Contax

The Contax RX

Contax RX
The most recently introduced SLR, the Contax RX provides Digital Focus Indicator to assist focusing operations, whilst still offering the superb quality of Carl Zeiss manual focus lenses. Alloy chassis, top and bottom plates ensure maximum durability.
A wide range of exposure options plus supreme accuracy ensure that the highest standards of photography can be attained. This is the camera about which William Cheung, editor of Practical Photography, said, "...I'm impressed, so much so that I'm sorely tempted to phone the bank manager right now."

RX

"The Contax RX, a stepping stone between autofocus convenience
and manual focus performance - the full story."

After just a year on the market, the Contax RX has become the top selling SLR camera in the Contax range, proving that there is a special demand for its unique blend of manual focusing with automatic confirmation.

The SLR market has shown that while photographers may need help with focusing because of eyesight problems - it's a fact that once over 40, most peoples eyesight deteriorates - the most discerning have been unwilling to accept autofocus products, because of the occasional mis-focus that occurs with even the very best designed systems.

The Contax RX is a fully manual focusing camera, but includes an innovative Digital Focus Indicator, the scale of which can be used to assess whether a particular point in the subject field is exactly focused on, the difference between the exact focus point and any part of the subject, or the position of a subject within the depth of field that will be achieved.

One of the reasons that the system will give better results optically, compared to focusing methods that employ autofocus lenses, because the interchangeable Carl Zeiss lenses in the Contax range are engineered to finer tolerances than those currently attainable with autofocus lenses.

Recognising that many of the photographers attracted to the Contax RX will have an appreciation of traditional camera design technology, the control switches are provided in a format that is quickly recognisable and manageable. Large knobs and switches are used wherever possible, in preference to buttons, so that shutter speeds, exposure compensation, drive modes and metering can be conveniently selected.

The body is extremely strong, having a copper/silumin alloy chassis with brass alloy top and bottom covers - designed to stand up to the rigours of professional use.

Among the unique features is a programmable Custom Function, which allows you to select up to 20 preferences in the way the Contax RX works for you. For example, should you be taking macro shots and wish to check depth of field frequently, without the risk of moving the camera when you touch it, you can lock the aperture closed. Other modes that can be programmed by Custom Function include the viewfinder focusing display, auto-exposure lock method, auto bracketing exposure and film rewind preferences.

As you would expect from a camera in this price range, the technical specification is comprehensive, with a range of exposure modes, metering options, drive modes and many other features to ease the photographer's burden.

Metering is a choice between centre weighted or 5 degree spot, with TTL direct flash measurement. The high performance SPD package uses a precision aspherical lens to give maximum coverage and minimal light reading error.

Auto exposure setting allows for aperture or shutter speed preferences as well as program and fully metered manual, while the viewfinder gives full exposure and metering information. The illumination level of the viewfinder data panel changes according to the ambient light level, so that it is always easy to read.

Contax has established auto-bracketing as a feature found in all its electronic SLR cameras, including the RX, with a choice of a half or full stop variance between three consecutive exposures, to ensure acceptable exposures in the most difficult lighting circumstances.

Another interesting feature of some Contax SLRs, again including the RX, is the integrated data back which prints date and/or time between the film frames, making filing and identification of films easy, without spoiling the photograph.

Over 30 optics are available for the Contax SLR range, all manufactured by Carl Zeiss to legendary standards of quality and all fitting every SLR in the range. While some may seem expensive, a larger number of photographers than you might expect are prepared to make the investment in such quality. In fact, the lens system is for some photographers the key reason for choosing a Contax SLR.

The Contax RX sells for around £1440 complete with Carl Zeiss Planar T* 50mm f/1.7 lens and is available from a network of selected Specialist Dealers.

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