Have a T2, will the 35Ti or Hexar AF be any better?

R

rich815

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I have a Contax T2 which I like. I have a lead on both a Nikon 35Ti and a Hexar AF and was wondering if either would really be that much better? Any thoughts?
 
Years ago I asked Bob Shell about the 35Ti and he indicated it was a good performer
if you can find one which works. This was just after they'd hit the market and he said that one in three didn't work among early shipments. I would imagine if it has lasted this long it should be OK.

I think the analog display is nifty, but the camera is no better a performer than your
T2. I was able to borrow a rep's Hexar, and without the manual there are some buried functions which can't be intuited. However, the lens is most impressive and the camera very quiet to use. Just remember it's larger as well.

I've often debated among these, and of course my conclusion was that I want all three, but then I'm a camera junkie.
 
Its funny you should bring this up as a friend ( a camera dealer ) and I were discussing our favorite point and shoot cameras the other day. He had used both the Nikon and the Contax and has settled on the T3. I , on the other hand, had settled on a T2 for the last 7 or 8 years. The Nikon has neat needles, but didn't match the Contax in picture quality.

Eric
 
Thanks for the replies guys. More a case of GAS I guess. I think I'll just stick with the T2 and be happy, very happy.
 
my Contax T has probably taken the largest percentage of my 'keepers' so I have a hard time believing the 35ti or Hexar would be better.. different, yes.. but other than ergonomics, you won't see any improvement in the photo quality
 
I like the T2 as PS and have it loaded w/ BW. Never had any trouble w/ it whatsoever- Can't say that about my M cameras or HexarRF. IMO its as good as it gets, even up against Leica PS. Light, small and never gets in the way.
 
Yashica T3 has a noticeably better lens than the T2. I would go for that one. The lens is definately a better performer than the Nikon's.
 
The T2 cannot be compared to a Hexar AF; I have both, and the Hexar is far superior.
 
Can't tell you about the Nikon, but I have had the T2 and the Hexar. The Hexar's lens is sharper, but the T2's gives you beautiful, saturated colors. It is sharp too, but not like the Hexar.

I sold the T2 as I had difficulty coping with the AF - kept focusing on the wrong thing. The Hexar, OTOH, physically locks focus when you depress the release half-way, so it does not refocus when you recompose. Makes for a much shorter shutter lag too.

Personally, with all the control you have with the Hexar, plus it's size, I wouldn't classify it as a P&S. It's more like an automated M with a permanently-attached 35 cron.
 
Ditto on the Hexar AF. It is not a point and shoot. It is large and heavy, and there's no flash on board. Apart from autofocus, you'll have to do all thinking yourself. Even the P-mode requires you to set an aperture preference.

On the positive side; you can do everything yourself, you're in control. There's nothing that is hidden or obfuscated by any kind of automation that you can't override or configure.. Finder is like having a top class RF, with parallax and field of view corrected moving frame lines projected..

The Hexar is a one of a kind sort of thing, and IMO everyone should at one point in their photographic endeavors have owned one..
 
If you're curoius about the Nikon 35Ti you could consider the down-market Nikon L35AF. The lenses in both cameras are rumored to be very, very similar - if not identical.
 
What is the market value of a Nikon L35AF camera, and what is the market value of a Nikon 35Ti?
 
raid amin said:
What is the market value of a Nikon L35AF camera, and what is the market value of a Nikon 35Ti?
Click to expand...

the 35ti usually goes for an average of around $300. but keep an eye out...i got a near mint 35ti off ebay for $177.50...the glass and camera functions are MINT...most of the body is MINT except a tiny bit of paint that has flaked off on one bottom corner...MINT case...no box or instructions.

so you can definitely find deals if you're patient...
 
rich815 said:
I have a Contax T2 which I like. I have a lead on both a Nikon 35Ti and a Hexar AF and was wondering if either would really be that much better? Any thoughts?
Click to expand...
Biggest difference is 38 vs 35mm.
I don't have T2, I have 35ti, Hexar Silver and T4 Yashica. basically T4 is consumer grade.

T3 w 6-element Sonnar 35mm is supposely "improved" from the 5-element T2.
The difference between T2,T3, Silver or 35ti, could be pure personel preference; German charcter glass or Japanese taste lenses.

I would say, the 6-element w ED glass 35 ti is the sharpest lens I've ever used( I also have 35/2.8 R, 35/2 Canada Cron on M3, 35/2 Nikon Ai-S, 35 2.8 FD), this camera came out on Tokyo street priced at $1,100, no joking, that's how Nikon priced them in 93, 125,000 Yen!

Hexar's non-asph 7-element tends to be not as "on your face" sharp as 35ti, but on the smoother way. Remember, one stop faster lens, but one stop slower shutter speed from 35ti.
User claimmed Sonnar to have better color, Zeiss named it T*. There are no coating name for Nikkor or Hexar lens. My T* Tessar on T4 performed as "usual" as my other Fujinon EBC( a great coating name from Fuji, electron beam something coating) point and shoot.

35ti or Hexar silver for $350? Cheap!
My complain for the Hexar? too quite! "did you take the shot yet?", "Wait let me check the frame counter..."
 
cbass said:
If you're curoius about the Nikon 35Ti you could consider the down-market Nikon L35AF. The lenses in both cameras are rumored to be very, very similar - if not identical.
Click to expand...
The consumer grade 4-element 35/2.8 Nikon( not Nikkor) is FAR from the ED Nikkor 35/2.8 on 35ti.
I have L35 af and one other Nikon called Action Touch( WP in Japan) also w the same 4 element 35/2.8, this is the same comsumer grade 4-element found on many other p&s in the mid 80s. Try Canon Supreme w 38/2.8, this lens' performace could be close to T2...

One other camera to be compare to T2 is the Fuji Klasse or Rollei AFM 35, w a new 4-element asph lens 38/2.6. $300-$350 used.
 
Taipei-metro said:
The consumer grade 4-element 35/2.8 Nikon( not Nikkor) is FAR from the ED Nikkor 35/2.8 on 35ti.
Click to expand...

Taipei, thank you for clarifying this. I'd heard the 35Ti/L35AF lens rumor from a few people over the years and I always wondered if it was true. I owned an L35AF years ago and while I liked the camera I found the lens to be decent but not spectacular. For this reason I was not enthusiastic about the 35Ti. Now I may give the 35Ti a second look. :)
 
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