The Contax T2 is one of those cult cameras that are untouchable. Alan Pang from Hong Kong shares his opinion of this great film camera.
I must first admit that started shooting film just because it’s a trend! A shame I know but I felt the need to know about it and to celebrate what started it all in photography. I still can’t believe some of these analogue cameras can operate without battery!
Why the Contax T2?
I wanted a more reliable film compact that has a shorter focal length. My Lomo LCA+ was just too unreliable when used it as primary. It skips frame, sticky shutter. Other than the T2, I also considered the Fujifilm Klasse series.
Mario Testino used to use it. And even more so I remember a girl was using one at the Lomography store. T2 is just sexy on girls!
Contax T2 Impressions
The Contax T2 has been one of those gems that everyone can go crazy about. A mint condition one goes about USD $400 or even cheaper if you have the right contact. I love the champagne gold version and it’s the cheapest among the rest of colors. My first impression of this camera was “heavy”. It’s a lot heavier than I’d have thought initially when everyone described it as a “compact”.
The reason I point this out is that, when you’re doing a long trip, it dramatically adds tiredness to your hand. Other would put it as a sleek, solid, reliable, silent, quick, fuzz-free, and lots of other praising words which I would not disagree after handling a few analogue cameras from 60-80s.
A ‘full package’ is how I’d put it as for the T2. It’s an aperture-priority camera with a somewhat reliable autofocus, built-in flash, EV compensation, auto film winding/advancing, DX ready. Basically with all these automation, there’s very little can go wrong when shooting with it. All the buttons, dials and indications locate the top plate.
The T2 comes from the last analogue era. For a guy like me who was born during this era and knew so little about it, I get to re-appreciate and re-live the experience again.
T2 Usability
The mode dial acts as the on/off switch and allows choosing between AF and MF. I only shoot with MF, it’s my personal preference which is the most accurate and quickest way to measure distance. Through the viewfinder, you can see left/right arrows and a dot to show if focus subject is in focus.
It’s much like what you’d find on a rangefinder camera. I found the dial wheel is a little too smooth when in MF, and a slight bump to your body would change the focus distance. It’d become my habit to check the distance whenever I take a shot.
The 38mm lens was popular in the 70s. It’s not a surprise the aperture can only go f2.8 since this is a compact with such tiny optics. Other praised about it’s a Zeiss and the quality behind it. Yes and no. I’m sure it’s in a very high quality but it failed to surprise me on the end image.
I’ve photographed with a Konica C35 FD during the Occupy Central. It was not wide enough on may shots. A 38mm is already very different from a 36mm, the Leica X2 I shoot a lot with these days. With the difference only 2mm, I found myself having hard time framing architectures. I guess it just multiplies with distance.
The viewfinder is one huge grey area to me. It’s bright and huge, and maybe the magnification is a little too much; especially to someone who wears glasses. My nose is not tall and big. Time and time again, I found my photos developed not perfectly straight or aligned. It’s quite a concern to me.
There’s also parallax. Normally it’s not a problem to me on my other cameras with external OVF such as Leica X2 and Lomo LCA+. I can live with the top/bottom framing adjustment, but left and right is a bit of a guessing game especially when you’re on the run. You’ll miss what’s a perfect center.
The shutter sound was completely silent but the film advancing sound goes crazy with these kind of camera. It kind of kills the idea of being silent with the shutter. I can live with it. Another major problem I realized later until my trip to Guangzhou-China (all images above), was the camera shake.
With a camera this solid and weights in your hand, I swear I never expect a camera shake with it. (I can shoot hand held with 1/15 without leaning on anything for a steady shot on my other go-to cameras!) So what the heck is wrong?
I investigated what gives the motion to the shake. I realized a few things. The grip – it’s awkward. It’s just off-balance when you hold it either with both hands or not. The shutter release (button) position – It’s so toward the right end too.
It’s just not comfortable and secure. The absence of tactile feedback and mechanical sound – I cannot feel or hear if the shutter closes. I can heard all the shutter opens and closes on all other cameras, even on my Ricoh GRD IV and Leica X2. It’s the nature of a camera.
To avoid the shake besides hold it with both hands, you have to know the light/exposure and shutter speed it selects very well. This brings me to another aspect – the shutter speed. Its maximum is ONLY 1/500. I think it’s a standard to many compacts. But to my concern, the T2 is considered the premium model. I would have expected at least 1/1000. I cannot imagine how busy I can get to operate my X2 if I’m not allowed to use 1/1000 and 1/2000.
The exposure is absolutely spot on. One huge thumbs up. The EV compensation offers you not only control when needed such as heavy backlighting, it also allow pushing/pulling film.
Onto the weight, don’t let the numbers below fool you. I weighted my commonly used cameras with a coffee scale.
Contax T2: 348g (w/ stock nylon hand strap, film, battery)
Leica X2: 383g (w/ OVF attachment, leather hand strap, battery, without the lens cover)
My assumption is the lug mount and leather strap takes away the weight on the entire camera, making the X2 feels so much lighter and to not worry about getting it bumped. Sadly the T2 does not have a lug mount. It’s like a brick in your hand. Small details like these have put heavy influence to how I’d be liking a camera.
The Missing Element
I found the images from the T2 are too perfect in a way. Not quite exactly what I intended sometimes, I expect something more lo-fi. T2 does remind me of the results coming from a digital camera. Even at some point, I asked myself again why film not digital.
Neither I have a darkroom for my own film development, nor I enlarge them into real prints. I guess it’s a common question, we need to have our answers.
I think it’s more fun to play with a camera that actually requires you to advance/wind film manually, set the actual ASA, and a mechanical shutter release.
An Alternative
Like all things in life if you somehow developed a bond with it, you’re just going to love it no matter what. The T2 is there for you to love when you’re able to harness its strength and turn into your photography. The design and craftsmanship is so serious that making our digital cameras these days look like a joke.
Great review Alan, I love the images, yet its a bit of a shame that you have such mixed feelings about the T2, to me, I used to love my T2 DEARLY. In fact, for the past 4 years I’ve been only looking for something ‘similar’ as a digital version. The T2, was my favorite compact of all my film compacts (never used a film GR, but I do use a digital GR which i love, but cant compare to the t2), perhaps I could even stretch it as probably my top 2 or 3 of favorite cameras of all times.
anyhow, keep up the great work, and again, loving the images you got out of the camera.
Hello Chris! As much as I’ve made a few comments on the T2, my daily messenger bag is still carrying it.
I don’t think I can go beyond a compact. Rangefinder in Hong Kong is a showy toy catches attention make me uncomfortable to even just walk around without raising for a shot. I like the SLR, but the question is how often would I use it when I work 9-5.
I still you’d been loving your GR digital. In my opinion, I don’t think film/digital matter too much when the world is all about connectivity. It’s just too easy to look at a photo when a photo is just buttons away. I’ve raise the question in this review, are we actually digging the analogue cameras or just the romance over nostalgia.
Thanks for your kind words as always and have fun shooting in the sunny NZ.
This was truly helpful for me but one thing that I want to ask is what b&w film did you use??
That looks like Ilford Delta 100.
Your negative comment re shutter speed “limited” to 1/500 second is uninformed. There has never been made a mechanical leaf shutter which accurately operates at 1/1000 or faster. (Konica once made a camera mounting a leaf shutter claiming 1/2000 – a complete failure.) There are one or two leaf shutters which go to 1/700 when a small aperture is used so the shutter only partly opens.
Part of the fun is developing yr film and, more in particular, printing. Yes, you can scan the negatives. If you are looking for the experience of analog, you will need a bit more than just making photos, asking yourself why the shutter speed is limited to 1/500 only. Says some1 who, being a student in the 70s, built and rebuilt his darkroom numerous times.
It’s perfect time to make some plans for the future and it’s time to be happy. I’ve read this post and if I could I wish to suggest you some interesting things or advice. Maybe you could write next articles referring to this article. I wish to read more things about it!|
Excuse, I can help nothing. But it is assured, that you will find the correct decision.
https://1xbetnplogin.com/
https://1xbetlklogin.com/
https://1xbetvnlogin.com/
https://www.gametracker.com/clan/Dynamickillercs/forum.php?thread=200741
https://dissertation-now.com/biographies/
https://dissertation-now.com/essayassist-com/
https://chelseafansclub.com/roscargr
https://www.startus.cc/people/sterling_smith
buy phone number for telegram>
аренда катера в турции
boot kroatien mieten
https://www.hostboard.com/forums/members/palmacares.html
anabolic androgenic steroids
References:
anabolic steroids for body building (git.hulimes.Com)
will steroids burn fat
References:
Steroidscheap.Com Reviews (Gitea.My-Intrudair.Com)
where to buy anavar online
References:
human growth hormones steroids – Dating.hyesearch.com,
biggest steroid bodybuilder
References:
slowdating.ca
You commit an error. I can defend the position. Write to me in PM, we will talk.
——
купить виртуальный номер телефона юар https://continent-telecom.com/virtual-number-south-africa для звоноков, смс
One of the extra mysterious side effects that only some users have reported is an onset or
enhance in anxiety. I say mysterious as a result of
we don’t know what causes it, although some other AAS also
can induce anxiousness and related emotions. Adding Anavar to the ultimate weeks of this cycle will supercharge the already unbelievable vascularity you get
with EQ by itself. You’ll be drier, leaner, and extra defined than a regular EQ/Test cycle.
If you had been taking steroids to treat an sickness, these signs might come again, too.
Their performance- and muscle-boosting powers have led to widespread misuse and abuse.
The two major types are corticosteroids and
anabolic-androgenic steroids (or anabolics for short).
They are identified for their balanced risk-benefit profiles,
making them a few of the best steroid with least side effects.
Bodybuilders and weight lifters are not the one athletes
to suppose that anabolic steroid use is their street to success.
This classification indicates that anabolic steroids
have a average to low potential for bodily and psychological dependence in comparability with substances like opioids or
stimulants. Ya Clomid is just about a must have for ALL PFT’s no matter what you’re using.
I probably stuntded my height, I’m 5’9″ and hate it and want I was even 1 or 2 inches taller which I probably could be had I waited to
make use of gear till my mid 20’s.
These abbreviations stand for alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate
aminotransferase (AST). Acute damage to the liver can be detected by an increase within the ALT enzyme; nevertheless, if harm to the
liver results in further deterioration of other organs, this may be highlighted by a spike
in AST. Thus, the liver will almost actually turn out to be damaged throughout a cycle of Dianabol.
Some bodybuilders who see us have taken highly effective diuretics, similar to Lasix (furosemide), and anti-estrogens/aromatase inhibitors, similar to Nolvadex or Arimidex (anastrozole), to fight fluid retention on Dianabol.
This is why bodybuilders eat copious quantities of protein in an attempt to shift this nitrogen stability right into a optimistic state for
so lengthy as potential.
However it’s normally found in smaller quantities, the place
it’s used to keep bones strong and sexual perform healthy.
From the steroid scandals that plagued major league baseball to the jokes that surround steroid side effects among weightlifters and bodybuilders, utilizing steroids doesn’t get pleasure from a
good reputation. It is difficult to estimate the
prevalence of steroid misuse in the Usa as a outcome of many nationwide
surveys that ask about drug use do not embrace
questions about steroids. Nonetheless, knowledge on steroid
misuse amongst younger college students are available from the NIDA-supported Monitoring the
Future Survey. TRT is simply protected for individuals with clinically
low testosterone levels. This is because coming off the drug suddenly may end up
in a variety of withdrawal symptoms, including depression, anxiousness,
headaches, insomnia, anorexia, excessive tiredness, decreased sex drive,
and muscle and joint ache.
In contrast, customers who inject 30 mg of Dianabol will experience the full dose.
Some folks in bodybuilding consider that roid rage
is a fable; however, research reveals that 60% of steroid
users experience a rise in aggressive habits (28).
SERMs are able to restoring testosterone ranges post-steroids, with tamoxifen and clomiphene being the most effective choices in our expertise.
One of the principle equipoise steroid benefits is its capability to help you pack on critical muscle mass.
When contemplating eq cycle choices, it’s necessary to recollect the eq steroid pros and cons.
While the benefits of Equipoise are numerous, it’s essential to handle Equipoise dosage accurately to keep away from potential side effects.
Even if they achieve this occur to be on gear, constructing muscle whereas utilizing anabolic steroids continues to be one of the hardest processes in existence.
The prophylactic dose of WINSTROL (anabolic steroids)
, to be used prior to dental extraction, or different traumatic or
tense situations has not been established and could also be considerably
bigger. WINSTROL (anabolic steroids) is indicated prophylactically to decrease the frequency and severity of assaults of angioedema.
AASs are medicine derived from the modification of the
testosterone molecule in order to increase or restrict certain characteristics of testosterone.
A examine reported in the April 2017 concern of the journal
BMJ also found a short course of corticosteroids slightly will increase
the danger for experiencing a broken bone and
development of a bloodstream an infection or blood clot.
The terms steroids generically refers to a
large group of hormones the physique produces naturally in addition to similar man-made medication. We don’t know exactly How Youtonics Enhances Athletic Performance many people abuse steroids,
but it’s estimated that around one to 5 per cent of the population will do it of their lifetime.
This could possibly be in a misguided try to treat sexual dysfunction (that’s unrelated to respectable androgen deficiency), perceived “low T” or “male menopause”, or managing non-specific signs like
tiredness.
With solely one-fifth of the aromatizing tendency of testosterone,
Deca produces fewer androgenic side effects. Nonetheless, this will often be offset by the addition of testosterone in any Deca
cycle. Once you’ve completed a Deca cycle, together with another further steroids, a post-cycle therapy (PCT) schedule is important to get well your natural hormone function. This is
likely considered one of the more effective areas of Deca, even compared with lots
of different highly effective steroids. This is crucial for maintaining the
body in a main anabolic state for muscle progress
and avoiding getting into a catabolic state where muscle
tissue is misplaced.
Each from time to time a medical endocrinologist will
be visited by a patient that makes use of anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) or
has been using them up to now. The interplay between physician and
patient may be hampered for a quantity of reasons.
First, some medical doctors may really feel reluctant to help a affected person who has self-inflicted
health points because of the use of banned substances.
They do not perceive why somebody would jeopardize his well being so
as to acquire muscle mass or power and simply advise the patient to
cease using steroids at once.