I recently picked up a mint in box ax with a 50 1.7, its a beast of a camera to use. The AF is spotty at times like some have stated, but ive learned to use it to gauge the exact focus, then just turn the focus ring as needed
DCor24 That’s the thing with this camera, you just have to find your groove with it, as you did, and once you do things usually work out fine. Thanks for sharing your experiences!
ACID SNOW Thanks so much for your comments! And sorry for the late reply, for some reason I did not get the notification even though it’s turned on. Thank you!
Contax's quirky engineering at it's most quirky, how can you not like a camera where it is handy to know the optical design of the lens in use in order to be able to focus it. Special treatment for lenses with floating elements and recommendations on how to autofocus a zoom based on how far the back is extended using a viewfinder bar. Even the cable release behaviour changes in different focussing modes. What is amazing is that at some point they didn't just stand back and look at it and realise it was a bad idea. Definitely not a user friendly camera. Apparently there is a design fault in the aperture follower at least I was told that by the repairer I use who tends to go pale every time I mention the AX, I expect that it gives him nightmares. Take the manual with you if you want to take a picture with one, you will need it.
Though I agree with everything you said, I think the best part was when you said that it was amazing they didn't at some point look at it and thought this is a bad idea...That was perfect!!
Sorry for the late reply, haven't been getting my notifications. I'd say you're right but the good thing is that the prices for the Contax/Yashica mount have stabilized somewhat from a few years ago so most of the popular lenses are still relatively "affordable." In other words they haven't inflated like the Leica lenses.
In my hay days I was shooting football games and sport alike I ran 2 Nikon F4s bodies work horses films were provided just bring home 1-2 front page worthy print I snapped away. Other that I never run empty!
1911geek Sorry I missed this! As a kid interested in my photography I always admired the images I saw from sports photographers using cameras like the F4s F5 or EOS-1 and film. And now living in a digital world where everything is easier I have even more respect for guys like you who got shot after killer shot in film. Thanks for your comments! 😎🙏🏻👍🏻
@@cameralegend1033 thanks for showing me a camera that has a moving film plane for autofocus, is truly the most interesting photographic thing I've seen in years!
Hi Felipe, no one has tried anything like moving the film plane before or afterwards so yes it was definitely an interesting camera! Thanks much for watching and appreciate your comments!
The shutter locked up on me! If you've ever read the blog, I always say I'm very fond of the Contax brand but at the same time I've blasted their electronics as being brittle and unreliable, prone to glitches. I thought it was the batteries so I put new batteries in and the camera started shooting normally for a few frames then all of a sudden the same thing again. The glitch on this video is the first time it ever happened to me! Thanks for asking.
Hi Eric sorry for the late reply. The AX needed repairs that were not economical and it would’ve been cheaper to buy another one so I sold it off. By the way sorry I missed your last comment too and if you really have all 9 Contax N lenses then you my friend are a Camera Legend! Hope all is well thanks.
@@cameralegend1033 No worries! I have always been curious about the CONTAX AX but can’t really justify buying one. Yeah, I have 8 out of the 9 lenses for the CONTAX N mount system. I just got lucky . I don’t have the 400mm lens. I’m just not using this focal length and the lenses are going for $2000 USD and up. They are rare. You may see one or two online for sale. Peace ☮️ ✌🏾
@@ejacks3 Hi Eric thanks for the update! If I had those lenses, I’d probably skip the 400mm too at current prices just because, like you, I don’t really ever use 400mm. The AX is a very interesting camera. I found the af unreliable but as a manual focus camera it rocks as one big, bulky ox! Cheers! 😎📸👍🏻
@Jack Wiegmann, his name was stated in Adorama and the world of photography. It wasn't that hard and I don't even live in USA. Well, have a Happy New Year & keep on shooting.
The AX design attempted to place latern image on a moveable plane in the of a ceramic film plate it failed. Years of research Zeiss did not allow motor moving parts inside lens they stay in the dark age Nikon and Canon Excel belt driven and gear driven motor parts got faster more accurate heck Minolta improve theirs also. Contax N1 lots of money $$$$ still. Ould not match
Teddy Stevens Yep those Zeiss lenses can be pricey! That’s why I only got the 50mm right now but it’s all I need! Enjoy your camera and thanks for your comments! 😎🙏🏻👍🏻
Why in gods name would you compare a "full frame" film SLR with a 4/3 olympus or even a film olympus. When one compares against other top notch film cameras the AX is not that bulky. Where the AX differs is in body thickness not in overall size. The body thickness increase is necessary to do the autofocus of manual lenses. Thickness accepted it isn't that much bigger than my canon a2e. I've never thought about the increase in thickness as some liability. Obviously if you want to go mountain hiking, you might want a lighter camera. The internal mechanism obviously also increases the weight. The other aspects of this camera are much more interesting.
Totally understand what you're saying but the reason I put it up against the OM-D is to show how huge it looks compared to a great small modern camera. I think I did mention either here or on my blog that compared to its contemporaries like the EOS 1 or F5 it was comparable. Yes I do understand they needed to make it larger to make room for the unique focusing unit.
One of the best cameras by ATG. ATG knews that the German could not make AF lenses. It was first under ATG then changes to AX. Only now Japan Zeiss makes AF lenses.
Jack Wiegmann, the son of Olympus' Genius; studied under Drs. Harold Edgerton, Thomas Polanyi, Edwin Land & Bob Wallace. If you have seen the famous "Mike drop", that was from Doc/Papa Flash & ATG. If you've used a Polariod camera, then ATG had something to do with it. I don't think much are available on ATG because many world famous artists/photographers are either very old /or have decreased like Ansel Adams, Yul Brynner, John Derek, Robert Frank, Chuck Rose, Andy Warhol. All have known ATG. When Dr. Land died, ATG & some close friends shredded, burnt most records & locked in classified locations. I was lucky to have met ATG when his father passed away. There was no internet at that time mind you.
angelisone who is Olympus's genius? and what's this guy's ACTUAL name? If he was as big as you say, wouldn't there at least be some info on him online?
I recently picked up a mint in box ax with a 50 1.7, its a beast of a camera to use. The AF is spotty at times like some have stated, but ive learned to use it to gauge the exact focus, then just turn the focus ring as needed
DCor24 That’s the thing with this camera, you just have to find your groove with it, as you did, and once you do things usually work out fine. Thanks for sharing your experiences!
People rave about the contax gs but this seriously is a beauty!
Thanks for sharing it with us!
It is great!
ACID SNOW Thanks so much for your comments! And sorry for the late reply, for some reason I did not get the notification even though it’s turned on. Thank you!
Contax's quirky engineering at it's most quirky, how can you not like a camera where it is handy to know the optical design of the lens in use in order to be able to focus it. Special treatment for lenses with floating elements and recommendations on how to autofocus a zoom based on how far the back is extended using a viewfinder bar. Even the cable release behaviour changes in different focussing modes. What is amazing is that at some point they didn't just stand back and look at it and realise it was a bad idea. Definitely not a user friendly camera. Apparently there is a design fault in the aperture follower at least I was told that by the repairer I use who tends to go pale every time I mention the AX, I expect that it gives him nightmares. Take the manual with you if you want to take a picture with one, you will need it.
Hi Paul thanks for the great commentary I couldn’t have said it better!! Agree with your comments!! 😎📸👍🏻
Though I agree with everything you said, I think the best part was when you said that it was amazing they didn't at some point look at it and thought this is a bad idea...That was perfect!!
You sound like the Drexel from the movie True Romance. Great review!
Alfredo Bustamante Haha lol never heard that before must be the New Yorker in me 😀 Thanks for your comments! 😎👍🏻
I'm only guessing, but I'd imagine that the lenses far outweigh the prices of the camera bodies now.
Sorry for the late reply, haven't been getting my notifications. I'd say you're right but the good thing is that the prices for the Contax/Yashica mount have stabilized somewhat from a few years ago so most of the popular lenses are still relatively "affordable." In other words they haven't inflated like the Leica lenses.
Considering the quirks of the camera, would it be possible to mount Minolta or FD lenses onto it?
That would have been a great thing but unfortunately I do not think Minolta or Canon FD lenses could be adapted to this camera.
In my hay days I was shooting football games and sport alike I ran 2 Nikon F4s bodies work horses films were provided just bring home 1-2 front page worthy print I snapped away. Other that I never run empty!
1911geek Sorry I missed this! As a kid interested in my photography I always admired the images I saw from sports photographers using cameras like the F4s F5 or EOS-1 and film. And now living in a digital world where everything is easier I have even more respect for guys like you who got shot after killer shot in film. Thanks for your comments! 😎🙏🏻👍🏻
THIS IS DAMN AMAZING JESUS
Thanks man!
@@cameralegend1033 thanks for showing me a camera that has a moving film plane for autofocus, is truly the most interesting photographic thing I've seen in years!
Hi Felipe, no one has tried anything like moving the film plane before or afterwards so yes it was definitely an interesting camera! Thanks much for watching and appreciate your comments!
What happened to the body at the end?
The shutter locked up on me! If you've ever read the blog, I always say I'm very fond of the Contax brand but at the same time I've blasted their electronics as being brittle and unreliable, prone to glitches. I thought it was the batteries so I put new batteries in and the camera started shooting normally for a few frames then all of a sudden the same thing again. The glitch on this video is the first time it ever happened to me! Thanks for asking.
Are you still using the Contax AX?
Hi Eric sorry for the late reply. The AX needed repairs that were not economical and it would’ve been cheaper to buy another one so I sold it off. By the way sorry I missed your last comment too and if you really have all 9 Contax N lenses then you my friend are a Camera Legend! Hope all is well thanks.
@@cameralegend1033 No worries! I have always been curious about the CONTAX AX but can’t really justify buying one.
Yeah, I have 8 out of the 9 lenses for the CONTAX N mount system. I just got lucky . I don’t have the 400mm lens. I’m just not using this focal length and the lenses are going for $2000 USD and up. They are rare. You may see one or two online for sale.
Peace ☮️ ✌🏾
@@ejacks3 Hi Eric thanks for the update! If I had those lenses, I’d probably skip the 400mm too at current prices just because, like you, I don’t really ever use 400mm. The AX is a very interesting camera. I found the af unreliable but as a manual focus camera it rocks as one big, bulky ox! Cheers! 😎📸👍🏻
I am not sure is this video clip more about of the ring on his point finger or about this great camera, the CONRAX RX.
@Jack Wiegmann, his name was stated in Adorama and the world of photography.
It wasn't that hard and I don't even live in USA.
Well, have a Happy New Year & keep on shooting.
Contax for ever…Tchuss,pierro 😊
Wait what??? It’s a 35mm, I thought it was a medium format camera before 🤣
9000tastebuds Good point! It’s HUGE it could easily have passed off as a medium format camera! Hope all is well bud nice to read your comments 😎🙏🏻👍🏻
Trigger happy click shutter on empty one day those curtains will fold over. I called fuzzy logic focus back then
Ha! You got that right! I only did it for the video but that was enough to kill the shutter on this camera.
The AX design attempted to place latern image on a moveable plane in the of a ceramic film plate it failed. Years of research Zeiss did not allow motor moving parts inside lens they stay in the dark age Nikon and Canon Excel belt driven and gear driven motor parts got faster more accurate heck Minolta improve theirs also. Contax N1 lots of money $$$$ still. Ould not match
Love mine just need some zeiss glass lol
Teddy Stevens Yep those Zeiss lenses can be pricey! That’s why I only got the 50mm right now but it’s all I need! Enjoy your camera and thanks for your comments! 😎🙏🏻👍🏻
The original Mamiya 7 focused by moving the film plane so the CONTAX AX is not unique in that regard.
Good point! The difference is that the CONTAX AX was attempting to autofocus manual lenses where the Mamiya 7 was purely manual focus.
Shotgun baby shotgun :o
Why in gods name would you compare a "full frame" film SLR with a 4/3 olympus or even a film olympus. When one compares against other top notch film cameras the AX is not that bulky. Where the AX differs is in body thickness not in overall size. The body thickness increase is necessary to do the autofocus of manual lenses. Thickness accepted it isn't that much bigger than my canon a2e. I've never thought about the increase in thickness as some liability. Obviously if you want to go mountain hiking, you might want a lighter camera. The internal mechanism obviously also increases the weight. The other aspects of this camera are much more interesting.
Totally understand what you're saying but the reason I put it up against the OM-D is to show how huge it looks compared to a great small modern camera. I think I did mention either here or on my blog that compared to its contemporaries like the EOS 1 or F5 it was comparable. Yes I do understand they needed to make it larger to make room for the unique focusing unit.
One of the best cameras by ATG.
ATG knews that the German could not make AF lenses. It was first under ATG then changes to AX.
Only now Japan Zeiss makes AF lenses.
angelisone what is ATG?
@Jack Wiegmann, camera guru, inventor & designer.
Rolleiflex 3003
Rolleiflex 6008
ATG Canon EOS-1V HSr (Canon EOS-1VHS)
Vivitar 285HV
Quantum QFlash T2
Sunpak 555
ATG Gold Metz 60CT-4r (Metz 60CT-4)
ATG Auto2
Canon AL
Just to name a few
angelisone what's the guys actual name? can't find any information online. can you link me?
Jack Wiegmann, the son of Olympus' Genius; studied under Drs. Harold Edgerton, Thomas Polanyi, Edwin Land & Bob Wallace.
If you have seen the famous "Mike drop", that was from Doc/Papa Flash & ATG.
If you've used a Polariod camera, then ATG had something to do with it.
I don't think much are available on ATG because many world famous artists/photographers are either very old /or have decreased like Ansel Adams, Yul Brynner, John Derek, Robert Frank, Chuck Rose, Andy Warhol. All have known ATG.
When Dr. Land died, ATG & some close friends shredded, burnt most records & locked in classified locations.
I was lucky to have met ATG when his father passed away.
There was no internet at that time mind you.
angelisone who is Olympus's genius? and what's this guy's ACTUAL name? If he was as big as you say, wouldn't there at least be some info on him online?
I want for the challenge i bet it can get good photos
It can, for sure yes!