The Contax S2 is a great camera and just because of my bad experiences with it shouldn’t discount it’s value and I’m hoping this next round with it helps prove that.
Video @ 2:38 "got all the shutter speeds dialed in" - Huh ? - I'm a camera technician and vertical traveling metal shutters aren't easily adjustable. First you need a sophisticated 3 sensor shutter tester. Next, one needs to remove the entire mirror box assembly in order to access adjustment points in order to balance the 1st & 2nd curtains (CTT times). Then 'dialing in' the accuracy of individual speeds via eccentric cam adjustments. Maybe you over stated the meaning of 'dialing in the shutter' - I'm guessing you just 'tinkered' & unjammed the shutter or mirrorbox...😎
As you said, we have different experiences with the same camera. Mine is in mint condition and works like a charm. The meter works very well, but of course you have to like the way it works. The Japanese Zeiss lenses are excellent, I have 5 of them and all are top notch. One thing I don’t like, it is the shutter sound. Looking forward to seeing your second opinion on it. Cheers mate.
First of all thank you for the great information about cameras you share. As an amateur in camera repair (mostly rangefinder cameras) I really appreciate you sharing your experience here. As for the Contax , i have to say I love the Zeiss lenses, and love the original RTS 😂. Yes, if you got electronically problems you mostly are out unless you are very experienced and got parts, but at least here in Germany the original RTS is very cheap even today. Have you worked on this camera before? The Yashica FX 3 series , dare to say it, is a very reliabale all plastic model, perfectly as a „in worst case“ backup for an electronic rts , or a very cheap entrance to Zeiss lenses. What do you think about this models ? The shutter sound is about as ugly , but you get them for about 15 to 20 Euros here , often including a 50 1,9 lens. There have been articles comparing the S2 with the fx3 super 2000, showing some similarities here.😂 Thanks very much again for your work here, and many greetings from Germany, Christian
I have a G-1 that has given great service for twenty years now. Reputedly its autofocus is poorer than that of the later G-2, but in truth I've never found it a problem . Frankly, it's a camera worth having just for the flawless optical performance of the Zeiss lenses, which give razor-shape image quality with ISO50-100 b&w film stock, even enlarged to 12x16.
I love the S2 as a concept, I had the same thought process as you. but I could not get behind the anemic shutter sound. It was just a supremely unsatisfying to use. Theoretically my perfect camera but I could not connect with it. and went back to my RTS II with its shutter response twitchier than a meth addict
Hi, I watch your videos with interest. My experience with this camera is also a bit frustrating. I bought it in mint condition but very soon the film advance lever doesn't work properly. After a shot is fired, the advance lever springs back but it can't be pushed into the closed position. I can still use the camera but I'll let it repaired. All I hope is that nothing is broken. In contrary to a few comments, I rather like the shutter sound. Yes it is loud, but the sound is pleasant, firm and decisive. The slow speeds give various rhythmical patterns which show the camera's mechanical precision. The Conta S2 is appealing to me because of its simplicity and the spot meter, which requires a more deliberate way of taking pics. Looking forward to your follow-up video.
Back in the day I purchased a Yashicamat 124 brand new. It worked reasonably well at first but after a few months the camera jammed when I pressed the shutter release. I had my dad's camera repair service (my dad was a commercial photographer) to fix the problem. Unfortunately, even after they worked on it the problem returned. I was told by the camera repair service that this camera had a design flaw and would never be reliable. I then went with a Nikon SLR and never looked back.
I do like Contax and the c/y lens system. I recently purchased a contax s2 for to much money. It is a nice camera but agree the shutter could be better. I like 139q better costing peanuts
Back in th eday I lusted after that camera. I wish you luck and success. The light meter tho', ... wow. I can bring so many cameras back to life with such a device. Looking forward to the review.
glad you were able to get your s2 working alex. i remember your disappointment when it died on you on vacation. my contax experience was bitter sweet also. i bought a 'working' contax RTS on ebay. it arrived DOA - a beautiful looking camera that did not work. i made a deal with the seller for a partial refund. i kept the 50mm f1.4 zeiss planar it came with to use on my yashica cameras and sent back the brick. i later bought a yashica fr1, a second cousin to an RTS. it arrived with a short in the circuit board, battery check light would not go off, camera did not work. nobody i reached out to would touch either the yashica fr1 or the contax RTS for repair work. again i kept the lens it came with and the yashica went into the recycle bin. no more contax cameras for me except for the early rangefinder models.
Video @ 2:38 "got all the shutter speeds dialed in" - Huh ? - I'm a camera technician and vertical traveling metal shutters aren't easily adjustable. First you need a sophisticated 3 sensor shutter tester. Next, one needs to remove the entire mirror box assembly in order to access adjustment points in order to balance the 1st & 2nd curtains (CTT times). Then 'dialing in' the accuracy of individual speeds via eccentric cam adjustments. Maybe you over stated the meaning of 'dialing in the shutter' - I'm guessing you just 'tinkered' & unjammed the shutter or mirrorbox...😎
As you said, we have different experiences with the same camera. Mine is in mint condition and works like a charm. The meter works very well, but of course you have to like the way it works. The Japanese Zeiss lenses are excellent, I have 5 of them and all are top notch. One thing I don’t like, it is the shutter sound. Looking forward to seeing your second opinion on it. Cheers mate.
same, the shutter sounds like someone having an asthma attack
First of all thank you for the great information about cameras you share.
As an amateur in camera repair (mostly rangefinder cameras) I really appreciate you sharing your experience here.
As for the Contax , i have to say I love the Zeiss lenses, and love the original RTS 😂.
Yes, if you got electronically problems you mostly are out unless you are very experienced and got parts,
but at least here in Germany the original RTS is very cheap even today.
Have you worked on this camera before?
The Yashica FX 3 series , dare to say it, is a very reliabale all plastic model, perfectly as a „in worst case“ backup for an electronic rts , or a very cheap entrance to Zeiss lenses.
What do you think about this models ?
The shutter sound is about as ugly , but you get them for about 15 to 20 Euros here , often including a 50 1,9 lens.
There have been articles comparing the S2 with the fx3 super 2000, showing some similarities here.😂
Thanks very much again for your work here,
and many greetings from Germany,
Christian
The big disappointment for me was a Contax G2. The lenses are great. But the auto focus is atrocious and it is noisy as all get out.
I have a G-1 that has given great service for twenty years now. Reputedly its autofocus is poorer than that of the later G-2, but in truth I've never found it a problem . Frankly, it's a camera worth having just for the flawless optical performance of the Zeiss lenses, which give razor-shape image quality with ISO50-100 b&w film stock, even enlarged to 12x16.
Very interested on your update here.
I love the S2 as a concept, I had the same thought process as you. but I could not get behind the anemic shutter sound. It was just a supremely unsatisfying to use. Theoretically my perfect camera but I could not connect with it. and went back to my RTS II with its shutter response twitchier than a meth addict
Hi, I watch your videos with interest. My experience with this camera is also a bit frustrating. I bought it in mint condition but very soon the film advance lever doesn't work properly. After a shot is fired, the advance lever springs back but it can't be pushed into the closed position. I can still use the camera but I'll let it repaired. All I hope is that nothing is broken. In contrary to a few comments, I rather like the shutter sound. Yes it is loud, but the sound is pleasant, firm and decisive. The slow speeds give various rhythmical patterns which show the camera's mechanical precision. The Conta S2 is appealing to me because of its simplicity and the spot meter, which requires a more deliberate way of taking pics. Looking forward to your follow-up video.
Back in the day I purchased a Yashicamat 124 brand new. It worked reasonably well at first but after a few months the camera jammed when I pressed the shutter release. I had my dad's camera repair service (my dad was a commercial photographer) to fix the problem. Unfortunately, even after they worked on it the problem returned. I was told by the camera repair service that this camera had a design flaw and would never be reliable. I then went with a Nikon SLR and never looked back.
I do like Contax and the c/y lens system. I recently purchased a contax s2 for to much money. It is a nice camera but agree the shutter could be better. I like 139q better costing peanuts
Back in th eday I lusted after that camera. I wish you luck and success. The light meter tho', ... wow. I can bring so many cameras back to life with such a device. Looking forward to the review.
glad you were able to get your s2 working alex. i remember your disappointment when it died on you on vacation. my contax experience was bitter sweet also. i bought a 'working' contax RTS on ebay. it arrived DOA - a beautiful looking camera that did not work. i made a deal with the seller for a partial refund. i kept the 50mm f1.4 zeiss planar it came with to use on my yashica cameras and sent back the brick. i later bought a yashica fr1, a second cousin to an RTS. it arrived with a short in the circuit board, battery check light would not go off, camera did not work. nobody i reached out to would touch either the yashica fr1 or the contax RTS for repair work. again i kept the lens it came with and the yashica went into the recycle bin. no more contax cameras for me except for the early rangefinder models.