Howard_Creech's Full Review: Contax 645 Medium Format Film Camera
Medium Format Cameras have a lot of Snob Appeal, amateur shutterbugs are often awed by the pro with a MF rig, but in truth the only reason to buy into MF is the larger negative. There are many reasons not to buy into medium format, a few of the most important are: 120/220 film is not universally available (and not available in as many different varieties as 35mm film), most medium format cameras are not easy to use handheld, MF cameras, lenses, and accessories are usually very expensive, and they usually lack the speed, features, and ease of use of 35mm cameras. Until quite recently, MF cameras were pretty primitive when compared to todays autofocus/auto exposure 35mm Cameras, that is beginning to change.
The Contax 645 medium format camera offers relief from most of these problems. First, the camera has pretty much the same aspect ratio (1x1.5) of 35mm systems (many photographers don't like the square 6x6 or marginally rectangular 6x7 format) Second, the new Contax is lightweight and easily used handheld. Third, the camera has great autofocus/autoexposure and many other features more commonly found on 35mm cameras. Fourth, the legendary Carl Zeiss optics, are world famous for their incredible resolution, build quality, images have that signature Zeiss look, and they are among the sharpest optics available. The camera is manufactured in Japan (under license from Carl Zeiss in Germany) by Yashica/Contax. The construction/build quality is first rate, the controls are well laid out and easily used, the selection of accessories/lenses/film backs/screens is large and should allow most users to customize the camera to their specific needs.
Film advance is at 1.6 FPS and the camera offers both shutter priority and aperture priority auto exposure modes (plus metered manual). Shutter speed range is from 32 to 1/4000th of a second (with a mechanical B setting) The focusing screen is very bright and contrasty (when compared with 35mm screens it appears huge) focusing (both AF and manual) is a breeze. There is no mechanical linkage between the lens and the camera body. The electrical interface is based on the proven system developed by Rollei (for the SLX) in the seventies. Dust/moisture seals are excellent and should allow the camera to be used in virtually any climate/environment. Overall a well designed and built medium format camera with the convenience and ease of use of a 35mm auto focus system.
The Contax 645 uses a proprietary Contax/Yashica auto focus system that allows auto focus/manual focus shift by simply turning the lens focusing ring. This is a very important feature, especially in low light situations. Auto focus is swift and accurate, although a bit noisy. The unheard of (in medium format) top shutter speed of 1/4000 of a second is truly revolutionary, since the larger shutters required in MF cameras had always limited the fastest shutter speeds to 1/1000th sec or slower. Metering in the camera is either center weighted average or spot, and when used with the automatic bracketing control (3 frames in either half stop or full stop increments) almost guarantees dead-on exposures. The flash system employed by the Contax 645 uses a metered pre-flash to determine flash output, and works not only with Contax/Yashica flash units, but with other brands and studio flash units as well. The on board flash metering system is identical with the one used in the Contax RTS III. The same vacuum pressure plate system used in the Contax RTS III helps keep film flat for optimum resolution. Close up options include a bellows unit and a 120mm Carl Zeiss Apo-Makro Planar F4 with a minimum focusing distance of 18 inches.
Overall the Contax 645 offers 35mm features, handling, and convenience with a much larger negative. The system is well engineered to meet the needs of todays photographers, and the available accessories make it a true system camera. The camera is completely modular, so different film backs, viewing options (Prism, waist level, etc.), and the selection of Carl Zeiss optics provide a wide array choices and options.
Currently no in-lens-shutter lenses are available (these allow flash synch at any shutter speed) but they are promised soon by Contax/Yashica. This will allow the camera to be used in studio work, and when coupled with the proven Contax flash metering system should make the new AF 645 very popular with studio photographers. The price for the camera, normal lens, prism finder, and one film back is about 3500 bucks, which is very reasonable and compares favorably with the purchase price of most top of the line PRO 35mm cameras.
The Contax MFB-1 film back is designed so it can be changed quickly and conveniently. A multiple exposure switch is built in, as is an ISO dial which ...More at eBay
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