svinao
Member
Hey guys, found these two cameras semi-locally (can't handle them before purchasing) and wanted to ask your opinions about them.
Contax T3 is a black one, which I lusted about for years now. Klasse is the S model, newer black one with exposure comp dial on the front of the camera.
I currently shoot T2 as a daily carry on. It's always in my pocket, literally always when I leave the house. My biggest beef with the camera is the shutter. First I hate how shutter speeds map to the aperture values. 1/500th is a lie, it's only available to you when you are completely stopped down. Camera is only capable to shoot wide open if the shutter speed goes below 1/90th. I understand these are simply limitations of leaf shutter, but still.
Second, and this one's a buzzkill – the lens on a T2 moves after you fire the shutter, not when you half-press. This is just killing me. I am an SLR guy, and I am used to have a definitive moment when the shot is taken. With T2 there's this lag that always makes me wonder when the hell did the shutter fire. It's just a second of whirling sounds – extend the lens, take a shot, retract the lens, wind the film. I have NO idea when the picture is taken. When you have movement on the street and you try to frame for shadows/people in a specific place it never works out.
Now, both T3 and Klasse S have pretty much identical features. Exposure charts look the same – both cameras in aperture priority mode when you shoot wide open can go all the way up to 1/500th. Hello Portra 400 on a sunny day. Both have same custom features, like leaving the film leader out after rewind, but also EXTENDING THE LENS ON HALF PRESS. I am super excited about this feature.
Both have a comparable (on paper) lenses, 38mm on the Klasse does not bother me at all, since it's what I currently use on the T2.
In auto mode T3 can go to 1/1250th, while Klasse goes to 1000. It's not a deal breaker at all, Portra will handle that quarter stop just fine in case the camera's shutter maxes out.
So for me it's an absolute tie between the two, and what would sway me one way or another are these factors:
Price
Size
Lens sharpness
Focusing accuracy and speed
Price wise Klasse is obviously cheaper.
Size wise is where I see differences too. T3 is just so small, I can already imagine having it in my pocket, while Klasse is a tad bulkier. I'd imagine it would handle better, but in terms of ease of carry T3 is a winner.
So again, it's a tie, and here's where I need your help guys. I'm pretty sure there's someone here who can elaborate on how the lenses would compare, and how accurate and fast the autofocus is.
I'd appreciate any other insight as well!
Contax T3 is a black one, which I lusted about for years now. Klasse is the S model, newer black one with exposure comp dial on the front of the camera.
I currently shoot T2 as a daily carry on. It's always in my pocket, literally always when I leave the house. My biggest beef with the camera is the shutter. First I hate how shutter speeds map to the aperture values. 1/500th is a lie, it's only available to you when you are completely stopped down. Camera is only capable to shoot wide open if the shutter speed goes below 1/90th. I understand these are simply limitations of leaf shutter, but still.
Second, and this one's a buzzkill – the lens on a T2 moves after you fire the shutter, not when you half-press. This is just killing me. I am an SLR guy, and I am used to have a definitive moment when the shot is taken. With T2 there's this lag that always makes me wonder when the hell did the shutter fire. It's just a second of whirling sounds – extend the lens, take a shot, retract the lens, wind the film. I have NO idea when the picture is taken. When you have movement on the street and you try to frame for shadows/people in a specific place it never works out.
Now, both T3 and Klasse S have pretty much identical features. Exposure charts look the same – both cameras in aperture priority mode when you shoot wide open can go all the way up to 1/500th. Hello Portra 400 on a sunny day. Both have same custom features, like leaving the film leader out after rewind, but also EXTENDING THE LENS ON HALF PRESS. I am super excited about this feature.
Both have a comparable (on paper) lenses, 38mm on the Klasse does not bother me at all, since it's what I currently use on the T2.
In auto mode T3 can go to 1/1250th, while Klasse goes to 1000. It's not a deal breaker at all, Portra will handle that quarter stop just fine in case the camera's shutter maxes out.
So for me it's an absolute tie between the two, and what would sway me one way or another are these factors:
Price
Size
Lens sharpness
Focusing accuracy and speed
Price wise Klasse is obviously cheaper.
Size wise is where I see differences too. T3 is just so small, I can already imagine having it in my pocket, while Klasse is a tad bulkier. I'd imagine it would handle better, but in terms of ease of carry T3 is a winner.
So again, it's a tie, and here's where I need your help guys. I'm pretty sure there's someone here who can elaborate on how the lenses would compare, and how accurate and fast the autofocus is.
I'd appreciate any other insight as well!
Ko.Fe.
Lenses 35/21 Gears 46/20
None of those cameras are worth of 1000+ USD. For photography reason.
Kent
Finally at home...
I would agree. I'd get neither nor.
They are good cameras, but those prices? Phuuuh, way too steep for my taste.
You can get a nice M2 with a lens for that much. Yes, no point and shoot.
But you can find excellent point and shoot cameras for much less.
santino
FSU gear head
I can‘t help you but decadent prices...
Remember both are just point n shoot cameras.
Remember both are just point n shoot cameras.
Huss
Veteran
The Klasse S only uses 1/1000 if it is maxed out at F16. So you cannot use the full range of shutter speeds at will. It also only reads down to EV4.
This is not the stuff of what a $1100 camera is made of. Those are regular P&S camera specs in a fancy body.
T3 at $1400 with no chance of repair for when it will fail? Your money...
This is not the stuff of what a $1100 camera is made of. Those are regular P&S camera specs in a fancy body.
T3 at $1400 with no chance of repair for when it will fail? Your money...
vagab0nd
Established
If money's absolutely no object - get the T3.
If money is even a slight consideration - get an Olympus XA or a Nikon AF600 / Lite Touch and use the $1300 you saved on film or a backup camera.
If money is even a slight consideration - get an Olympus XA or a Nikon AF600 / Lite Touch and use the $1300 you saved on film or a backup camera.
svinao
Member
I carry a point and shoot with me in a pocket for when I don't intend to shoot. For when I do, I have other cameras, I'm mainly an SLR guy.
I have a T2, which I want to replace with a slightly more responsive camera. Where I live I can sell it for 800, and add 300 bucks on top and get the fuji.
I appreciate the suggestion of an M2, but that is absolutely not what I am looking for, it's a very different camera. I have an XA as well, and I don't like it.
I was looking at tons of point and shoot cameras, and I could NOT find any cheap ones that would have a decent shutter speed, do pre-focus with lens extension on half-press of a button, and have a retracting lens in a 35mm range. T3 and Klasse S are pretty much the only two options.
Yes, there's a G1 with a 35mm lens, but it's too bulky, it won't fit in my pocket. I looked at mju cameras, and while I like them I don't want to turn the flash off every time I turn the camera on, I find it irritating.
I have a T2, which I want to replace with a slightly more responsive camera. Where I live I can sell it for 800, and add 300 bucks on top and get the fuji.
I appreciate the suggestion of an M2, but that is absolutely not what I am looking for, it's a very different camera. I have an XA as well, and I don't like it.
I was looking at tons of point and shoot cameras, and I could NOT find any cheap ones that would have a decent shutter speed, do pre-focus with lens extension on half-press of a button, and have a retracting lens in a 35mm range. T3 and Klasse S are pretty much the only two options.
Yes, there's a G1 with a 35mm lens, but it's too bulky, it won't fit in my pocket. I looked at mju cameras, and while I like them I don't want to turn the flash off every time I turn the camera on, I find it irritating.
valdas
Veteran
I also have T2 and recently bought Rollei AFM 35 (aka Fuji Klasse, but earlier model, not S). The image quality was really great, on par with T2, but the build quality and ergonomics not the best. I decided to keep T2 and sold Rollei.
Evergreen States
Francine Pierre Saget (they/them)
Do you know for sure the T3 doesn't behave the same way?
zenza
Well-known
Absurd prices to pay for old, electronic point and shoot cameras.
That said, last I checked on Fuji Japan's website they still offer servicing for the Klasse S and Klasse W. The only two 35mm cameras they still offer service for. If you're going to spend 4 figures on one of these...might be worth buying the Klasse S and then sending it straight to Fuji for a look over.
That said, last I checked on Fuji Japan's website they still offer servicing for the Klasse S and Klasse W. The only two 35mm cameras they still offer service for. If you're going to spend 4 figures on one of these...might be worth buying the Klasse S and then sending it straight to Fuji for a look over.
shawn
Veteran
Get a XA2 or XA3, far prefer them to the XA as they are quicker to focus and use. No shutter delay at all too since they are zone focus.
Shawn
Shawn
AlexBG
Well-known
100% the T3, if you don't get on with it then keep it safe for a year and sell it for £2k next year.
The T3 was an improvement on the T2 and you seem to like most of the features you have already. Size is the main thing for me for a P&S. You say you have it in your pocket and a T3 goes in a pocket.
The T3 was an improvement on the T2 and you seem to like most of the features you have already. Size is the main thing for me for a P&S. You say you have it in your pocket and a T3 goes in a pocket.
I'm pretty sure it is still slow... and hesitates. It's been a long time since I've had one...
$1400 is insane, but yeah...the T3. Honestly, I'd just keep the T2 and deal with it.
LCSmith
Well-known
You could also probably pay $1,400 for something whose memory would last longer.
plummerl
Well-known
I'm not familiar with the T2, but my T3 in standard mode (half press autofocus, full press extend lens), is fast enough for me to not even notice it. With the T3 you can also change the mode so that a half press does both autofocus and extends the lens.
Sad to say, but my T3 (used, like new) was $400 ($540 in 2020 $) in 2004.
aizan
Veteran
You should read the manuals to see how their AF lock functionality works. They're slightly different and you may have a preference.
https://www.cameramanuals.org/contax/contax_t3.pdf
https://www.35mmc.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/KLASSE-WS_E_090917.pdf
Whichever one you choose, I recommend getting a backup. Point & shoots, and heavily automated cameras in general, are the riskiest, most vulnerable film cameras out there.
https://www.cameramanuals.org/contax/contax_t3.pdf
https://www.35mmc.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/KLASSE-WS_E_090917.pdf
Whichever one you choose, I recommend getting a backup. Point & shoots, and heavily automated cameras in general, are the riskiest, most vulnerable film cameras out there.
plummerl
Well-known
Well, mine has been great for 16 years, purchased used. Only thing to wear out have been batteries.
vagab0nd
Established
So I'm guessing a Hexar AF or Canon 300 with 40mm pancake are going to be too big too?
the T3 is a great camera, just expensive and has a lot of little parts that can go bad.
Huss
Veteran
Not the Klasse. It does not perform in anyway that you think it does.
I already mentioned the shutter and the metering, but there also is a long pause between pushing the shutter button and it taking a photo.
https://www.35mmc.com/31/05/2013/fuji-klasse-w-comments-on-exposure-and-focusing/
hap
Well-known
How about a Fuji Natura S? Extremely fast lens and at least 1600 ASA. If you plan to go out at night and want to pull something out of your pocket...I've found it to be great.