AX is outstanding camera if you only know how to use its potential. Some people say that AF is hard to use with Zoom or telephoto lenses... WRONG! You just need to understand how to operate film plane position and you have faster film camera than any Nikon or Canon camera. With CH mode you can shoot at 5fps or 3fps in CL mode. The best is Macro mode built in camera that give you same effect as 10mm distance ring attached to camera. With 50mm Planar minimal focus distance is 25cm and with 17mm lens - 1cm ! If you use Macro lens the effect is even better but you need to lern how to use lenses with floating elements to achieve best quality of image. But there is a small problem... Size of camera. You can compare this camera to 6x6 or 6x7 medium format cameras, extra thick (almost twice as 167MT). But who cares when you touch this titanium finished cover... When you look through excellent bright viewfinder with lots of information in it - even film plane distance and focus confirm when use full manual. For me it is ultimate camera. (Working both on M42 and C/Y lenses)Read full review
The AX is a very robust and good looking camera. The viewfinder is large and clear. The autofocus is very slow if compared with any canon equipment, but it works and can be used as a extra help for the manual focus operations. Because of the unique movements of the film plane, the camera can really increment the Zeiss lenses by making them function superbly in a macro mode. This feature is exceptional! I think this is the best contax camera body ever.
I previously had bought 4 Contax RX bodies and was very pleased with all of them and had not ever considered the AX. Well, I'm going to have get a couple more AXs because the autofocus feature works very well and with my advancing (76) years my eyes don't focus like they used to. The AX is heavy especially with the Zeiss 28-85 zoom but it is manageable. I heartily recommend it to all lovers of Contax....
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
had to repair the slipped mirror a common problem with Contax`s of this period somewhat big in the hand but for me i am used to medium format makes for a steady platform would not have been a common camera over here when new expensive, but to day good value as long as you know something about the camera, very unique feature that nobody else had.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
This camera body, in functionality terms, is almost seamless. The one issue (not one of mine) has been the overall weight - when including the legendary Zeiss optics - can be considered to be quite hefty. Not a problem - unless you're going hiking carrying a complement of Zeiss optics...ever been on a hike in boot camp?
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