and three Yashica lenses : 50 1.4, 28 2.8 and 135 2.8.
I look at CZ lenses and I expect to sell Canon material for Contax material.
It is the place for speaking about lenses ? I hesitate between Sonnar 85 f2.8 and Sonnar 100 f3.5 ? What do you think ? The 100 is rare but does it outclass the 85 ?

 

[JeffL]

osborne,
I have the 85 2.8. It is a beautiful lens. Very sharp and not heavy. Might make a nice combination with the Aria. The 100 3.5 is said to be great but I have no experience. The 100 f2 on the other hand.... Wow!

 

[osborne]

I look at the 100 f3.5 because I want an homogeneity : 25/50/100.

 

[osborne]

I've got the Sonnar 100mm f3.5 😀
I research now the fabulous Distagon 25mm f2.8 at a nice price…:angel:

 

[osborne]

And I'got the Planar 50mm f1.4 C/Y mount.
I compared it to the actual Planar 50mm f1.4 ZE on my EOS body : same definition at f8 aperture, but the bookeh at f1.4 : "waouhhhhh" (in French in the text 🙂 )

 

[Range-rover]

This thread has me thinking of using my Contax again, I purchased a set of 10 "buy it now as is"
Camera's and there were two Contax's RTSII and a 139 Quartz. The one RTSII was shot
the other two Perfect!

 

[littleearth]

It doesn't get much better than shooting a Planar 50mm f1.4 on the RX. Silent and smooth as butter !
As much as I love Nikon, and even the EOS 3, they just don't compare.

 

[skopar steve]

Recently I had an OM1n repaired at Vermontcamera.com. While there he had a nice Contax RTS kit with 50mm 1.4, flash, electronic shutter release and winder for $375. Could not pass it up.

I would recommend him as a source for Contax repair.

 

[ColSebastianMoran]

Bump... Based on comments by Ming Thein, I purchased the 85 f/2.8 lens. Compact. Reasonably priced. Really nice results, at least on my Sony FE bodies. Haven't shot it yet with film.

All the bodies are nice. The Aria has the nicest focusing IMHO. Zeiss 50 f/1.7 is very nice.

 

[osborne]

I'm made a mistake and buy the Tele Tessar 300mm f4.
Mechanically is good for the price, but the optics quality is a shame.
I'll compared at all stop with a Super Multi Coated Takumar (⊘42mm thread mount) the Tak' is perfect at all apertures ; the Tele Tessar is "just" good at f11 but made horrible purple fringing on my EOS 550D (Rebel T2i).... At low apertures (<5.6), the Tessar suffered from diffraction and lack of definition. May be my model fautive ?

 

[Rico]

Long primes were a serious weakness of the Contax RTS system. By 200mm, apo designs are essential. The Tele-Tessars 200/3.5, 200/4 and 300/4 were none too cheap, but never saw an update from their achromatic roots. The two cutting-edge primes were very fast and stupifyingly expensive: Aposonnar 200/2 ($5K), Tele-Apotessar 300/2.8 ($14K) in 2000. I actually find the Yashica 300/5.6 a more satisfying purchase: cheap, lower weight, well made, and decent performance for an achromat.

 

[PaulDalex]

I like Contaxes, I have experience of RX, S2 Yashicas and RTSIII
But the mirror slip problem is a shame for such sophisticated cameras.
Now I understand that the Aria is immune.
BUT, does Aria suffer of fading viewfinder indications?
This is crucial because if Aria has such problem we fall from from the frying pan to the grill

 

[splitimageview]

I fixed a mirror slip on my 159MM, easy/simple. Great camera!

Not sure what you mean by 'fading viewfinder', do you mean the LCD readout? If that's what you're referring to, no LCDs that I'm aware of have infinite longevity.

 

[LeicaFoReVer]

Unfortunately I am with Pistach. I bought RX last year and I fell in love. My first Contax SLR. However I learned the slip problem the hard way. I had partially exposed roll of film. I felt really bad. And this year while I try to fix the slip problem with hair dryer, I deformed the focusing screen due to heat. Yes I accept I was too dumb... and I put some super glue and it leaked and messed up the opening for the photo diode sensor...I hope that the photo diode is ok. I cleaned my mess but I cant find a focusing screen for a reasonable price to start using my first Contax SLR!