Contax RTS III

The Contax RTS III is the top of the line Contax SLR camera body. It is also long in the tooth, having come out in 1990. The III's age is evident in some missing feautures that other newer SLR's (including the Contax RX and AX) have, such as custom functions and comprehensive flash - camera communication. However, for certain purposes, the RTS III is an excellent camera, with features that no other camera has. Not everyone wants these feautures, and many photographers want feaures such as autofocusing, that the RTS III lacks.

First, lets look at the the unique feature that the RTS III has - a feature touted by Contax and disregarded my most commentators. This facinating feature is the the RTV (Real Time Vacuum) system. Kyocera decided that it should develop a system to hold the film as flat as possible. In order to accomplish this, Kyocera engineers determined that it would be necesary to use a vacuum system to suck the film to the pressure plate. This is accomplished by using a elcro-magnetic rubber suction diaphram that looks very much like a small loud speaker placed behind the pressure plate. The pressure plate has three vertical slits, each of which has a small hole. The small holes extend through the pressure plate. When activated, the RTV diaphram creates a vacuum, sucking air through the three small holes. This sucks the film to the pressure plate along the three slits. Kyocera was able to accomplish the RTV system and still allow the camera to have a high 5 fps motor speed.

The system works and seems to work reliably. The question is whether it makes a difference in the quality of photographs. After doing some of my own research and reading various comments from other sources, the answer seems to be that there is a barely detectable difference under precise test conditions, but that it makes no practical difference in the great majority of photographs. If there is a difference, it is primarily for telephoto lenses at very wide apertures, where the depth of focus is very small. Nevertheless, it is an interesting system.

Supporting the RTV system is a very flat pressure plate made of a black ceramic material. Kyocera is an industry leader in ceramic technology and the tie to their ceramics group seems to have resulted in a good stroke of synergy.

The RTS III does not need to rely on the RTV system to justify its existance. Earning its top spot in the Contax line is really more a function of quality and feel rather than feautures. The camera is heavy and operates with the smoothness, precision and feel that brings a feeling of satisfaction. Features will not sell many of these cameras. A Canon Elan II e (let alone a 1n or and F5) can chaulk up a list of features that blow the RTS III away, but few cameras can claim the ultra solid feel and precision of the RTS III.

There is one feature that does claim a rather distinct and useful position. The RTS employs pre- flash TTL spot metering. While other cameras and dedicated flash units use a pre-flash system, the way that the RTS III's system works is unique. By turning a small lever on the top right of the camera, the camera stops down the lens and fires a short pre-flash. The metering is done by a dedicated TTL spot meter with a 5mm diameter (shown in the viewfinder) reading the light. The result is registered and locked in memory. The viewfinder contains a display that shows if the exposure is correct. It also shows if the required illumination is beyond the capability of the flash unit. The over or under exposure is displayed up to a maximum of plus or minus two stops on a bar graph. Noting the displayed information, the photographer can adjust the exposre if desired. As long as the pre-flash lever is on, the camera will signal the same level of flash duration. This can result in very accurate flash exposure for the deliberate photographer. It is less automatic and more accurate than the E-TTL pre-flash system of Canon (which I also like). Direct traditional TTL flash metering using a centerweighted metering pattern is also available.

The RTS III controls are virtually all electronic, reporting to two micro processors which rely on mostly digital rather than analog data. The controls themselves, however, are mostly traditional knobs and levers. The very small LCD display on the top panel only shows a limited amount of information including the number of exposures and a low battery indicator.

The information in the viewfinder is as comprehensive as any SLR. The information is displayed using white numerals on a blue background under and to the right of the viewing area. To the right, the LCD display shows the range of shutter speeds available (from 4 seconds to 1/8000) plus over and under indicators. Along the bottom is an array of information including shutter speed, film counter, pre-flash information, flash status, aperture, exposure mode, exposure compensation warning and metering mode. What else do you want?

Well, some want displayed information that is easier to see in bright sun. I don't have this problem, but others have commented on it. It you want to use this camera for extensive field work, your might check this for yourself before you buy one.

Shutter speeds range from 32 seconds to 1/8000 in Av mode and can be set manually from 4 seconds to 1/8000 using the wonderfully smooth shutter speed dial on the top left of the camera. Surrounding this is the exposure mode lever. These modes are limited to Av, Tv, M and B. There is no program mode, although in Tv mode, if there is not enough light, the camera will automatically change the shutter speed to match the available light. It seems that Kyocera deliberately omitted a program mode, since it would have been a simple task to put one in. This might have been an (unnecessary) effort to further show that this is no camera for the non- serious photographer.

The exposure compensation dial can adjust the compensation plus or minus two stops in 1/3 stop increments. This dial is surrounded by the auto bracketing conrtol - plus or minus .5 or 1 stop increments. There is no custom function to determine the order of the bracketed exposures. On the RTS III the order is normal, over, under. You also don't get automatic film rewinding - the rewind level must be pressed at the end of the role to activate rewind. Likewise, the film tail is left out upon rewinding - no choice to have it wound all the way in. Such custom functions are available in the newer RX and AX.

The mode dial allows single frame shooting or continuous shooting at 3 or 5 fpm, as well as self timer modes for 2 and 10 seconds. There is an electronically operated depth of field button surrounded by the lever that selects either 3mm spot metering or center weighted metering. There is very definitely no matrix, computer controlled, razmo dazzle metering system. The Kyocera brochure makes it clear that they consider such a metering system to be stuff for the masses.

The main shutter release has a delightful feel. It is surrounded by an AE lock switch and shutter lock. There is another lockable shutter release for vertical shots, but its usefulness is questionable. There is a data back for date information printed between the frames. There is also a true (mechanical) mirror lock up lever - a rare thing these days.

The viewfinder is bright and big. It has 100% coverage and still manages to be quite good for me when I use my eyeglasses. The reason --- a very large pentaprism that accounts for some of the heft of this camera. There is a dioptric control knob that allows adjustment from plus 1D to minus 3D. Optional diopter lenses allow this to be extended in either direction.

Power for all this is provided by the user's choice of six AA batteries or one 2CR5 lithium battery. The 2CR5 is lighter but results in a maximum advance rate of 3 frames per second.

So why would someone buy this camera? I wondered that myself for quite a while. When I started a Contax SLR system, I first purchased an RX and AX. Both of these more modern bodies offer more features, cost less, weigh less and are almost as solidly built. That last phrase is the key to this camera. They are "almost" as solid. The RTS III is a rock. Frankly, for most purposes the AX or RX are better cameras, even disregarding the cost difference. I bought an RTS III simply because it is the most solid camera I have ever used - it is that simply.