I had this camera in the 90's (bought as second hand), then I sold it to buy a digital SLR. A few years ago my uncle gave me his 139 (almost unused, like new!) so I have again the same SLR I had almost 30 years ago!
Picked up an RTS and 3 Zeiss lenses at an Estate Sale for $40! just a couple of months ago. They're spectacular and I still can't believe what they sold that for.
@@justinkingery2489 Thank you! I was excited when I thought it said "400" on the price tag. ha ha. It came with a 28 2.8, 50 1.4, and 200 3.5 lenses. AEJ versions. I want to trade them or sell them for MMJ versions so I can adapt the 28 and 35 to my Nikon F3 ... but these are just fine as they are otherwise.
I loved so much your video that I bought the Contax 137MD Quartz! So far I'm in love with my camera! Same as you I have the collection of Contax Zeiss lens I use with my Blackmagic Pocket so now I can give a new life to my lens! Thanks for your videos I love so much your channel and I'm always learning new things from you. You are a great teacher!
My 139Q has been the perfect travel camera for those quick work-trips, or trips where I’m with non-photographers. It’s so small and such a pleasure to use!
I had one in the late 80's , we had a huge party it was stolen , I finally replaced it earlier this year , love it. Focusing can be a bit tricky , my eyes are 30 years older now
I use this camera for over 1 year now :) It's my favourite by far and goes with me everywhere. Shooting with AE and AE-lock is so convienient and the camera is so compact and beautiful.
Definitely understand having a soft spot for certain cameras. For me, it's the Leica M3 (which is probably cliche, because Leica, but hey). Just one of those cameras I feel like I'm able to do exactly what I want with & never lets me down.
Contax 139, Mon premier boîtier,et c’etait un bonheur, depuis,je n’ai pas quitté le concept,des optiques merveilleuses,précises,avec un piqué formidable, bref, c’est pour la vie ! Que la légende perdure !! On attend juste la suite 😊😊.tchuss, pierro de Bourgogne.
I shot the 139 with a Zeiss 1.7. Beautiful combo. My friend then gifted me the body but kept the lens. So it's been sitting the past 10 years. I also have the G1 with the 45mm. But it just stopped working the other day. Now thinking about what to do. Get another G1 body, repair the G1 or buy another Zeiss for the 139.
I bought a 139Q a month or two ago. I got it at a reasonable price because the leatherette covering had deteriorated and was peeling off, the camera was well used. However I was able to get some pre-cut leatherette covering for about £14. The camera now looks great, and it took some great photos too
Great. Aki-Asahi does great camera leather over ages. The 139Q, 137MD & 137MA are prone to loose their leather. Interesting, my Yashica FR(I) never had this issue...it lasts over decades.
That 139Q with the 45mm is awesome! Such a tiny package. I use a Yashica FX3 Super 2000 which was bought for me in the mid 90's! Great vlog. Oh, and I live in Bristol too.
Love my 139Q, the zeiss glass is great and the quality of the body is incredible. Picked mine up for £90 and the image quality is unbeatable for the money
Right?? I have 2 of them, one is decent-the other is pretty mint, and the lenses render such beautiful colors, they almost seem like great little “Leica killers”
Good to see some Contax SLR coverage! Never understood why they aren't more popular than they are with how hyped T2/T3's have got. 139Q's are my go to suggestion for folk wanting to try 35mm, got one on my shelf as a spare if anything happens to my Aria.
@@KyleMcDougall Plus not pocketable like the T2/T3, which made them less trendy. A shame Contaxes from this era are darned near unrepairable and the RTS models have a major history with electronics unreliability with age. A friend of mine (who babies his) is on his third RTS model, and it just quit. He bought Yashica backups (his work fine and he uses his Contax Zeiss lenses on them). And the RTS III is barely repairable.
Just found one at the local thrift store for $30, its a full kit, body with winder and 3 lenses; one zeiss, 2 sigma and a 2x teleconverter. Pretty excited for it, only minor thing is that the shutter sometimes get stuck and gotta get it loose with a little love tap.
Looks similar in size to my Pentax ME Super, which is a great camera. 1/2000th, up/down buttons for exposure, compact but rugged, nice compact lenses. Just a fun camera to use.
My first camera a Zenith, bought from Argos , my second, a Contax 139 quartz. I loved that camera and the lens it came with. I sold the camera years ago, but was smart enough not to part with the Zeiss lenses, thank God.
It's nice seeing you get back into contax cameras again. Your earlier reviews got me invested in a lot of their glass. May I suggest trying the S2? It's spot metering is excellent.
I've eyeballed the S2 for years. Just not too fond of the spot meter in an SLR. There is the S2B, but it's also risen in price quite a lot and I'm not sure if I could spend that much on a 35mm camera as I don't shoot the majority of my work with the format.
Yup that Contax is the business. All about feel - Nikon F2AS and 35mm f2 would be my choice though for film. Current cameras Canon EOS 620 / 35-70 - also, Sony W830 with CZ lens. Mind you my very elderly ZTE Blade 512 is a lot of fun too (buggy with OpenCamera app but still used every day), and almost matches my NEX5N for quality. Photography keeps me sane!
In the early eighties I was shooting Pentax but a friend had a Contax 139 which I much admired and occasionally used - The handling was a thing of joy - no need to look at the thing - everything fell right under the correct finger and worked just as you would expect.
My Contax Aria was my favorite camera ever. Also loved the 135mm f2.8 lens was my favorite street/portrait lens. It was also an ideal backpacking camera. Loved that camera and wish I could find it’s digital analog
I had a 139Q with 50/1.7 from the early 80s and really enjoyed using it. I've dabbled with digital in recent times (EOS and A7) but still use Contax for film. I still like the 139Q but I think my favourite is the 159MM with M42 adapter giving access to all those great lenses from the past. I have an RTS2 that is lovely, but just that bit too big and heavy. I'm also an FX-3 fan, fantastic simplicity and access to C/Y and M42 lenses.
I love my RTS with the 50 1.7! The 139Q with that tiny 35 2.8 sure looks to be a very compact/light option for walking around with. Great video as always!
I bought mine 90EUR few years ago, Carl Zeiss 50mm 1,7 included 😄👌. An awesome camera I enjoy to use. Nice video, need to check this 45mm pancake now 💸💸💸
This is a nice video, enjoyed your first Contax videos a few years ago. Good to see you got back to shooting Contax SLRs. Plus, these lenses adapt fine to an EF mount and paired with a Pocket 6k to name a cheap option, it feels like you are shooting a capable S35 cine camera with awesome Zeiss cine glas. Keep up the great work.
I have the 167MT with Yashica ML 50mm f2 pancake lens...and i love this combo...cheap, and super nice images come out. The Contax 167mt made me say "Goodbye digital photography", 5 years iam using Contax and Yashica cameras, and never had a need to go back to digital photography...
@@Guitareye90 i never owned the 139, so i cant tell you the difference. I use the 167mt, for 5 years now. I damaged one, so i was forced to buy another one, but the experience is great... I basiclly leaved behind my digital cameras for this Contax. Big viewfinder, with all the important data inside, fast shutter 1/4000sec, auto load and unload of the film, compact size(comparable to an Panasonic or Sony apsc), - +3EV, aperture and manual priority, area and spot metering... Its faster to use then a lot of digital cameras
@@KyleMcDougall ah! Thanks! It had the same style as the All Too Well short film recently released by Taylor Swift. Apparently it was shot on actual 35mm film. Any idea what camera was used?
You mentioned the 35mm lens will spend most of the time on either of the cameras, why is that? I don’t think I’ve heard you speak about your affection for this focal length on the 35mm format, what draws you to it if you don’t mind me asking? Thanks for the video Kyle, I always learn something from them.
Cheers Rory. 35mm is my favourite focal length (the equivalent for larger formats as well). I find that it's just wide enough for the style of work that I do, without exaggerating things. 28mm just starts to creep into that realm.
I have never tried the RTS, but I love my Quartz. The wind action in particular is one of the most satisfying I have tried in an SLR. Definitely up there on my fav slrs list though I have unfortunately only shot 1 or 2 rolls through it thus far. Glad you like the 35 2.8. I should use that lens more! I have the 50 1.4 and the 85 Tessar 2.8 as well. The 85 Tessar is sharp! I don't know if it is rendering is as good as the expensive 85 planar 1.4 but I think for a lot of stuff, it works really well (even on Digital). Like it a bunch! I always wanted the 100 f/2 but could never justify the price alas!
Yeah I've heard great things about the 85 2.8. I owned the 85 1.4 in the past and it was a great lens! Softened up just a bit wide open which I enjoyed for some scenarios while flimmaking.
@Kyle McDougall Sir, I love your compositions and the way you have played with light and shadows. Can you talk a little bit about what is 'light fall' from the lens? Does every lens have a signature in this?
Hi Kyle great video, I think you should do more videos about cinematography, your filming skills are on the highest level, thanks for such good content , regards from Argentina
Hey not sure if you’ll see this - I want to get the 45mm 2.8 for my Contax Aria but a couple of the reviews mention strong focus shift. Have you noticed this at all? Thanks :)
Thanks for the video. I was struggling with 139Q or 167MT. and after your video, I decide to go for 139Q. I love the compact size and like you said, it has everything we need, nothing excessive really. Cheers!
You'd said in an earlier video that you would take the Yashica FX-3 Super 2000 over the RTS. Is that still true? And would you take the FX-3 over the 139Q?
your contax vs. yashica vid inspired me to try out an old fx-3 when i was just beginning my film journey -- i loved it! it was my first camera, with the yashica ML 50mm. i ended up buying the 50mm 1.7 planar you mentioned here, and it's helped me make my favorite 35mm pictures so far. thanks kyle! I've gotta try out those other zeiss lenses and the RTS bodies sometime lol
Glad you've found the vids helpful! The 50 1.7 is a great lens. The RTS is also still my favourite. Not as small and light, but has a great feel to it.
@@pancakelens75 you need to use the Contax L cable switch which is compatible with all C/Y and G Contax cameras beyond the 139. The RTS 1 needs a different cable tho.
Again, all depends on how you work. The only downside with the 35-70 is that it’s a lot larger than primes. But I’d say it performs just as well. Still one of my favourites.
I've got a Yashica FR1, and it sounds almost like it's a rebranded version of the 139Q. It has a lovely viewfinder, 1/1000 top shutter speed, aperture priority. They do have a few build quality issues though. The frame counter goes bad on almost every single one, and the self timer can be very finicky.
The Yashica FX-D is i believe the paired little sibling to the Contax 139Q. Lacks the smooth winding and soft mirror cushioning a couple other nice bit the contax does but is the yashica budget version of the 139Q.
The FR1 was the second generation of the FR line. The FR was "almost" an original RTS sharing many of the components. The FR1 added an aperture priority shooting mode which the original FR lacked. Yashica typically marketed similar paired cameras to many of the early Contax models. The FR1 was my very first SLR and I still have great memories of my time with that camera. Over the years I owned multiple Y/C bodies , RTS-II, 139Q, 159, AX, and Aria along with several Yashica FX line models. The biggest disappointment with the system was their slow entry into digital. I still have a pristine Aria and a great manual FX-3 2000 and a good lens assortment to satisfy my urge to shoot film now and then. The size of 139/159/Aria in the Contax system made me a forever "compact" camera guy so eventually I moved to my current Olympus OM-D system cameras when I moved to digital.
Yep, this has replacement leather. The original leather on the 139's almost always needs to be replaced. It was a soft material that deteriorated over time. Don't be put off by one with bad leather if you're in the market.
Damn you Kyle!! I watched this video when it came out and it intrigued me. Didn’t seriously consider a 139q but somehow you snuck into my brain and jacked it around a little so when I saw one on Facebook Marketplace I took a look. I need another camera like I need a whole in my head but for $100 US how was I to say no. Glad I didn’t!! Wow! The camera is a real treat. The aperture ring itself is worth the money! So damn you 😀 and thank you. I am so glad I have it. Can’t wait to put some film through it. Now I am going to go broke buying lenses. 😢
I still use the Yashica FX-3 with the Zeiss Planar 50/1.4 and a Tamron 24/2.5 and I absolutely love it! Just wish the 45/2.8 pancake would be cheaper, it's somehow more expensive than the 50/1.4 in UK!
@@KyleMcDougall just looking for a pancake lens setup that would be super pocketable but still have manual controls, the Minolta had an even flatter 40/2.5 pancake but it's hard to get. Nikon also had a very flat one but it's even more expensive. I was thinking of some rangefinders but I hate the lack of manual controls on most of the budget ones, and I don't want to pay 500 for a decent one.
@@joshuafahy218 A properly done scan will show the equivalent of about 24Mpx worth of resolution. Most scanners are mediocre unfortunately, so you won't always get the most out of your film.
Hey Kyle! If you were to get an RTS, is there a particular model that you’d get? The 1,2, and 3 are the ones I’m seeing. I’ve only ever used rangefinders and really want to try a nice SLR.
Hey Morgan, I have the RTS 2, but also owned the original in the past. I'd probably buy whichever one I could find for the better price/condition. They handle identical. The RTS 3 is quite different.
Can you do a video on the Mamiya DSX 1000. Nobody really know about Mamiya 35mm cameras and that model is my personal favorite SLR just cause’ of the glass and that’s coming from someone who also has a Nikon F4s
Love your Contax content Kyle. I too have a fondness for Contax Zeiss glass. I bought the 45mm about 2 months ago and have found it to be spectacularly sharp. I also shoot the 50 1.4 and 35 2.8. Keep doing what you do!
Great video! I recently picked up the 167mt which I love shooting with. I got the body plus a Zeiss 50mm 1.7 and a Yashica 28mm 2.8 for $400 AUD. The yashica lens performs really well compared to the Zeiss.
@@KyleMcDougall that's what I get for posting before watching the whole video. I used to get 'I can't believe that's not medium format' from the lab with this combo and Portra 160 20 years ago.
You realise that you will have to take up street photography now, as you have bought the early version of the 45mm Tessar, with the green marks on the aperture and focussing rings designed for use as snap marks in street photography!. My experience is that mirror slip is mainly on the later models, so you may be ok with the 139.
Don't think there will be any street photography in my near future! No issues with mirror slip yet, but the camera I bought was just fully serviced. So fingers crossed that I should be good for a while.
Pro Tip, the lenses are excellent. Among the best ever. The cameras have a problem history with age. Get you a Yashica better model backup which uses this lens system as insurance.
The peeling and flaking leatherette is not a big problem. I solved it by buying a piece of nice, soft scrap leather of a matching color, cutting it into shape and glueing it on with clear silicone caulking. The result is easy on the eyes, feels very good in the hand and has lasted for almost 40 years, without showing any signs of wear. Contax should have just coated its cameras with real leather from the start, it would have given them a nice premium feel. Of course, if you're vegan or something, you may prefer to use cotton or some other fabric. If you're a steampunk kind of guy, you'll probably use brass.
When buying them, make sure the rubber stop is still present under the mirror. If it has deteriorated or fallen off, the mirror will be misaligned and the focus will be off. I have had to put electrical tape under the mirror to compensate on all of the contax cameras I've owned.
Contax and the MIRROR ISSUES. Jesus. I like the bodies and builds and obviously the glass, but I've owned two and both had mirror-slip issues. I guess the mirrors were attached with glue/adhesive, and it often breaks down over time allowing the mirror to slip down. Mine was causing my shutter to stick amongst other issues. Really problematic. You can use a blow dryer or heat gun to heat up the adhesive and move the mirror back up, then add a dab of super glue to make it stick, but I don't love that as a fix.
I saw this video and I immediately placed a bet on an ebay auction for a 139 + zeiss 50 1.7, that I won at a ridiculous price. I was barely strong enough to hold me after the XA video... Ok, maybe it's better if I unsubscribe from your channel :D Great work as always!
I love how small it is with the 45 f2.8… that being said. I ordered a 135 f2.8 for it that Im also excited to try out. It’s such a small camera and it feels really well constructed.
So you bought 35mm, 45mm, and 50mm Zeiss Contax lenses? You basically have no spread in your focal range. I can see keeping the 45mm as being between the other two lenses, or even keeping both the 35 and the 50. But why all three of these? That could not have been cheap. It's not as silly to me as someone buying both a 50mm f/1.8 and 50mm f/1.4, but pretty silly, if I'm being honest.
Bought the 35 as it will be the most used. The 45 as I was curious to try it and it makes for a nice compact setup. The 50 was a pure impulse buy because there was an ebay auction ending with a very low price. I'll also use these for filmmaking as well.
I'm confused - I don't see a microphone in the frame but I can still hear him? Also, what kind of BS YT video is this - it only had 2 jump cuts!? And what's with all the b-roll that actually shows the feature of the camera he's talking about? It's like this Kyle guy actually has filmmaking skills or something. ;)
I had this camera in the 90's (bought as second hand), then I sold it to buy a digital SLR. A few years ago my uncle gave me his 139 (almost unused, like new!) so I have again the same SLR I had almost 30 years ago!
Picked up an RTS and 3 Zeiss lenses at an Estate Sale for $40! just a couple of months ago. They're spectacular and I still can't believe what they sold that for.
Nice find, Jamie! Which lenses did you get?
@@justinkingery2489 Thank you! I was excited when I thought it said "400" on the price tag. ha ha. It came with a 28 2.8, 50 1.4, and 200 3.5 lenses. AEJ versions. I want to trade them or sell them for MMJ versions so I can adapt the 28 and 35 to my Nikon F3 ... but these are just fine as they are otherwise.
Score!
Compare your 139 to my 35 year old...mine is beat up bad.
I loved so much your video that I bought the Contax 137MD Quartz! So far I'm in love with my camera! Same as you I have the collection of Contax Zeiss lens I use with my Blackmagic Pocket so now I can give a new life to my lens! Thanks for your videos I love so much your channel and I'm always learning new things from you. You are a great teacher!
That’s crazy, I just picked one up less than a week ago! Already in love with this thing, it’s the most solid 35mm camera I’ve ever used.
Nice! Glad you're enjoying it!
My 139Q has been the perfect travel camera for those quick work-trips, or trips where I’m with non-photographers. It’s so small and such a pleasure to use!
I had one in the late 80's , we had a huge party it was stolen , I finally replaced it earlier this year , love it. Focusing can be a bit tricky , my eyes are 30 years older now
I use this camera for over 1 year now :) It's my favourite by far and goes with me everywhere. Shooting with AE and AE-lock is so convienient and the camera is so compact and beautiful.
Nice! Yeah the size of it is hard to beat.
RTS II user here, definitely my favorite SLR film camera. Always appreciate seeing Contax SLR love 😍
Big fan of the RTS cams!
Contax 139Q; an absolute joy of a 35mm SLR.
Definitely understand having a soft spot for certain cameras. For me, it's the Leica M3 (which is probably cliche, because Leica, but hey). Just one of those cameras I feel like I'm able to do exactly what I want with & never lets me down.
That's what's most important, regardless of how popular / unpopular the camera is. Whatever feels best for you!
Contax 139, Mon premier boîtier,et c’etait un bonheur, depuis,je n’ai pas quitté le concept,des optiques merveilleuses,précises,avec un piqué formidable, bref, c’est pour la vie ! Que la légende perdure !! On attend juste la suite 😊😊.tchuss, pierro de Bourgogne.
I shot the 139 with a Zeiss 1.7. Beautiful combo. My friend then gifted me the body but kept the lens. So it's been sitting the past 10 years. I also have the G1 with the 45mm. But it just stopped working the other day. Now thinking about what to do. Get another G1 body, repair the G1 or buy another Zeiss for the 139.
I bought a 139Q a month or two ago. I got it at a reasonable price because the leatherette covering had deteriorated and was peeling off, the camera was well used. However I was able to get some pre-cut leatherette covering for about £14. The camera now looks great, and it took some great photos too
Awesome! Yeah you can definitely score a deal if the leather is gone.
Great. Aki-Asahi does great camera leather over ages. The 139Q, 137MD & 137MA are prone to loose their leather. Interesting, my Yashica FR(I) never had this issue...it lasts over decades.
That 139Q with the 45mm is awesome! Such a tiny package. I use a Yashica FX3 Super 2000 which was bought for me in the mid 90's! Great vlog. Oh, and I live in Bristol too.
Cheers, Lee. The Super 2000 is a great little camera!
Love my 139Q, the zeiss glass is great and the quality of the body is incredible. Picked mine up for £90 and the image quality is unbeatable for the money
Right?? I have 2 of them, one is decent-the other is pretty mint, and the lenses render such beautiful colors, they almost seem like great little “Leica killers”
Good to see some Contax SLR coverage! Never understood why they aren't more popular than they are with how hyped T2/T3's have got. 139Q's are my go to suggestion for folk wanting to try 35mm, got one on my shelf as a spare if anything happens to my Aria.
For some reason, SLR's in general never seem to get the same hype as a few of the compacts and rangefinders.
@@KyleMcDougall Plus not pocketable like the T2/T3, which made them less trendy. A shame Contaxes from this era are darned near unrepairable and the RTS models have a major history with electronics unreliability with age. A friend of mine (who babies his) is on his third RTS model, and it just quit. He bought Yashica backups (his work fine and he uses his Contax Zeiss lenses on them). And the RTS III is barely repairable.
Yes! I always love seeing 35mm content. Solid video!
Cheers!
Just found one at the local thrift store for $30, its a full kit, body with winder and 3 lenses; one zeiss, 2 sigma and a 2x teleconverter.
Pretty excited for it, only minor thing is that the shutter sometimes get stuck and gotta get it loose with a little love tap.
Nice find!
I have a 159mm I inherited from my grandfather. I dig it. I need to figure out how to correct the mirror slide issue.
www.contax139.co.uk/documentation - That's a great resource. It's actually who I bought my camera from.
@@KyleMcDougall awesome, thanks!
Looks similar in size to my Pentax ME Super, which is a great camera. 1/2000th, up/down buttons for exposure, compact but rugged, nice compact lenses. Just a fun camera to use.
My first camera a Zenith, bought from Argos , my second, a Contax 139 quartz. I loved that camera and the lens it came with. I sold the camera years ago, but was smart enough not to part with the Zeiss lenses, thank God.
It's nice seeing you get back into contax cameras again. Your earlier reviews got me invested in a lot of their glass. May I suggest trying the S2? It's spot metering is excellent.
I've eyeballed the S2 for years. Just not too fond of the spot meter in an SLR. There is the S2B, but it's also risen in price quite a lot and I'm not sure if I could spend that much on a 35mm camera as I don't shoot the majority of my work with the format.
Please review kodak ultramax! I know its safe to over expose 1 stop or 2 but i wanna see what it looks like. Thank you!
Wow. that shot at 3:10 looks surreal. almost painted even
Thank you.
Yup that Contax is the business. All about feel - Nikon F2AS and 35mm f2 would be my choice though for film. Current cameras Canon EOS 620 / 35-70 - also, Sony W830 with CZ lens. Mind you my very elderly ZTE Blade 512 is a lot of fun too (buggy with OpenCamera app but still used every day), and almost matches my NEX5N for quality. Photography keeps me sane!
Cheers, Edward!
In the early eighties I was shooting Pentax but a friend had a Contax 139 which I much admired and occasionally used - The handling was a thing of joy - no need to look at the thing - everything fell right under the correct finger and worked just as you would expect.
My Contax Aria was my favorite camera ever. Also loved the 135mm f2.8 lens was my favorite street/portrait lens. It was also an ideal backpacking camera. Loved that camera and wish I could find it’s digital analog
The 135 2.8 is a great lens.
I hear that the Aria is one of the most quiet SLRs ever made, along with the RX.
Great video thanks. I love the leather on you 139. What style of leather is it? I need to recover mine and I want that looks.
Cheers. Not too sure. It came with the camera after a CLA.
I had a 139Q with 50/1.7 from the early 80s and really enjoyed using it. I've dabbled with digital in recent times (EOS and A7) but still use Contax for film. I still like the 139Q but I think my favourite is the 159MM with M42 adapter giving access to all those great lenses from the past. I have an RTS2 that is lovely, but just that bit too big and heavy. I'm also an FX-3 fan, fantastic simplicity and access to C/Y and M42 lenses.
I love my RTS with the 50 1.7! The 139Q with that tiny 35 2.8 sure looks to be a very compact/light option for walking around with. Great video as always!
The RTS is great as well. The 45mm 2.8 is nice and small, and as mentioned, very sharp!
I bought mine 90EUR few years ago, Carl Zeiss 50mm 1,7 included 😄👌. An awesome camera I enjoy to use. Nice video, need to check this 45mm pancake now 💸💸💸
Nice! Great deal.
fantastic shots in this video!
Thank you, Josiah!
I adore my 139Q but noticed I'm more frequently picking up the 137 just because of the automatic film advance. Great video!
Thanks, Jonas.
139q is a nice shooter if you add the winder, it also adds a portrait shutter release
Thanks, Kyle. Lovely as always
Cheers!
This is a nice video, enjoyed your first Contax videos a few years ago. Good to see you got back to shooting Contax SLRs. Plus, these lenses adapt fine to an EF mount and paired with a Pocket 6k to name a cheap option, it feels like you are shooting a capable S35 cine camera with awesome Zeiss cine glas. Keep up the great work.
Absolutely. Used the Contax lenses with my Pocket 6k and URSA many times. Such a great combo!
I have a Yashica FXD quartz slr which I love.
The poor man's Contax 139
good show, thank you Kyle for reviewing cz 50m 1.7 and system.
You're welcome. Cheers!
I have the 167MT with Yashica ML 50mm f2 pancake lens...and i love this combo...cheap, and super nice images come out. The Contax 167mt made me say "Goodbye digital photography", 5 years iam using Contax and Yashica cameras, and never had a need to go back to digital photography...
Hey man how would you compare the 139 vs the 167? I'm debating which one to grab =(
@@Guitareye90 i never owned the 139, so i cant tell you the difference. I use the 167mt, for 5 years now. I damaged one, so i was forced to buy another one, but the experience is great... I basiclly leaved behind my digital cameras for this Contax.
Big viewfinder, with all the important data inside, fast shutter 1/4000sec, auto load and unload of the film, compact size(comparable to an Panasonic or Sony apsc), - +3EV, aperture and manual priority, area and spot metering...
Its faster to use then a lot of digital cameras
Nice to see some of your colo(u)r work again but the fog shots were really good.
Thanks, John. Still dabbling with some colour here in the UK. But for some reason, B&W just feels right.
Nice shots,great camera!
Thank you!
Love the 139Q. Its my daily driver.
Hey! Was wondering what camera the short film( 4:39 ) was shot on?
Pocket 4K. 🙂
@@KyleMcDougall ah! Thanks! It had the same style as the All Too Well short film recently released by Taylor Swift. Apparently it was shot on actual 35mm film. Any idea what camera was used?
You mentioned the 35mm lens will spend most of the time on either of the cameras, why is that? I don’t think I’ve heard you speak about your affection for this focal length on the 35mm format, what draws you to it if you don’t mind me asking?
Thanks for the video Kyle, I always learn something from them.
Cheers Rory. 35mm is my favourite focal length (the equivalent for larger formats as well). I find that it's just wide enough for the style of work that I do, without exaggerating things. 28mm just starts to creep into that realm.
@@KyleMcDougall I hear you, 35mm is my favourite too. I tend to buy too many of them as a result. Thanks for the reply, Kyle.
I have never tried the RTS, but I love my Quartz. The wind action in particular is one of the most satisfying I have tried in an SLR. Definitely up there on my fav slrs list though I have unfortunately only shot 1 or 2 rolls through it thus far. Glad you like the 35 2.8. I should use that lens more! I have the 50 1.4 and the 85 Tessar 2.8 as well.
The 85 Tessar is sharp! I don't know if it is rendering is as good as the expensive 85 planar 1.4 but I think for a lot of stuff, it works really well (even on Digital). Like it a bunch! I always wanted the 100 f/2 but could never justify the price alas!
Yeah I've heard great things about the 85 2.8. I owned the 85 1.4 in the past and it was a great lens! Softened up just a bit wide open which I enjoyed for some scenarios while flimmaking.
@Kyle McDougall Sir, I love your compositions and the way you have played with light and shadows. Can you talk a little bit about what is 'light fall' from the lens? Does every lens have a signature in this?
Thanks! Not sure I understand what you mean by light fall. Can you explain?
Hi Kyle great video, I think you should do more videos about cinematography, your filming skills are on the highest level, thanks for such good content , regards from Argentina
Very kind, thank you. I've thought about it from time to time!
Hey not sure if you’ll see this - I want to get the 45mm 2.8 for my Contax Aria but a couple of the reviews mention strong focus shift. Have you noticed this at all? Thanks :)
How do you like this camera compared to the Yashica FX-3 Super?
Thanks for the video. I was struggling with 139Q or 167MT. and after your video, I decide to go for 139Q. I love the compact size and like you said, it has everything we need, nothing excessive really. Cheers!
You'd said in an earlier video that you would take the Yashica FX-3 Super 2000 over the RTS. Is that still true? And would you take the FX-3 over the 139Q?
your contax vs. yashica vid inspired me to try out an old fx-3 when i was just beginning my film journey -- i loved it! it was my first camera, with the yashica ML 50mm. i ended up buying the 50mm 1.7 planar you mentioned here, and it's helped me make my favorite 35mm pictures so far. thanks kyle! I've gotta try out those other zeiss lenses and the RTS bodies sometime lol
get the 139 instead, the RTS is very heavy compared to it
Glad you've found the vids helpful! The 50 1.7 is a great lens. The RTS is also still my favourite. Not as small and light, but has a great feel to it.
@@Suckmine10 can you use a shutter cable with this camera? I notice the shutter button has no threads…
@@pancakelens75 you need to use the Contax L cable switch which is compatible with all C/Y and G Contax cameras beyond the 139. The RTS 1 needs a different cable tho.
Great video as always!! Would you recommend the 139q over the Yashica FX3 Super 2000??
Both are great, but the 139 definitely has a better build/nicer feel.
So for someone getting into the Contax system. What 3 lenses would you recommend the most?
All depends on what focal lengths you prefer. But the 50 1.7, 35 2.8, and the 85 2.8 are all great value.
@@KyleMcDougall ah cool! And would you get the 35-70mm over these?
Again, all depends on how you work. The only downside with the 35-70 is that it’s a lot larger than primes. But I’d say it performs just as well. Still one of my favourites.
I've got a Yashica FR1, and it sounds almost like it's a rebranded version of the 139Q. It has a lovely viewfinder, 1/1000 top shutter speed, aperture priority. They do have a few build quality issues though. The frame counter goes bad on almost every single one, and the self timer can be very finicky.
The Yashica FX-D is i believe the paired little sibling to the Contax 139Q. Lacks the smooth winding and soft mirror cushioning a couple other nice bit the contax does but is the yashica budget version of the 139Q.
The FR1 was the second generation of the FR line. The FR was "almost" an original RTS sharing many of the components. The FR1 added an aperture priority shooting mode which the original FR lacked. Yashica typically marketed similar paired cameras to many of the early Contax models. The FR1 was my very first SLR and I still have great memories of my time with that camera. Over the years I owned multiple Y/C bodies , RTS-II, 139Q, 159, AX, and Aria along with several Yashica FX line models. The biggest disappointment with the system was their slow entry into digital. I still have a pristine Aria and a great manual FX-3 2000 and a good lens assortment to satisfy my urge to shoot film now and then. The size of 139/159/Aria in the Contax system made me a forever "compact" camera guy so eventually I moved to my current Olympus OM-D system cameras when I moved to digital.
You seem to enjoy the Pentax medium format cameras. Try the Pentax LX for 35mm, you’ll love it.
The LX looks great. Has certainly gone up in price!
@@KyleMcDougall Just don't get the gold version :)
Hi, is the leather of your 139Q changed? I saw some of these with different leather. Thanks
Yep, this has replacement leather. The original leather on the 139's almost always needs to be replaced. It was a soft material that deteriorated over time. Don't be put off by one with bad leather if you're in the market.
Yep it looks really compact for trips. Maybe one day.
Damn you Kyle!! I watched this video when it came out and it intrigued me. Didn’t seriously consider a 139q but somehow you snuck into my brain and jacked it around a little so when I saw one on Facebook Marketplace I took a look.
I need another camera like I need a whole in my head but for $100 US how was I to say no. Glad I didn’t!! Wow! The camera is a real treat. The aperture ring itself is worth the money!
So damn you 😀 and thank you. I am so glad I have it. Can’t wait to put some film through it. Now I am going to go broke buying lenses. 😢
Glad you're enjoying it! Such a great camera.
Great video Kyle. Where did you get that little PC sync port cap on the RTS?
Thanks, Andrew. That one came with the camera. :)
I noticed my birthday present in 1964, Kodak instamatic 50 ;-)
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I still use the Yashica FX-3 with the Zeiss Planar 50/1.4 and a Tamron 24/2.5 and I absolutely love it! Just wish the 45/2.8 pancake would be cheaper, it's somehow more expensive than the 50/1.4 in UK!
Yeah, I think the 45 is one of those lenses that has risen in price over time. I wish it were cheaper as well.
@@KyleMcDougall just looking for a pancake lens setup that would be super pocketable but still have manual controls, the Minolta had an even flatter 40/2.5 pancake but it's hard to get. Nikon also had a very flat one but it's even more expensive. I was thinking of some rangefinders but I hate the lack of manual controls on most of the budget ones, and I don't want to pay 500 for a decent one.
I already have the Yashica FD-D. Don't think there's enough difference to bother with the Contax.
Kyle, what is considered full resolution on the 135 film ? Bc my scans are never as good as yours.
A platitude (that I can’t verify) is that 35mm film has a max resolution of around 4k
@@joshuafahy218 so pretty much a standard lab scan is the max for 35mm
Full resolution on the Coolscan 9000 (which is what I'm using), is 4000dpi. That roughly equals a 35mm scan that's around 5500px on the long edge.
@@joshuafahy218 A properly done scan will show the equivalent of about 24Mpx worth of resolution. Most scanners are mediocre unfortunately, so you won't always get the most out of your film.
Great video. Thanks for doing it. Think I might pick one up. Did you replace the leatherette on yours? Looks new. If so, where did you get it?
Cheers. And yeah, the camera was serviced before I bought it, and the original owner replaced the leather. Not sure where it was from though.
@@KyleMcDougall Hey Kyle, which battery did you use for the 139?
Hey Kyle! If you were to get an RTS, is there a particular model that you’d get? The 1,2, and 3 are the ones I’m seeing. I’ve only ever used rangefinders and really want to try a nice SLR.
Get the OG RTS and see if you like it. They aren't that much used compared to the RTS II and III.
@@tonymontiel3274 thank you! I’ll have to check them out.
Hey Morgan, I have the RTS 2, but also owned the original in the past. I'd probably buy whichever one I could find for the better price/condition. They handle identical. The RTS 3 is quite different.
I also have owned an original RTS. I really liked it. I also should never have sold it.
@@KyleMcDougall thanks Kyle! Appreciate the response!
where did you get that gold flash sync cap on your RTS??
It was standard with the RTS-II 50 Year Anniversary Model
Can you do a video on the Mamiya DSX 1000. Nobody really know about Mamiya 35mm cameras and that model is my personal favorite SLR just cause’ of the glass and that’s coming from someone who also has a Nikon F4s
I'll keep it in mind for the future. Don't know if I need another 35mm camera just yet!
hey man, would you do a review on mamiya nc1000s s35mm slr ?
Hey there, not really looking for another 35mm cam at the moment. But something I'll keep in mind for the future.
now i want one!
missed one of these that had a damn 1.4 in it too on facebook for $125! Should’ve pulled the trigger 🤦🏻
Dang. Would have been a nice score!
Love your Contax content Kyle. I too have a fondness for Contax Zeiss glass. I bought the 45mm about 2 months ago and have found it to be spectacularly sharp. I also shoot the 50 1.4 and 35 2.8. Keep doing what you do!
Thank you! Yeah, been very happy with the 45mm so far.
Great video! I recently picked up the 167mt which I love shooting with. I got the body plus a Zeiss 50mm 1.7 and a Yashica 28mm 2.8 for $400 AUD. The yashica lens performs really well compared to the Zeiss.
I've heard good things about some of the Yashica lenses. Apparently a few versions perform right up there with the Zeiss.
yes YES finally
Get the 50mm 1.7 planar it's a fabulous lens and inexpensive
Yep, it's a gem. I showed it in this video, maybe you missed it?
@@KyleMcDougall that's what I get for posting before watching the whole video. I used to get 'I can't believe that's not medium format' from the lab with this combo and Portra 160 20 years ago.
You realise that you will have to take up street photography now, as you have bought the early version of the 45mm Tessar, with the green marks on the aperture and focussing rings designed for use as snap marks in street photography!. My experience is that mirror slip is mainly on the later models, so you may be ok with the 139.
Don't think there will be any street photography in my near future! No issues with mirror slip yet, but the camera I bought was just fully serviced. So fingers crossed that I should be good for a while.
Embrace the expiration Kyle :) You got great results.
Thanks, Morris! It's growing on me, haha.
It's only a matter of time before we see that Contax 645 lol
Haha, don't think you'll ever be seeing that. I don't shoot enough 645 to justify spending that much money!
Pro Tip, the lenses are excellent. Among the best ever. The cameras have a problem history with age. Get you a Yashica better model backup which uses this lens system as insurance.
Just amazing stuff
Thank you!
The peeling and flaking leatherette is not a big problem. I solved it by buying a piece of nice, soft scrap leather of a matching color, cutting it into shape and glueing it on with clear silicone caulking. The result is easy on the eyes, feels very good in the hand and has lasted for almost 40 years, without showing any signs of wear. Contax should have just coated its cameras with real leather from the start, it would have given them a nice premium feel. Of course, if you're vegan or something, you may prefer to use cotton or some other fabric. If you're a steampunk kind of guy, you'll probably use brass.
When buying them, make sure the rubber stop is still present under the mirror. If it has deteriorated or fallen off, the mirror will be misaligned and the focus will be off. I have had to put electrical tape under the mirror to compensate on all of the contax cameras I've owned.
Contax and the MIRROR ISSUES. Jesus. I like the bodies and builds and obviously the glass, but I've owned two and both had mirror-slip issues. I guess the mirrors were attached with glue/adhesive, and it often breaks down over time allowing the mirror to slip down. Mine was causing my shutter to stick amongst other issues. Really problematic. You can use a blow dryer or heat gun to heat up the adhesive and move the mirror back up, then add a dab of super glue to make it stick, but I don't love that as a fix.
@@justinkingery2489 Yup. Never had reliable contax cameras focus-wise, haha
Good to know. Thanks for the heads up!
I saw this video and I immediately placed a bet on an ebay auction for a 139 + zeiss 50 1.7, that I won at a ridiculous price. I was barely strong enough to hold me after the XA video... Ok, maybe it's better if I unsubscribe from your channel :D
Great work as always!
Haha, hope you enjoy the 139!!
I love how small it is with the 45 f2.8… that being said. I ordered a 135 f2.8 for it that Im also excited to try out.
It’s such a small camera and it feels really well constructed.
I've wanted one if these for the longest time! I have too many SLRs but maybe I could sell a couple haha
So you bought 35mm, 45mm, and 50mm Zeiss Contax lenses? You basically have no spread in your focal range. I can see keeping the 45mm as being between the other two lenses, or even keeping both the 35 and the 50. But why all three of these? That could not have been cheap. It's not as silly to me as someone buying both a 50mm f/1.8 and 50mm f/1.4, but pretty silly, if I'm being honest.
Bought the 35 as it will be the most used. The 45 as I was curious to try it and it makes for a nice compact setup. The 50 was a pure impulse buy because there was an ebay auction ending with a very low price. I'll also use these for filmmaking as well.
Yashica FX-D is even cheaper version of 139.
I found the 45mm 2.8 mediocre. The 35mm 2.8 was far superior and very underrated in it's day. Never used the 50mm 1.7.
My experience with Contax cameras is bad, I have 3 , and 2 of them are full of problems
I still have my RTS, same as from your previous video that was handed down to you
Love the RTS!
Like for hating expired film 😉
I'm confused - I don't see a microphone in the frame but I can still hear him? Also, what kind of BS YT video is this - it only had 2 jump cuts!? And what's with all the b-roll that actually shows the feature of the camera he's talking about? It's like this Kyle guy actually has filmmaking skills or something. ;)
I can no longer afford one due to this video
That quick, eh.
delete this videeeeeoooooooooooooooo most people havent picked up on this line of SLRSSSSSSS