Re: [Leica] OT Contax impressions (N1 and others)

["Paul Arnold" <osprey@bmt.net>]

If you're going Contax SLR manual focus, how about the Aria? (Dan, will this
non-Leica discourse get quashed by other LUGers?).

- -- Paul Arnold


- ----- Original Message -----
From: "Dan Honemann" <danh@selectsa.com>
To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
Sent: Saturday, November 18, 2000 2:59 PM
Subject: [Leica] OT Contax impressions (N1 and others)


> Hey LUGnutz,
>
> It was Contax day at a local shop here in DC, so I got a chance to check
out
> the new N1 with the 24-85 lens.  I also checked out the 645 (and tried a
645
> lens on the N1--it works!), the older RTS III, and a Canon EOS 1v (just to
> have a basis for comparison).
>
> My impression of the Contax N1 was mostly favorable.  The finder is bright
> and provides enough eye relief that I could see all of it with my
> eyeglasses.  It's also mercifully uncluttered.  The N1 has five focus
> sensors and a very easy to use joystick on the back to select among them.
> It's lenses are similar to EOS USM lenses: very quiet, fast, lightweight,
> and capable of full time manual focusing for touching up.
>
> The N1 seems to weigh slightly more than the EOS 1v without booster.  It
> feels good in the hands, and the controls are all within easy reach.  I
> found it a bit awkward having the shutter speed dial on the wrong side of
> the body (from a Leica-centric perspective :), but otherwise all was easy
to
> use.
>
> I really liked the 645.  The MF lenses seem better built--have a more
solid
> feel, and a longer focus throw.  This is a very light-weight, easy to
handle
> MF camera.
>
> But my experience handling an R8 a few weeks ago has spoiled me for
anything
> else.  I'm discovering that perhaps I am just a manual focus kind of guy.
> My favorite Contax, lo and behold, was the RTS III: it has the weight and
> feel of a real camera.  The ground glass has more contrast and is easier
to
> focus manually--and the lenses feel _real_.  I don't know how else to put
> it.
>
> I was surprised, because I've handled a 1v before and really liked it.
This
> time, though, it felt like a toy.  And the Contax N1 only felt slightly
> better.
>
> So now I'm left wondering how I can possibly work out a budget that will
let
> me afford an R8 (not too bad) and a few R lenses (impossibly expensive,
even
> used).  Maybe I'll consider an RTS III despite knowing that the manual
focus
> contax glass is going to go the way of the old Canon mf lenses.  Then
> there's always the classic Nikon F3 (also now destined for the used store
> shelves) and AIS Nikkors.
>
> Dan
>