Sadly I don't believe the Contax T2, T3 or even G1 or G2 are as good as the hype that follows them around, having owned and repaired a number of these cameras there are 3 distinct issues that plague the T2 and T3, the first is how easily the auto focus slips, and needs to be re-calibrated to infinity, most people that own them aren't aware of the issue until its too late. The second is the auto film rewind issue where the camera misses the fact that you have finished a roll of film and doesn't rewind - this is an issue with an electrical relay that is connected to the film advance module, and lastly the issue of the front lens door getting stuck partially or fully. And the last issue requires a major tear-down to replace either the spring and or the plastic gear, or both. As far as legendary lens, I'd say the only thing Carl Zeiss about the glass in the Contax T2 and T3 is the T* coating, the glass for the lens and 90% of the components were farmed out to Cosina to be manufactured on behalf of Kyocera, who also happen to own Yashica, and the lenses in the Yashica T2 T3 T4 are almost the same as those found in the Contax T2 T3 save for the Carl Zeiss T* coating. All in all I'd be less worried about the electronics bricking up in your camera, unless you live out on the coast and use the camera near salt water, the salt from the sea gets into the air, and the camera is susceptible to sodium oxide corrosion that hampers the electronics from functioning, due in part from the faulty wiring shorts that happen as a result of the sodium corrosion.
Wow good to know, lots of really great in-depth knowledge here; thank you Clarhett! DO you have any recommendations for "fail proofing" the T2s or any reputable place to send them in for checkup/repair?
I've owned a T2 for over 20 years (second one). The price is justified because it's a collectible now, not just a "camera" and, every now and then it spits out an amazing photo that few cameras can match. But it can be frustrating-especially the missed focus.
Answer to title question: Yes, the T2 is much overrated. I've owned a T2 for more than 20 years. It's my only P-n-S camera. When I bought it, I also bought a Nikon 35Ti to try both and keep one. The lens on the Nikon is a bit sharper overall, but the difference is trivial. The T2 is far more ergonomic, whereas the 35Ti is a cluttered mess and can be hard to use if you actually have to read the watch-dial display. A video correction of a mistake commonly stated in YT videos. The maximum aperture of 2.8 is commonly available. If used in P (program) mode, the camera always sets the lens to 2.8 until the light is so bright that the fastest shutter speed is insufficient to make the exposure. When set in aperture preferred mode, you cannot directly set 2.8, as to do so activates the flash. However, in the rare need, you can just let the flash fire. Contra the video, it is quite weak compared to other similar cameras. Also, if you are using in aperture priority, you are probably not using 2.8 anyway. Finally, the lens is at its worst performance at 2.8, so there should be no preference for its use in most cases. As to price point versus photographic benefit, the T2 is so far off the scale that it's hardly worth discussing. Being a Nikon guy, I'll just say the a Nikon FG body with a pancake 50mm 1.8, or a 35mm 2.0, will optically and ergonomically kick the living crap out of a T2. It's somewhat larger, not that much heavier, and can be have for less than $125, or about one-tenth of a T2. So the T2 is 1/10th photography and 9/10ths social jewelry. (Additional correction: the lens may be labelled "Zeiss" and it is a Zeiss design, but it was first made for the earlier Contax T manual camera, reused in the T2, and made by Kyocera, i.e., Japan Contax, not Zeiss.) If you want a fully automatic and optionally manual point-n-shoot camera for a high price, buy the Konica Hexar AF: a little bigger and bulkier, but a better lens, a faster lens, and a feature set which is unequally by anyone else; it is about 75% the price of a T2.
I've accumulated quite a few point and shoots over the last few years and the T2 being one of them. I will say it is a notch above other point and shoots in terms of image quality (both sharpness and color rendering). But are the somewhat better shooting attributes worth the intense price increase? To put simply, no its probably not. If you are dead set on having the best possible shooting kit on a compact auto camera then its worth it. But you can get away with a Autoboy Luna 105s and it will strongly compete with the T2 in terms of image quality. The T2 being titanium still feels delicate in a way and I find myself going for my yashica T4 for weekend photo walks before my T2 because of that alone. But that being said if I was planning a photo trip to a bucket list location, without a doubt I'm going for the T2 because that increase in image quality (although not a major increase) is welcomed on a very important venture where I'm going for the best possible result. But even then you will find that a slr with a decent lens will match or surpass any point n shoot, including the T2.
I own the T3 . I agree with your review and enjoyed it very much. I don't understand why this camera is not released again. Surely someone understands the demand is there.
@@metalfingersfilm I honestly don't understand. Demand for these cameras has never been higher. They could make a killing even at around 1700.00 USD. I would buy two.
Okay, I'll tell you why the Contax models are not being reissued, and why they are not going to be reissued in the future. In the late 1980s, the company making cameras under the Yashica name went bankrupt. Kyocera bought the carcass of Yashica with the idea of getting into the camera making business, making and selling high quality cameras at relatively high prices. Kyocera also licensed the use of the tradename "Contax" from Zeiss and made a technical deal for Zeiss to aid in lens making lenses. Kyocera is a conglomerate, like GE or Rayathon - they make a wide variety of products under a large number of company names. In Japan, one of the things they are best known for is cutlery. In the early 2000s, Kyocera looked at the camera industry and faced a decision to go into digital products or not. The decision was "not", so they decided to get out of the camera business. They closed the camera factory they had bought from Yashica and liquidated their entire manufacturing capacity, even though their Contax 645 was the most advanced camera of its type, and the most expensive, leaving it somewhat short of fully debugged. They deal in a minimum volume of sales and profits. Even if they didn't have to fully rebuild a factory capacity, there is not a potential market for $1,500 point-n-shoots, or $2,000 auto- SLRs, or $6,000 645 cameras large enough to justify risking their capital in what for them would be a "small potatoes" operation.
I like the first Contax T much more ! But I have the Leica Minilux which have the best ever Lens on a analog compact Camera, I also have the Minox 35 ML which may be the best candid "street" Photography analog Camera you can get and the Lens are very good ! Prices of the Contax are too hyped !!! I can highly recommend the Minilux and the Minox ! Olympus XA are also a good Camera.
For the price of US$1000~1500 used, of course it is over-priced. The camera is a joy to use, compact and fun, but I would only pay perhaps US$400~500 for it. Otherwise I'd just get the GR1, which has a 28mm f/2.8 which is more suitable for street photography.
hi i’ve purchased a contax t2 and it isn’t here yet it’s been rigorously thoroughly tested for functionality however i’m worried what if there are light leaks etc or some problem if i develop film with it is it possible if a camera is fully 100% functional and been tested for integrity but it could be faulty while developing film?
Insanely overrated. It’s a point and shoot with almost zero manual control. Yes the lens is absolutely great but you can get the same lens in other cameras for 1/2 the price. Why anyone would spend more than $100 on a point and shoot us beyond me. For the price of a T2 you can buy a mint f100 with a prime lens and about 50 rolls of portra. I know apples to oranges comparing an SLR to a P&S. I hate everything about what this camera means.
Yeah it’s overrated, it’s a good ass point and shoot but if you buy it you know you got it for the hype. I owned one sold it after three rolls. Just didn’t ever want to use it because if it’s value. Also the picture were great but not 1000 great.
This makes a good point rarely mentioned. The idea of having a P-n-S camera is to have it lying around to be ready to go for casual use. If you pay $1,200 for a T2, it's not lying around in the open for any clod to pick up, and before you grab it and go, you stop and think a couple of times whether it will be safe. I paid $400 for my "like new" T2, and now that I could sell it for $1,000+, it is not going to ride in a junk bin in my SUV. Similarly, in 1982, I bought a Rollei 35S because they had been discontinued. I was send a "Silver Anniversary" version rather than what I ordered because that was all that was left. As it happened, the Japanese collectibles market went ape-shit for that particular model, and its market value tripled. I took it on a trip, and I packed it away so tight that the case zipper put a tiny dent in the top plate. I was so mortified that I sold it to a Japanese dealer at a swap meet that year, for 250% of what I paid new, dent and all. I was afraid to keep it for fear it would get further injured. (By the way, the Silver Anniversary Rollei 35S is without question, the ugliest version of the camera ever sold.)
Im gonna say. Buy a TVS instead. It’s cheaper than any used T2. You still get the experience of owning a Contax “T” model. Its still a Zeiss lens and is regarded as the best zoom point and shoot. Wait…… dont listen to me and I didnt endorse the TVS. I dont want peeps to start driving the price up. I got mine in unused condition for $700. All accessories included. However if you still want that 38mm Sonnar lens….. buy a T rangefinder…. Wait no…. Just buy the T2 and stay there. LOL
I Got both a TVS ii and a Contax 137MD quartz in unused condition with a 28-85 F3.3-4 Zeiss lens for 300$ total last week. Yahoo Japan auctions for those wondering
