Contax T
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2019}}
{{short description|Japanese line of cameras}}
The Contax T is a line of compact film cameras made by Kyocera for their Contax brand from 1984 through 2002. The T, T2, and T3 models use 35 mm film and have a fixed 35 mm wide-angle lens. The T-VS, T-VS II, and T-VS III also use 35 mm film but have a 28–56 mm lens. The Tix uses APS film and has a fixed 28 mm wide-angle lens. The TVS Digital is a 5 MP digital camera with a 35–105 mm (equivalent) lens.
In 2005, Kyocera sold its camera business to Cosina and announced it would cease all activity related to the manufacture of Contax cameras at the end of the year.{{cite press release |url=http://global.kyocera.com/news/2005/0402.html |title=Contax-Branded Camera Business |date=April 12, 2005 |publisher=Kyocera Global |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050413030214/http://global.kyocera.com/news/2005/0402.html |archivedate=April 13, 2005 |url-status=dead |access-date=November 17, 2018 }}
Contax T-series cameras
A 35 mm film, compact rangefinder camera with a titanium body and Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 38 mm {{f/|2.8}} wide-angle lens.
- Contax T – with 5-element Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 38 mm manual focus lens{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nfLx2Fbm0_4C&pg=PA61-IA124 |title= The Camera Collector | author=Jason Schneider |date=June 1991 |magazine=Popular Photography |pages=37 |accessdate=November 17, 2018}} (made by Yashica, which was owned by Kyocera, in partnership with Carl Zeiss). Introduced in 1984. Includes a dedicated separate clip-on auto flash (A14).
- Contax T2 – with a retracting 5-element Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 38 mm active autofocus and manual focus lens, made in silver titanium, in black and gold plated finish;{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nfLx2Fbm0_4C&pg=PA81-IA101 |title= Point and Shoot Follies | author=Dan Richards |date=July 1991 |magazine=Popular Photography |pages=18–19 |accessdate=November 17, 2018}}{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nfLx2Fbm0_4C&pg=PT506|title= Autofocus 35mm Compact: Contaxt T2| date=December 1991 |magazine=Popular Photography |pages=91|accessdate=November 17, 2018}} 1/500 s max shutter speed.{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BJohcG6y9csC&pg=PA56|title=Film Point & Shoot | date=July–August 2001|magazine=American Photo |pages=56–57|accessdate=November 17, 2018}} Introduced in 1991. Includes a built-in auto flash.
- Contax T3 – smaller than the T2 and with recomputed 6-element (sharper) Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 35 mm passive autofocus and manual focus lens; 1/1200 s max shutter speed; autofocus lock.{{cite news|accessdate=November 17, 2018|title=Contax T 3 Specs|url=https://www.cnet.com/products/contax-t-3-point-shoot-camera-35mm-series/specs/|newspaper=CNET}} Includes a built-in auto flash.
File:Contax T.jpg|Contax T with A14 flash
File:CONTAX T2.jpg|Contax T2, silver titanium finish
File:CONTAX T3.jpg|Contax T3, black titanium finish
File:CONTAX-TVS.JPG|Contax T-VS
File:Contax Tix01o4000.jpg|Contax Tix
File:TVS Digital.jpg|Contax T-VS Digital
Contax TVS-series cameras
A 35 mm film, compact rangefinder camera with a titanium body. TVS stands for T* Vario-Sonnar for its Carl Zeiss T* Vario-Sonnar lens.
- Contax T-VS – 28–56 mm lens with variable stops {{f/|3.5}}–{{f/|6.5}}; passive phase detection autofocus{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tCilmaDnSzMC&pg=PA14 |title= Point and Shoot Follies | author=Dan Richards |date=March 1994 |magazine=Popular Photography |pages=14–15 |accessdate=November 17, 2018}}
- Contax T-VS II – 28–56 mm lens with variable stops {{f/|3.5}}–{{f/|6.5}}{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yNijOBJattoC&pg=PA143 |title=Point and Shoot 35mm | date=December 1999 |magazine=Popular Photography |pages=143 |accessdate=November 17, 2018}}
- Contax T-VS III – lens has 5 variable stops (30 mm, 37.5 mm, 45 mm, 52.5 mm and 60 mm) {{f/|3.7}}–{{f/|6.7}}; has a Contax T-style front door cover{{cite news|accessdate=November 17, 2018|title=Contax Tvs III Specs|url=https://www.cnet.com/products/contax-tvs-iii-point-shoot-zoom-camera-35mm/specs/|newspaper=CNET}}
Contax Tix camera
- Contax Tix (i.e. T4) – an APS film camera with a Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 28 mm {{f/|2.8}} autofocus lens. Introduced in 1997.
Contax TVS Digital
- Contax TVS Digital – 5 MP digital compact camera{{cite web|accessdate=November 17, 2018|title=Contax TVS Digital: Digital Photography Review|url=https://www.dpreview.com/products/contax/compacts/contax_tvsdigital|website=Digital Photography Review}}{{cite news|access-date=November 17, 2018|title=Contax TVS Digital|url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/contax-tvs-digital-86zr8lkq529|newspaper=The Times|date=June 3, 2003|issn=0140-0460|via=www.thetimes.co.uk}} with a Carl Zeiss T* Vario-Sonnar 35–105 mm {{f/|2.8}}–{{f/|4.8}} (35 mm equivalent) lens.{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ujno8pBBTHsC&pg=PA37|title=New Medium| date=January–February 2003|magazine=American Photo |pages=37|accessdate=November 17, 2018}} Introduced in 2002.
See also
- Konica Hexar – premium compact AF 35 mm film cameras
- Leica minilux – premium compact AF 35 mm film cameras
- Minolta TC-1 – premium compact AF 35 mm film camera
- Nikon 35Ti/28Ti – premium compact AF 35 mm film cameras
- Olympus XA – another small rangefinder 35 mm film camera
- Ricoh GR series – premium compact AF 35 mm film cameras
- Rollei QZ 35W/35T – premium compact AF 35 mm film cameras
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://kenrockwell.com/contax/t.htm Ken Rockwell on the Contax T]
{{Kyocera}}