Asim
Well-known
I keep hearing about how sharp the Contax T3 lens is. I've never owned a T3 or been able to shoot with one. I have had an Olympus XA for 16 years.
So I was wondering if anyone could tell me how the Contax T3 lens compares to the Olympus XA.
I'm looking for a compact camera for my bicycle tours. I don't want to take my Leica MP with 50 Lux Asph (my only camera and lens I own right now).
Are there any other compacts besides the XA or T3 that anyone can vouch for. I'm looking for something that is compact, very sharp (since I'll be shooting slide film), and has the ability to focus.
So I was wondering if anyone could tell me how the Contax T3 lens compares to the Olympus XA.
I'm looking for a compact camera for my bicycle tours. I don't want to take my Leica MP with 50 Lux Asph (my only camera and lens I own right now).
Are there any other compacts besides the XA or T3 that anyone can vouch for. I'm looking for something that is compact, very sharp (since I'll be shooting slide film), and has the ability to focus.
aton
Member
bastian a.
Well-known
Contax T/T2/T3
Rollei AFM35/Fuji Klasse
Rollei 35/35S
Ricoh GR1/GR1s/GR1v
Nikon 28Ti/35Ti
Leica Minilux
Leica CM
...
Rollei AFM35/Fuji Klasse
Rollei 35/35S
Ricoh GR1/GR1s/GR1v
Nikon 28Ti/35Ti
Leica Minilux
Leica CM
...
shortstop
Well-known
I had two XA. Fantastic project. I was attracted by the geniality of the lens, from the rangefinder and the reviews were all positive. But the sharpness of the lens never satisfied me. I sold them. Now I have a T3 and the goal is simply amazing. I would never have believed it if I had not seen the results. I think even the Rollei 35 give similar results, but never tried.
GaryLH
Veteran
Never had a t3, had the Contax t, t2 and Rollei 35s, they all better then both my examples of Olympus xa I tried.
Gary
Gary
shortstop
Well-known
Hi Gary,
Between Rollei 35 and Contax, which gives better negatives? I like Rollei because they are completely mechanic, but I wonder how many photos could be wrong without RF. What is your experience?
Best
David Hughes
David Hughes
Hi,
Slight problem with this thread in that we are asking about elderly cameras, probably bought secondhand and so on.
Anyway, my experience suggests the Yashica T's and the Leica mini 3 but that's only me telling you about the ones I've owned and used that people (looking at my images from them) seem to think are sharp. They are AF but have so called focus locks. And there's the Minox 35's but they are scale focussing and vastly improved by fitting a RF in the accessory shoe; but mechanical RF's are/can be very fragile things.
As for measuring sharpness, as you can't get at the lenses to put them on a test bench, how can you do it? That's based on my belief that sharpness is a very complex matter based on people looking at photographs... I've lenses and P&S's no one would describe as sharp but which produce very pleasing images, even on slide film.
Regards, David
Slight problem with this thread in that we are asking about elderly cameras, probably bought secondhand and so on.
Anyway, my experience suggests the Yashica T's and the Leica mini 3 but that's only me telling you about the ones I've owned and used that people (looking at my images from them) seem to think are sharp. They are AF but have so called focus locks. And there's the Minox 35's but they are scale focussing and vastly improved by fitting a RF in the accessory shoe; but mechanical RF's are/can be very fragile things.
As for measuring sharpness, as you can't get at the lenses to put them on a test bench, how can you do it? That's based on my belief that sharpness is a very complex matter based on people looking at photographs... I've lenses and P&S's no one would describe as sharp but which produce very pleasing images, even on slide film.
Regards, David
Sejanus.Aelianus
Veteran
Wise words, David.
FalseDigital
BKK -> Tokyo
My Ricoh GR1 is really sharp!
Also, my friends have a Yashica t5 and that one is also really sharp as well.
The T5 model can focus much closer than the t4 so it's worth to get it for that reason alone.
Oh! Also, don't forget the Fuji Klasse series. Also great sharpness from those images.
SO my vote:
Ricoh GR1
Yashica T5
Fuji Klasse W (because I like wide, but you can also get a different version)
Also, my friends have a Yashica t5 and that one is also really sharp as well.
The T5 model can focus much closer than the t4 so it's worth to get it for that reason alone.
Oh! Also, don't forget the Fuji Klasse series. Also great sharpness from those images.
SO my vote:
Ricoh GR1
Yashica T5
Fuji Klasse W (because I like wide, but you can also get a different version)
awilder
Alan Wilder
I use to own the Contax T3, T2, TVS III, T2, TVS and Oly XA. In terms of sharpness and overall IQ, I'd rank them in the same order. The T3 had the sharpest glass of any fixed lens P&S or 35 RF I've ever used including the Nikon 35Ti and Rollei 35S. The T2 and TVS III were very close in image quality. The TVS had the most useful and numerous features of any P&S and the T2 was one of my favorite users but the IR based AF and flash held it back a little. The XA is a great camera in it's day with unique optics and decent performance especially stopped down a little.
David_Manning
Well-known
Contax T3 without question is the sharpest. The Ricoh GR1v is fantastic too, if you prefer 28mm instead of 35mm. Build quality on the T3 is like a small Contax G2...feels good in hand, but square-shaped.
Nicest P&S I've ever used for sharpness, feel-in-hand, speed etc...? Ricoh GR...yep, digital.
Nicest P&S I've ever used for sharpness, feel-in-hand, speed etc...? Ricoh GR...yep, digital.
kanzlr
Hexaneur
sharpness is not the only relevant thing. Contrast, unsharp areas, distortion, etc.
The XA is fine for its size, but it is not that great all in all. I bought a Rollei 35S a while ago and it has a better lens, definitely.
Guessing the distance is not much harder than focusing the XA correctly, except really close up. You can add an external rangefinder to the Rollei or Minox, that works rather well.
The XA is fine for its size, but it is not that great all in all. I bought a Rollei 35S a while ago and it has a better lens, definitely.
Guessing the distance is not much harder than focusing the XA correctly, except really close up. You can add an external rangefinder to the Rollei or Minox, that works rather well.
shortstop
Well-known
I have a T3 and the lens is to me excellent in every aspect. But I'm intersted in Rollei S performance. I like this camera too. In what is the rollei/sonnar better than T3/sonnar?
kanzlr
Hexaneur
@shortstop
I did compare it to the XA, not the T3, as I never owned one
I did compare it to the XA, not the T3, as I never owned one
shortstop
Well-known
Thanks. I had two XAs and lens wasn't so sharp, but what I didn't like at all was the excessive vignetting and distortion.@shortstop I did compare it to the XA, not the T3, as I never owned one
ark8012
Established
I would recommend Minolta AF-C. I have both AF-C and T3. I love both. T3 is smaller and better made, but AF-C is faster (for turn on/off and focusing). It also makes very sharp images. In addition, you can buy it for about $50, so no worry for damages during bicycle ride.
Monochrom
Well-known
Hi, the t3 is a far better camera than the xa, although not a rangefider the AF system nails focus quite fast.
With the t3 you never loose.
With the t3 you never loose.
Juan Valdenebro
Truth is beauty
The XA is sharp enough stopped down for street photography using ISO400 film.
I mean it's not as sharp as bigger lenses can be: XA's lens is the size of a button...
It's been commented that being such a very light camera, we must take special care about possible camera shake...
Rollei 35's using the sonnar, and Contax T3, are a bit sharper, but the Rollei 35's don´t have a 35mm lens but a longer one, and the T3 is autofocus.
If the final image is a great photograph, the XA is sharp enough: lots of great photographs in history have less technical image quality than the XA can give.
Between Rolleis and the T3, I'd prefer the T3 because of the 35mm lens and because it has very close focus, and that gives some funny options for fast autofocus work.
Cheers,
Juan
I mean it's not as sharp as bigger lenses can be: XA's lens is the size of a button...
It's been commented that being such a very light camera, we must take special care about possible camera shake...
Rollei 35's using the sonnar, and Contax T3, are a bit sharper, but the Rollei 35's don´t have a 35mm lens but a longer one, and the T3 is autofocus.
If the final image is a great photograph, the XA is sharp enough: lots of great photographs in history have less technical image quality than the XA can give.
Between Rolleis and the T3, I'd prefer the T3 because of the 35mm lens and because it has very close focus, and that gives some funny options for fast autofocus work.
Cheers,
Juan
kanzlr
Hexaneur
I'd say, too, that the XA is sharp enough (still, the Rollei lens is better), and it really depends on the enlargement. I usually do 18x24cm and there you cannot make out much of a difference if at all, especially with fast film. I simply enjoy the Rollei more, in addition to having a nicer lens.
btgc
Veteran
Compact cameras usually aren't used for their sharp lenses but for...well, their compactness. If sharpness is a goal then there are more appropriate and less constraining tools available.