Contax Tvs II

Review Date
October 14, 2009

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Reviewed by
Haiku Head , Professional

Price Paid
$1100.00 at B&H - NYC

Photography Experience
21+ years , Other

Summary
I bought this camera new in 2001. Have used it ever since. Even though I have various digital and analogue systems I still love carrying this little beauty around when out and about walking. It's a point & shoot but has plenty of manual controls and feels more like a classic rangefinder than a p&s. The photos it takes are gorgeous and just dripping with rich colour, contrast and sharpness. An absolute classic and prices have already started to go up. If you see one for a decent price. Buy it!!

Strengths
Pure quality. Beautiful lens, lots of manual controls, ergonomically perfect, accepts filters. This camera is very well built, its rugged titanium is handsome with an expensive jewell-like feel to it. The controls are a joy to handle. It is like a very expensive watch or pen, one of those products that just 'feels' right. It really is one of 'the' best point & shoot analog cameras ever made. Perhaps if digital hadn't come along they could have found ways to improve it but I doubt it. Reliable too and ages so well! Despite being 8 years olf mine looks brand new!!

Weaknesses
None at all.

Similar Products Used
Leica Minilux

Customer Service
Have never needed to use them. Camera is so reliable.

Review Date
September 29, 2009

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Reviewed by
azemkoleci , Expert

Price Paid
$220.00 at ebay

Photography Experience
2-5 years , Other

Summary
I had this camera for good few months before I replaced with it's brother Contax tvs which I'm happy.
Contax is known for its fine products especially p&s classic/professional cameras with many features include manual modes, as well for the rangefinder G series.
It's in same group with other 35mm professional 35mm cameras, loke Nikon 28ti&35ti, Ricog GR1, Fujifilm Klasse etc.

Strengths
Like a tank, with titanium cover it makes one of the best.
Perfect flash and the legendary lens.

Weaknesses
No databack for TVS version.

Similar Products Used
Ricoh GR, Leica Minilux.

Customer Service
Not needed.

Review Date
September 13, 2003

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
3.67 of 5, 9 votes

Reviewed by
Phillip George , Expert

Price Paid
$285.00 at Ebay

Photography Experience
21+ years , Outdoor

Summary
I was looking for a lightweight travel camera and decided to see how the TVSII stood up against an Aria with 25mm prime lens and 35-70 F3.4 Zoom. Most lenses perform best in the aperture range of 5.6-11 and it made sense that a travel camera would be used primarily in this same range. The results surprised me. There was virtually NO DIFFERENCE between comparable shots taken with the Aria and Contax TVSII. I concede that primes would have superior perfomance in low-light situations but for me a travel camera is about compromises and 95% of the time the Contax TVSII performed just as well as the Aria/25/35-70mm system. So for me, the TVSII is an excellent solution covering 28-56mm to which I can add a Contax T (38mm) for B&W. Contax T in the pocket and TVSII on the belt.

Strengths
Excellent lens, especially at 5.6/8.0/11.0
Solid, quick operation. Just turn the lens and the camera is on. Custom set the camera to AF before the shutter is pressed and shutter lag is minimal. Viewfinder bright.

Weaknesses
None

Similar Products Used
Leica Minilux Zoom. This camera had a great lens but 28mm is good for travel.

Customer Service
none

Review Date
June 10, 2003

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
4.00 of 5, 4 votes

Reviewed by
Peter , Intermediate , from Atlanta, GA

Price Paid
$540.00 at Ebay. Used, very goo

Photography Experience
11-20 years , Outdoor

Summary
An awesome camera! Outstanding picture quality, contrasty, autofocus always spot on. Possibility of manual focussing comes in handy. Flash is good, not very strong of course, but excellent fill-in. Does not "bleach" subjects in close-ups, gives very natural skin tones even indoors. The camera body feels perfect, buttons/switches are self-explanatory and easy to use. Viewfinder information is good to see. I love the manual zoom, which is easy and - quiet! A really big plus. The sound of the Ricoh Gr-1s I had before drove me at times crazy. Overall the best camera I can imagine. I carry it much more often than my N90 gear and don't feel I'd compromise too much.

Strengths
Lens.Ruggedness.Ergonomics.Manual Zoom.

Weaknesses
none

Similar Products Used
Nothing really similar.
Nikon N90, N50, Ricoh Gr-1s, multiple cheaper P&S.

Customer Service
not needed.

Review Date
April 27, 2003

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 2 votes

Reviewed by
trondsen , Intermediate , from Salinas, CA

Price Paid
$445.00 at KENMAR Cameras

Photography Experience
21+ years , Outdoor

Summary
I have wanted to buy the TVS II for a long time but it was always hard to justify paying $1100.00 for a point and shoot camera. I have owned many point and shoots over the years among numerous SLRs. You can't beat a point and shoot for portability and availability. I found the TVSII at KENMAR in E++ condition for $445. The camera is as beautiful and rugged as the Contax T2 I owned before it. I accidently had dropped my T2 from 6 1/2 feet onto a concrete side walk below and it left only minor marks on the (no dings or dents) titanium top cover. The TVS II is as easy to use as the T2, almost no buttons to push (thank goodness). I received a manual with my camera, but you really don't need it to figure out this camera. I have large hands and the TVS II fis in them perfectly. The camera has a manual zoom which makes this camera very quiet and perfect for taking pictures of kids or street scenes. My Fuji DL mini zoom (a good camera) is very noisy and would alert the subject that you are taking their picture before you want them to know. I have only shot one test roll of pictures through this camera so far but I shot it in all kinds of conditions and the pictures came out very well exposed. I loved my Contax T2, but having the 28-56mm zoom and practically the same body style, ruggedness and quality as the T2 was hard to turn down. This camera used is now a value at a good price.

Strengths
Titanium body, ruggedness.
Carl Zeiss 28-56mm lens
beautiful camera to look at
Quality
f stops
excepts filters and lens hood
manual zoom - very quiet

Weaknesses
View finder not as sharp as my Fuji dl mini zoom (my only complaint).

Similar Products Used
Contax T (new - when it first came out), Contax T2, Niklon L35af, Rollie 35 SE, Fuji DL mini zoom and a lot more not worth typing.

Customer Service
N/A