Voigtländer vf 101 vs Contax T

[caro]

Hi everyone,

Just wondering if anyone can help me with a camera comparison. After much indecision I have narrowed my field down to either a Voigtlander VF 101 or a Contax T camera.

Basically I’m after a travel camera, something small with aperture priority that’s got a good lens and isn’t too fiddly to use. I have a Rollei 35S that I love (especially its lens) but want something with an inbuilt rangefinder that is more spontaneous to use.

Has anyone used both these cameras? I’d really appreciate some advice about how their lens quality compares and which is the easier and faster to use, whatever you can tell me really as I have no way to try out either of these before buying..

Many thanks in advance.

Caro

 

[Flinor]

I've owned both and the Zeiss S-312, several Contax T's over the years and have one for sale now. The S-312 was an earlier clone of the VF 101 which was renamed when Voigtlander took over Zeiss. Both lenses are superb but functionally the major differences are that the T is really tiny. Without the flash and the lens folded it's the size of a cigarette pack. I never go anywhere without one because it goes in any pocket. The VF 101 is still small but larger with a fixed lens which is probably a little easier to focus and choose f stop because you don't have to wrap your finders around the lens cover. I have found the T meter more accurate than the VF 101 and also the Contax S 312, which I've also owned but that just may a function of age and later technology in the T. View finders are comparable, but the VF 101 is larger because the camera is bigger

 

[ChrisPlatt]

The Contax T may be my favorite 35mm camera of all.
It is a wonderful pocketable camera with a superb lens.

Chris

 

[caro]

Thanks so much for the informatve replies Gerry and Chris. Given the 'favourite status' that it gains so often I figure the Contax, despite being tiny, must be pretty satisfying to use and the small size is definitely a plus for what I want it for.

Thanks again for your help.

Caro

 

[NormanFX]

Do you have a picture of the Zeiss S-312? One has never appeared on the Bay. The VF101 is only slightly larger than many modern point and shoots. Only the Vivitar 35ES is slightly wider. But that size makes it an ideal travel camera, when you don't want to lug a lot of camera gear around.

 

[Robin P]

I had a VF-101 for a while and have mixed feelings about it :-
The lens is not really very special and to my hands it felt not quite wide enough, rather clunky to use. However, the exposure was just about good enough for slides and I got a surprisingly high number of "keepers" with it, in fact there are a couple framed and sitting on the walls here.
Attachment shows early evening September light in Trouville.

Cheers, Robin