Contax 139Q Camera Review

[@AmbiencePT]

It might be my favourite SLR, and I've handled dozens while working in a film camera shop.

[@pancakelens75]

Do they make a shutter cable for it?? I really would like to get one to take with me in my travels, especially with that pancake Zeiss 45mm lens, so portable and compact, and an SLR! But I also like to pack a mini tripod because I take lots of night photos…

[@terryjacob8169]

Recently bought a Contax 139 off E-Bay. Had it serviced and re-skinned. Heck, what a sexy camera and so intuitive to shoot with. I already had a couple of C/Y Zeiss lenses, a 28mm and a 50mm, I'd been using with an old Yashica FX-2; they're really at home on the 139. A brilliant camera.

[@UncompressedWAVmusic]

I bought the Contax 139Q new in 1981 after researching all the cameras and I still have it and the 4 lenses I bought for the Contax 139. My first camera was this Zenit E I bought in 1975 when working for the National Film Board of Canada (NFBC). It was for personal use and it was recommended by my friend who worked at the NFBC. I used it a lot until selling it in 1981 to my brother for $75 with a manual light meter. In 1981 I bought the Contax 139 with Carl Zeiss lenses and still have it but switched to digital compact zoom cameras and bought 6 of them from 2006 until today October 2019 when I bought a Sony A7 full-frame mirrorless camera and a lens adapter and now using all my 4 film SLR lenses I bought in 1981 and so far so good and lots of fun and yes a lot of manual adjusting, however I has done that for 40 years with my cameras from 1975 to 2006. Sony mirrorless and vintage lenses is great and cheap.

[@UncompressedWAVmusic]

I loved your video. I bought the Contax 139Q in 1981 new and it perfectly since then. I haven't used it since 2006 when I switched to digital cameras. I won't sell my Contax 139 as it is legendary in my life and my pictures. I did read a comment by a guy who had all the pro film cameras and in his experienced opinion the Contax 139 Quartz was the best film camera ever made.

[@frankdekock1127]

The Contax 137 MD Quarts is another great option too. It is also Aperture Priority and has a built in motor drive. They tend to be sometimes even cheaper than the 139 Quartz.

[@AustenGoldsmithPhotography]

Love mine ! You overlooked the exposure lock lever next to the light meter button, means you can 'kinda 'spot meter , re compose and shoot for the shadows etc

[@john_murch]

I have the Contax 159MM that I bought new back in the day, successor to the 139Q. Fantastic metering, aperture priority features and 1/4000 shutter speed, great for shooting at large apertures in daylight. Also really comfortable rubber skin and small body. The bottom plate is all brassed from real world use and I'm still using it to this day.

[@TorgerVedeler]

The Contax 139 is a real gem. It is true that the “leather” does tend to show wear, and I would add that the external protective case on mine has not held up very well. But the photos I’ve gotten out of the camera and the Zeiss lenses are first rate. As an added advantage, there are some off-brand lenses that you can sometimes find for very little money because it is an uncommon mount. I love my 139 and wouldn’t give it up.

[@stevemcdonald8537]

I might buy a Contax because of your video. Thank you.

[@solublefaces4264]

This was actually my first serious 35mm camera. Intuitive to use with incredible results. I have two Yashica lenses; the 50mm f/2 and the 28mm f/2.8 They’re great, easily on par with the Zeiss lenses.

[@marcellodevos3601]

Great video, thanks for the review. Getting this camera in the mail any day soon :)

[@spangancayco]

What is your favorite Contax body? What is the most compact? Reliable?

[@Raychristofer]

Good job on this my man thanks for pointing out this hidden gem. forgive the person that thumbs down. He probably has diarrhea and is miserable

[@OneYearWithFilmOnly]

Thanks bro! Really appreciate it 🙏 yes I never really pay attention to the dislike squad 😂

[@philmtx3fr]

Bonjour assez d accord avec toi sur le fait qu il soit préférable pour commencer en argentique au canon AE1 qui a une très mauvaise gestion du levier de profondeur de champ. Il est comparable au Nikon FE et à l olympus om2 ou au Minolta x500 qui sont souvent plus cher. Par contre pour les objectifs les zeiss sont très bons mais très chers (ton 85mm f1.4 me fait rêver mais pas son prix :))heureusement qu il y a les Yashica nettement plus accessibles. Par contre quand tu dis qu il y a 280 objectifs pour ce boîtier je pense que … tu es un peu marseillais :). Ni Nikon ni canon dans une monture donnée n en ont autant :) mais pas grave on n a pas besoin de 10aine d optiques pour commencer la photo.

[@lc5945]

'80s Zeiss-Contax lenses are still used on full frame 2020 DSLRs, 'nuff said

[@alexgrd75]

Hi what about a lens review? :)

[@bernhardneumueller]

does it only show the aperture in the viewfinder with the Contax Zeiss lenses or also the Yashica lenses? thanks in advance :)

[@marcp.1752]

It depends on the SLR. The 139Q only shows the shutter speed, not the lens aperture.

[@Bermersher]

The 139Q will show the aperture in the viewfinder for any C/Y mount lens you put on it.

[@wiwythebest]

which contax is the grey and black? and the lens?

[@DiegoRamos-gy6ph]

Contax S2

[@eugenenoble4303]

You have a beautiful voice!

[@Lesterandsons]

Tu serais pas francais ? Yashica permer d’avoir des objectifs à bon prix. J’ai le 167mt le moteur est tres bien intégré. J’ai payé mon 135mm près de 300€ :-(

[@tomislavmiletic_]

Yep Contax didn't get to the digital age, but they struggled in the auto focussing age also. In fact, they made only one AF body, which came out way too late, the Contax AX, which was too expensive and massive course of technology used - the whole film plane moved back and fourth inside the camera via railings!!! On top of that, you can still focus manually at all times. I guess Contax choose that route to ensure absolute compatibility with their lenses. Sadly, nobody cared. I could bet that Contax made more money in the end with the 645 model than with the AX. Now if you as a Contax lover can find one of those, snag it immediately - it's a unique camera worth of your collection.

[@naaldvoerder]

Tomislav Miletić Actually Contax made some of the most capable AF bodies ever made, the Contax N1 and its cheaper brother the Contax NX, with a small, but excellent range of Zeiss AF lenses. So excellent in fact, that many were converted to other mounts.

[@tomislavmiletic_]

@@naaldvoerder Yp, you are right, just checked it out. However, being all in the gear at that time (not that these days I'm any different 😊), those series of Contax cameras went completely under my radar. So I can quite confidently say, it was too little, too late...

[@795menega]

my contax ii quartz ,does not fire

[@JBubbs]

At first I heard "design made by BOSH", and I was seriously whathefucked:D it took me a moment to decode it properly.

[@onalabrioche]

Please don’t spread the word!

[@djakkdjakkd]

U should really do better sound!

[@randallstewart175]

Between the accent, the low volume and the reverb mic placement, you might as well watch his one with the sound turned off.

[@danieldijo]

so positive.