So, tell me about the Contax T2

[Bobfrance]

Hi Guys,

I've been pondering selling my Contax G1 for a while now as it gets no use since I bought my Hexar RF.

I've been offered a part-ex/swap deal on a black Contax T2.

I find the idea quite tempting as I've been looking for a pocketable point and shoot.
I love my little Ricoh GR1 but I've been fancying something highly portable with around a 40mm lens and I love the contax build quality/feel.

Firstly - does it sound like a good deal against a G1 with 45mm lens (with all boxes & manuals)?

Secondly - what is theT2 like to use?for example, when using the manual forus are you simply zone focusing?

Thirdly - do black T2's command a premium like other black cameras?

Fourthly - I also like the Contax T but is it just too fiddly?

Or should I just get a Hexar AF and a coat with bigger pockets?

Bob.

 

[rgeorge911]

I can answer for the T

I can answer for the T

The original T is certainly not too "fiddly" in my opinion. I just found one at a good price, and love it. That little Sonnar's impressive!

Reed

 

[rgeorge911]

I can answer for the T

I can answer for the T

The original T is certainly not too "fiddly" in my opinion. I just found one at a good price, and love it. That little Sonnar's impressive!

Reed

 

[sevres_babylone]

I had the T2, which I gave to a family member when I bought a T3.
It is compact, but I do not consider it pocketable given its size and weight (in comparison to the T3 or an Olympus Stylus Epic, for instance).
I think the lens is really good, and I've never owned a camera so flare-free for shots into the sun.
The manual focus is an "electronic rangefinder", so probably not a rangefinder at all. You turn a dial, and when the focus is correct, a green light comes on. I believe the mechanism it used is the auto-focuser. (You can probably tell I'm a technical ignoramus.)
I mostly used auto focus with it.
Although it has a 2.8 lens, you can only set the aperture manually starting at F4. (That is, in certain situations it will use 2.8 in auto).
In terms of value, there was a t2 for sale a few days ago. I think it was being sold for $350. It sold in hours, if not minutes. The black ones may be more expensive. The silver/grey ones are nice, but I have to admit that I opted for black with the T3.
I prefer the T3 (which I need to get fixed), but the T2 is a more beautiful camera.

 

[sepiareverb]

I've got 2 T2's. The lens is absolutely stunning, near the equal of the G/45 in many situations, which was a real surprise to me. I find the camera pocketable, the lens cover is good, and I've carried mine around in a pocket without the case without damage. Not as light as some, but the lens more than makes up for it.

Manual Focus is as sevres says is sorta scale focus with a confirmation light- I've never used the Manual focus mode, preferring the focus lock method you'll be familiar with from the G1. This works fine most of the time, I do miss things from time to time, but usually know it as the lens will refocus before the shutter trips, and I'll just reshoot on the spot. Suits my static subject matter fine. AF is quite fast, and there is very little lag- less than I remember with the G1 in fact.

Black ones are usually a little more- tho my 'black' one isn't quite black, more dark grey- I don't know how many colors they put out, this may be some other special 'graphite' or something? Both this and the titanium (same as G1) one are quite durable finishes.

Compared to the T (which I've never owned or used) this seems simpler in use- more G like if you will- with the AF and AE and exposure compensation. The exposure compensation set-up on this camera is a joy of simplicity- like the Tvs, a manually set dial with an analog readout below the dial. A red +/- shows in the VF when compensation is set, but no readout of how much. VF info is marginal, but sufficient- you'll see an idea of shutter speed- 1/30th (or slower), and 1/125 (or faster) are shown with only these two speeds, so you never really know exactly what you're shooting at, I think of it as 'try and be steady' or 'don't worry about it'. Flash on is set with the aperture ring, so you can't deliberatly use flash at f2.8 or f11, it's either 'use flash at an unindicated aperture' or 'choose your aperture with no flash'.

Fiddly this is not. Less than complete control over everything is the name of the game however, but once I settled into it I found it fine. AF seems much better than I remember the G1, Not equal to the G2 however. I have a Tvs as well, and find that I most always choose the T2 over it, mainly because of the stunning quality of the lens, over the more complete info and wider control of flash one gets with the Tvs.

The fold-down door of the T3 was always a turn-off for me, seemed more likely to break, and more fiddly than the simpler cover of the T2.

If you can settle into the lack of flash control, and deal with the VF info being less than complete this is a tremendous camera for grab shots and portability. I carry mine around when I have to travel very light- often I don't even realize I have it if I'm wearing a coat. Of any little camera I'm most taken by this, over the NIkon 35Ti and the scale focus Rolleis and the Minilux, which seems like a giant in comparison. I still haven't gotten to play with a CM however- this is one that might give the T2 a good run, but for three times the money.

 

[peterm1]

I have had a (titanium) T2 for years now and while I am using it less, I do not contemplate selling it. Its lens is both sharp and contrasty. I have never owned a camera with a better lens and that includes my Leicas. The camera is well made and well designed. I especially like the aperture ring on the lens (just like an SLR) and the ability to manually focus and to set exposure compensation also using dials. Not in the least bit fiddly to use - unlike the T3 which uses buttons and menus rather than dials and which has had this accusation made against it in some reviews I have read.

The only very minor fault (which I have also read about in user reviews) is a tendancy for the flash to overpower the natural lighting / over expose when shot close up. I think with experience this can be overcome by using the afore mentioned exposure compensation. While I would not like to sell mine, I would personally consider swapping it for a G1 as I have a hankering for one of these cameras - pocketability is not an issue for me and I like the ability to exchange lenses. From your viewpoint, trading in the opposite direction, whether its a good deal or not depends on your point of view. My recollection (without checking) is that both the T2 and the G1 (with standard lens) go for around $400 give or take on eBay. You can easily check this for yourself. I think the black T2 may excite more interest and attract a higher price though. In general I would suggest its not a bad trade either way if your preference is to own the other camera as both seem to have similar market values (other things like condition being equal) and the build / optical qualities in both are great.

 

[Monte920]

T2 is the first so called "upper class" P&S that I have ever own. Since then, I continued to have TVS, TVS III, T3, Leica CM, Yashica T4 Super and Natura Classica. T2 remains to be one of my favorites.

T2 may not take the sole position for the best P&S camera, but it is definitely one of them. Its excellent optic quality, titanium finish, easy operation, and reasonable price make it a very good buy.

For the price, I think now an excellent to mint-conditioned T2 costs around $250~$400. It is not cheap, but not outrageously expensive, like T3 or CM, either.

For easy operation, you definitely can set auto for every thing. AF uses active infrared light, which works fine for most of the time. You also have the freedom of MF, though it only focuses down to 0.7m, not so close. You can adjust the apertures, though not f2.8, which can only be achived in Auto mode. You can also turn the flash on or off by simply turning the aperture ring, very handy! Though you can't control the aperture manually once using flash. Exp compensation is also easily by turning knobs, though you can't set ISO manually. Viewfinder is one of the largest among P&S cameras!

T2's finish is as good as G1/G2. It is heavy considering its compact size. It is bigger than T3, only pocketable to a big jacket, not a shirt. CM is slightly thicker than T2, but slightly lighter. For sure T2 is easier to carry around than the G1/G2.

Optic quality-wise, T2 is very sharp, only next to T3. However, T2 has more Carl-Zeiss T* glass personality than T3. You may easily mistaken the shots by T3 for those taken by SLR with an excellent prime lens, but you may not tell that it was Carl Zeiss. For T2, you can almost immediately identify that the shots were taken by Carl Zeiss glass, because it has that kind of unique Zeiss color!! For the short time that I had CM, I could never get good shots with it. I personally do not like the color produced by CM's Sumarit, which is not as vivid as the Sonnar in either T2 or T3. So I later sold CM, but still keep T2 and T3!

My advise, if you find a good T2 at $200's or 300's, go for it! It is worth every penny you spend in that price range! 🙂

 

[Bobfrance]

Wow. A big thanks to the night shift for all the info!

So far I really like the sound of the T2.
It seems to encompass all the things I love about the G1.
Mainly the build quality and the lenses. Also heavy = good in my book.

One more question. Does the T2 have any visible focus assist beam or is it good for stealth use?

 

[Monte920]

Just I had said in my previous post, T2's AF uses active infared light. It is not visible, and it does not need AF assistant beam, even in the total darkness. Generally, active is easier to use than the now commonly used passive AF. You can aim at everything in any light situation, not necessarily a straight line, to achieve focus. The limitation is to shoot across the glass window, which may fool the AF system. Active is also less accurate than passive, especially for the objects beyond 7 to 8 meters. But this will hardly be a problem for the 38mm lens. T2's AF rarely misses and most of the pictures are very sharp!!

 

[rich815]

I love my T2. Great lens, great build quality, etc. It is however no replacement for the G1 (I have a G2) or even a Hexar. It's simply an excellent high-quality P&S. If that's what you want it will be fine. But to me it is simply not going to give you what want in a stealth street shooter like a Hexar or a Leica, which it seems you may be thinking it can. Just IMO. It has no real easily used MF control in a sense like a RF, nor is the AF as easily "aimed" and locked in as a G1 or G2 can do. I use it only when my G2 is too bulky to take along or I want a good, simple P&S result and plan to use only one focal length. I was lucky and bought mine for $150 USD from a friend who did not want her's anymore (went digital P&S) but would certainly hesitate to pay much more, but that's just me. Also in my opinion as good as it is it will pale in comparison to what you get with your G1 and 45 Planar (or 28 Biogon).

If interested here are some of my T2 images:

http://www.flickr.com/search/?w=38698047@N00&q=T2&m=tags

 

[Monte920]

I was lucky and bought mine for $150 USD from a friend who did not want her's anymore (went digital P&S) but would certainly hesitate to pay much more, but that's just me.

I wish I had such a good friend like yours, but $150 is too far off from reality. :bang:

In the real world, $250~$350 is reasonable. $350~$400 for like new model is fine. I won't pay for more than $400, though.

 

[kuvvy]

I wish I had such a good friend like yours, but $150 is too far off from reality. :bang:

In the real world, $250~$350 is reasonable. $350~$400 for like new model is fine. I won't pay for more than $400, though.

And to help prove your point Monte920 I bought one today, (from friend too) mint condition and it cost £150 ($300).

 

[rich815]

Yeah, I said I was lucky! 🙂

We had bought it from www.keh.com for $275 about a year before that (about 3-4 years ago before now). KEH still has them from time to time for about the same. Completed auction search on eBay shows them from high 200's to low 300's.