Voigtländer or Contax

[navilluspm]

Hello Everyone!

I have a questions for you all. I have a Contax 167MT with the following lenses: a distagon 35/2.8, a planar 50/1.7, and a sonnar 85/2.8. (My other cameras is a broken Yashica GS and a Panisonic FZ7)

I love and hate the Contax. What I love are then lenses and the fact that it has a spot meter. What I hate is how crazy the electrical system is on the camera. It sucks up batteries like a Hummer sucks up gas. I am trying rechargable AAA batteries, but when the batteries get low, it just fails on me, and does all this wacky stuff. Even with fresh batteries, the camera will sometimes reset itself mid-roll with out warning. It is frustrating :bang: .

When my Yashica was working, I really enjoyed taking it out and shooting it. I wish it had a spot meter, but I guess that it pretty much impossible for a rangefinder, right? I did not like how easily my Yashica RF went out of calibration.

So hear is my question: Should a trade in my Contax SLR and start building a Voigtländer system.

Here are my pros to keeping the Contax system:

1) The Distagon 35
2) The Sonnar 85
3) The fact it has a spot meter
4) The Planar 50 (which, unfortunately, is scratched)

My reason for considering trading it in for a Voigtländer:

1) The camera is getting really annoying
2) I enjoyed using a rangefinder vs. SLR
3) The potential for Leica and Zeiss glass in the future.

Now, I cannot afford both systems. I am a man of limited means. I probably would have to look on the used market for a Voigtländer system and buy CV glass. I would use the camera for hikes and general walking around photography. I am not interested in macro or long telephoto photography (My Panny FZ7 does that good enough for me). I would, however, like to use this camera for informal portraits (something the Sonnar 85 2.8 is wonderful with).

So I guess my questions are this:


1) How does Voigtländer glass compare to Zeiss glass?
2) Are Voigtländer rangefinders sturdy?
3) Is it possible to get a RF with a spot meter (I know it probably is a dumb question)?

PS. My favorite focal lengths are 35 and 85.

 

[xayraa33]

buy a Contax S2 body or even a Yashica FX-3 for those Zeiss lenses.
the S2 has spot metering and an all mechanical shutter.

 

[rich815]

Keep it and see about patiently building upon a RF system too. They are entirely different systems.

I still have my Contax RX and various Zeiss lenses and bought a R3A a couple years back. Sold it as I found it little better than a cheap SLR in terms of build quality and shutter noise and bought an M3 (later "upgrading" to an MP and a CL back-up). I then bought lenses that would compliment my SLR system and give me more "classic" looks with B&W street-style shooting (mostly older Leica glass like a 50/2 Summicron DR, 90/4 Elmar).

Tried a few VC lenses (40/1.4 and 50/1.5) but found that although they are certainly sharp did not find them all that unique in character. Yes, a very personal assessment but I found my VC results sharp, but not much else. I do have the 75 VC I like though, and the 15 just for it's wide angle nature. I also had some QC issues with the VC lenses (wobbly barrels, leaking oil onto the outside of the barrels, varying smoothness in the focus range...).

I use my RFs for very different style of shooting than my SLR and keep the SLR for macro, longer lenses, and also for using the 35PC-Distagon and 85/1.4 Planar.

 

[Jacob]

The Olympus 35SP (see cameraquest.com under classics) has a spot meter and a good 45/1.7 lens. The metered Leicas take rather narrow "semi-spotty" readings. The CL is nice and can be found rather cheap. Not as reliable as an M6 though. The later Bessas seems more reliable than the first generations. Buy one with warranty is my advice. I got a new Bessa T from CameraQuest when the shutter stuck after 5 months. A mechanical Contax mount body sounds like good and rather economical alternative too.
Many good options...
Jacob

 

[peter_n]

Get a recent Bessa: R2A, R3A, R4A. I'm very impressed with the build quality of my R4A and would definitely describe it as sturdy. Some CV lenses are excellent but there are some to avoid. Use the search engine here there are lots of threads about most of them.

 

[navilluspm]

Thank you to all who responded. I decided to keep my current Contax SLR system and wait. I love my lenses too much I like the idea of looking for a mechanical body, but i doubt I will ever be able to afford a used Contax S2. 😱

Besides, I asked my folks, who are over in Russia right now, to keep their eyes open for a Kiev 2 or 3 with a Jupiter 3 lens. Maybe they will find something.

Thanks again.

Michael