Fellow Forum Members:
I need some advice on how to proceed on C/Y camera bodies I own. I'm not exactly sure where this should be posted, so I just picked the RX section since it deals with an RX in part. Here goes:
I am currently overrun with Contax C/Y camera bodies of different types, all of which seemed like great ideas at the time. I enjoy handling and shooting all of them, but feel that I should probably "thin the herd" so to speak and just get used to and really learn one model in-depth. I find myself fumbling at times because I am using a different camera all the time.
Let me start off by saying that in addition to the bodies I will list, I also have a G1 and G2 with four lenses, and those aren't going anywhere since they are great travel cameras and I enjoy them a great deal. I also have started shooting medium format, and recently had a brief dalliance with 4 x 5 which was not for me. I've got a pretty decent selection of CZ manual focus lenses for the SLR's and my plan is to probably keep them and just dispose of excess bodies.
I started off with the Contax 167MT, and actually have six of those in working order, three with P-5's installed but two are quite old now. I became intrigued with the older Contax SLR bodies and have two of the 137 MA's with data backs, a 137 MD, two 139Q's (one pristine) and a very clean RTS II. A few months ago, I got an RX in very nice shape, and although it seems like the largest of the bunch, I like it so far after a few rolls of film. The focus indicator seems nice in certain conditions. I have not really taken the time to learn the camera in-depth yet.
If you were in my position, and wanted to prune this collection a bit, which ones would you drop off first? I do mostly street photography with 35mm, or special events such as festivals and sports, a wee bit of close-up stuff and lots of informal portraiture. My first love is black and white, but some of the "pop" of colors from the Zeiss lenses has me hooked on that at times as well. I love film, but at some point I will probably acquire a simple DSLR. At present I feel no strong need to do so however.
I tend to think of the RX and the 167MT's as "new Contax", with heavy emphasis on electronics and the others as "old Contax" with fewer bells and whistles, but with a more solid feeling construction. My lens collection is slightly heaver with MM lenses than AE. Focal lengths in prime lenses run from 28-200, with three zooms, 28-85, 35-70, and 80-200. The 28-85 CZ pretty much lives on the RX, since its the only body this lens doesn't look freakishly large on. On the small side, the 139Q with the 45mm pancake lens is almost too cute to part with.
So guys, which ones do I get rid of? Do I stick with the newest stuff on the theory I can still get it serviced, or sell that off and keep a couple of the old guys around? Do I chuck them all and buy a DSLR and use my CZ lenses with that? What does the group think? Hopefully this will spur some interesting discussion.
All comments welcome.
I need some advice on how to proceed on C/Y camera bodies I own. I'm not exactly sure where this should be posted, so I just picked the RX section since it deals with an RX in part. Here goes:
I am currently overrun with Contax C/Y camera bodies of different types, all of which seemed like great ideas at the time. I enjoy handling and shooting all of them, but feel that I should probably "thin the herd" so to speak and just get used to and really learn one model in-depth. I find myself fumbling at times because I am using a different camera all the time.
Let me start off by saying that in addition to the bodies I will list, I also have a G1 and G2 with four lenses, and those aren't going anywhere since they are great travel cameras and I enjoy them a great deal. I also have started shooting medium format, and recently had a brief dalliance with 4 x 5 which was not for me. I've got a pretty decent selection of CZ manual focus lenses for the SLR's and my plan is to probably keep them and just dispose of excess bodies.
I started off with the Contax 167MT, and actually have six of those in working order, three with P-5's installed but two are quite old now. I became intrigued with the older Contax SLR bodies and have two of the 137 MA's with data backs, a 137 MD, two 139Q's (one pristine) and a very clean RTS II. A few months ago, I got an RX in very nice shape, and although it seems like the largest of the bunch, I like it so far after a few rolls of film. The focus indicator seems nice in certain conditions. I have not really taken the time to learn the camera in-depth yet.
If you were in my position, and wanted to prune this collection a bit, which ones would you drop off first? I do mostly street photography with 35mm, or special events such as festivals and sports, a wee bit of close-up stuff and lots of informal portraiture. My first love is black and white, but some of the "pop" of colors from the Zeiss lenses has me hooked on that at times as well. I love film, but at some point I will probably acquire a simple DSLR. At present I feel no strong need to do so however.
I tend to think of the RX and the 167MT's as "new Contax", with heavy emphasis on electronics and the others as "old Contax" with fewer bells and whistles, but with a more solid feeling construction. My lens collection is slightly heaver with MM lenses than AE. Focal lengths in prime lenses run from 28-200, with three zooms, 28-85, 35-70, and 80-200. The 28-85 CZ pretty much lives on the RX, since its the only body this lens doesn't look freakishly large on. On the small side, the 139Q with the 45mm pancake lens is almost too cute to part with.
So guys, which ones do I get rid of? Do I stick with the newest stuff on the theory I can still get it serviced, or sell that off and keep a couple of the old guys around? Do I chuck them all and buy a DSLR and use my CZ lenses with that? What does the group think? Hopefully this will spur some interesting discussion.
All comments welcome.