This will be a very simply review because this is a simple and basic camera.
Its appeal is limited to those who are looking for a small, solid, mechanical
camera for use with Zeiss lenses. This is not to imply that it is an unworthy or
undesirable camera - for some (including me), it has wonderful appeal. Its
features are limited and the quality is generally high, with a couple of minor,
curious exceptions. The price is also high. For those seeking automation of any
kind, you can stop reading now and look elsewhere. This camera has no automation.
That fact that it has a light meter is almost surprising. No DX film reading, no
shutter priority exposure, no motor advance. It's all up to the photographer.
The S2 is a titanium bodied SLR that reminds one somewhat of a Pentax or
Olympus of days gone by. It is about the same size and has a similar feel. The S2
has a spot meter. The S2b differs from the S2 because it has a center weighted
meter instead of a spot meter and because it has a glossy charcoal grey finish
(Contax calls this black, but it is not close to black).
Although this camera has no automatic features, it is an advanced basic
camera. That is to say, the features that it does have are engineered with good
modern technology. The shutter for example is a mechanical metal vertical focal
plan shutter that is probably about as accurate and fast as one can presently
make a mechanical shutter. It is not as accurate, nor as fast, as an electronic
shutter, but it does its job wihout battery power.
It does have basic features that serve well. Shutter speeds vary from one
second to 1/4000. Flash synch is at a relatively fast 1/250, but there is no TTL
flash control. There is a mechanical 10-second self timer. There is also a
depth-of-field preview button, but no mirror lock-up. The viewfinder is good but
since the pentaprism is not as large as its big brothers, the image area is only
about 95% of the actual picture area. All shutter speeds are displayed vertically
along the right side of the finder area. When the meter is activated, the
recommended shutter speed lights. The shutter speed that you've set blinks. The
system works well.
In my experience, the meters in both cameras appear to be well designed and
give accurate exposures, perhaps with a slight tendency to underexpose. This is
in general keeping with Contax's philosophy that it is better to error on the
side of underexposure than to risk overexposure. It is unfortunate and curious
that Contax chose to put the separate metering systrems in two different cameras.
Why not put both a spot meter and center weighted meter in one camera? Did the
marketeers determine this or was there some engineering limitation? Whatever the
reason, unless you want to purchase both, you will have to choose one or the
other.
Most of the controls are well placed. Howver, this is a small camera so there
is simply not the room that big fingers might wish to have. For example, the area
around the shutter speed selector knob is a little tight. For me this is not a
problem, but for some it could be an issue. The film wind knob is not ratcheted -
it is one single stoke. The smallest control is the little lever for multiple
exposures, for which you really need to use your fingernail.
The feel of the camera is very solid. The controls are smooth and the knobs
require just the right amount of force to move. The shutter release is pleasant,
but the force of the mirror return seems excessive. Curiously, the depth-of-field
plunger button is made of plastic instead of metal. But the body itself is well
finished (for both models). The top and bottom plates are titanium in both The
center body panels are covered with a beatiful and easy to grip textured material
that looks like leather (much nicer than the smooth material used on the RTS III,
AX and RX).
That's about all there is. Simple and basic. Oh yes, the price. As of January
1998, about $1050 for chrome/spot-meter, $1150 for grey/center-weighted-meter
from the retailers in
the photo.net
list.
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