T3 ot T2? It's a question

[Zugzwang]

You have a private message Easyrider.

 

[raid]

I used the T2 last night for the first time. I guess, there are no options with this camera except for choosing the distances on the wheel? Can I turn the flash off?

Raid

 

[steamer]

Yeah turn the aperture to 2.8, that is auto,no flash, I believe, you can also select your aperture up to 16 if you like.

 

[easyrider]

I have a T3 that I hardly use any more and would sell it if there is any interest. It is in excellent condition. I went mainly digital shortly after I bought it. I have the original box and manual.

The lens is exceptional.

One thing I do not like is that there is no hotshoe. I sometimes shoot at parties and the built-in flash causes red eye and is weak.

I shot part of a wedding using a Vivitar off camera with a peanut slave and used the built-in to trigger it. orked well although It would have worked even better if I had three hands.

I also have a Rollei 35 that I still sometimes use. It is one of the original German models and is a bit dinged up.

To add to my comments above: You can actually get a hot shoe for flash but you have to buy an addional gadget-- a flash adapter called the SA2 it is L-shaped and fits underneath the T3 and to the left.

The last time I looked at it, it cost around $260 CDN. I guess to keep the camera's design and size, Contax went this route. Most people probably use the camera for available light shooting.


BTW: I received PMs regarding this and the Rollei35. This board is amazing. I also have a Rollei TLR-MX with a 3.5 Tessar that I don't use. Not sure what it's worth.

I still occasionally use my two screwmount Leicas -- a IIIB and a IIIf -- to keep my credentials on this board. 🙂 I really enjoy all the comments and information here, having been a camera nut since I was 12-- which was a long time ago.

 

[raid]

Yeah turn the aperture to 2.8, that is auto,no flash, I believe, you can also select your aperture up to 16 if you like.

Thanks. I now see the tiny symbols on the lens barrel.

Raid

 

[beagle]

Thanks! That was a good deal, but they are all gone now...

beagle: I noted a comment here about reduced prices at KEH when they have many similar items listed. I noticed the T2. They still have several examples of it. They had it rated as "bargain", and it arrived here in like new condition.

Raid

 

[rich815]

beagle: I noted a comment here about reduced prices at KEH when they have many similar items listed. I noticed the T2. They still have several examples of it. They had it rated as "bargain", and it arrived here in like new condition.

Raid

KEH is where my friend bought her T2 a few years ago for about $300 or so, in EX condition and it was practically mint.

Of course, this was the same camera she sold to me about 6 months ago for $150. 😀

(no, I did not rip her off. She said she did not use it and wanted to know if I wanted it. I told her sure. We checked eBay prices at the time and they were $250-275 and she said "how about $150?". Guess what I said?)

 

[raid]

Rich: You also got a great deal with your T2 buy. Now I need the manual for it.

Raid

 

[Zugzwang]

Raid. Here is a T2 manual.
http://www.contaxinfo.com/manuals/T2/FrameSet.htm

 

[Meatboy]

Have owned a T2, a Leica CM (recently sold) and currently own two T3's.

If you are all thumbs the extra size of the T2 and CM is an advantage. For me I am dexterous with small cameras and the T3 is no problem. The T3 is smaller, it more easily fits in a coat pocket.

Image wise I think all three are excellent. The T2 while an excellent image maker, does suffer a little bit of vignetting where the T3 does not. The T2 is such a bargin considering cost/performance.

IMHO image quality probably goes to the CM - its more cooler and neutral than the Contax. However the T3 has a better viewfinder and image quality of the T3 is very close to the CM - I did'nt test them with same films/conditions so its my opinion only. The image quality of both cameras is really only apparent in enlargements, at postcard size prints you can't tell.

Some Contax optics have a reputation for making images with a slight magenta cast and I'd agree with that. More than one person has noted that 8x10 Contax images seem 3D and I just like the look and feel of that 35mm sonnar. They certainly are sharp.

In my opinion the T3 feels like it has a shorter shutter lag than the CM, again no science measuring and timing it just in the field useage.

All these camera's are now discontinued, sad, very sad.

Tim

 

[awilder]

I second Meatboy's remarks on the T2 and T3. Not mentioned is that the T3 lens comes out a bit slower from the body when switched on compared to the T2 and is quieter in that respect. However, the built in lens barrier for the T3 can hang up once in a while, ruining a shot unless checked after switched on. That's probably because it's a more delicate mechanism consisting of 4 retractable blades rather than the T2's single barrier cover.

 

[raid]

Raid. Here is a T2 manual.
http://www.contaxinfo.com/manuals/T2/FrameSet.htm

Thanks. I will print it out.

Raid