Unlike the midrange camera models where
it usually acts like a playground to showcase technological advancement developed
by respective 35mm SLR camera manufacturers, imaging tool designed and produced for
the highly demanding professional users market may not be putting technology on its
priority list. User's requirement at this section of the market is often driven by
matters such as system integrity, performance and reliability. The latter element
is the most vital among all factors - you will need a camera that can be counted
on, anytime, anywhere, under any conditions. Regardless it is a Nikon, Canon, Pentax
or a Contax, such philosophy stays the same. Usually each of the flagship SLR camera
model was like a nucleus of the entire photographic system and they were being designed
as most the flexible camera model to accept virtually every single system components.
These bodies are usually given the highest degree of attention to its built quality.
Factors such as careful selection of the choice of materials used and even the cosmetic
design was given utmost attention - since the pro-class SLR in a particular brand
name is more or less like a status bearer of that particular trade name. The camera
must be at all time, stable, reliable, remain operational and surviving even the
most harsh conditions to withstand long term professional use. Those days, it was
also a normal practice to use midrange camera models demonstrate new breakthroughs
in camera technologies, while professional class bodies were more conservative and
they were just aim built to deliver and not to shine.
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The CONTAX RTS II QUARTZ SLR camera, was the second model after the initial effort by Kyocera with the original CONTAX RTS first debuted in 1975 to develop a serious 35mm SLR system camera aimed at the professional users market. It was a product which took Kyocera/Contax seven years of intense research and development effort to bring us such an worthy upgrade. |
I would rather don't labeled it as an upgrade
to the older RTS, but rather a whole new system from ground up - yet retaining full
system compatibility with the earlier system. Personally, those days, I find the
Contax RTS II was indeed a very attractive camera, probably Contax has already figured
out where it should position itself among the competitions in the market place. But
even after few decades, I still find it very tempting to own. As I have observed
during those early days, Contax has never been too aggressive but rather adopting
a steady approach with a steadily grown users based of the Contax system. The backbone
to lure in new users of Contax system still rests on the Zeiss optical system, as
the Contax (and Yashica) cameras are the only medium to bridge 35mm SLR cameras with
those German optic after a long lapse of the initial failed effort by Rollei. Well,
over the years, reputable medium format cameras such as the Hasselblad has help to
endorse user's confidence with the famed Zeiss lenses and with the Contax, its is
eventually was made possible to have a full line of dedicated Zeiss lenses in 35mm
film format again.
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The 35mm 'professional' SLR camera market during early eighties was mainly dominated by Nikon's F3, Canon New F-1 and a relatively 'new' player during that time - an impressive Asahi Pentax's LX. While Olympus also introduced around the same time together with Contax RTS II featured here - a dual upgrade of the multi-spot metered Olympus OM3(ti) and OM4(ti) that replaced evergreen mechanical body of OM-1n and the electronic OM2n which originally introduced the OTF (off the Film) metering concept. |
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You may notice most of the top models have a product cycle of 6-10 years. In fact, after the AF revolution has started, 5 years to play with high-tech stuffs can be considered too long of a time if not for any upgrade or a totally new concept model to be introduced and replacing the older one. The Nikon F4 of 1988 was an typical example with a product cycle of 8 years before replaced with the current F5 in 1997, the vacuum left during the span of time provided Canon which capitalized every steps out of its way to capture market share with a entirely new model within 5 years with the EOS 1n in 1994, five years after the original EOS-1(1989) was introduced. |
Compared with the older model of RTS, the
CONTAX RTS II Quartz was a vast improvement and sort of a technological leap in terms
of in this upgrade model, along with modern camera design technologies, computer
analysis played a major basic design factor in the RTS II Quartz; and so does the
production stage where now components can checked by rigorous possible testing on
circuitry reliability. Contax claimed the camera's central processing unit, the 'electronic
brain' that controls automated exposure where each CPU receives more than 100 individual
tests before the completion of the camera, all conducted by computer to guarantee
reliability and durability. While improved and strict production standard ensured
each shutter mechanism of the RTS II tested through some 2,000 repetitive operations,
and only those displaying absolute precision and consistency, from the first to the
2,000th operation, are approved for use. Such updated modern production facilities
and quality inspection were part of the reasons explained why RTS II can be of a
better camera than earlier effort with RTS.
Well, in order to meet such demanding standards, naturally one has to adopt entirely
new production technologies in such fields as materials selection and processing,
mechanical and electronic design and assembly and testing. And fortunately, Kyocera
itself has also emerged as one of the most respected player in the high-tech optical
equipment manufacturers in Japan during that era, in particular at Ceramic applications
and research technology which eventually transferred some of its know how to its
third generation RTS III during early '90. The benefit of such RTS II a camera readily
meets the toughest tests on its reliability - remember the end users are the demanding
professionals or serious amateurs, whose expectation could be high if got one of
them to invest into a 'new' SLR camera system. Those are the guys who might be putting
the camera to toughest field testing with their respective assignments. If it fails
to meet such requirements, words might spread out fast and I think it is stupid for
any manufacturer willing to risk and put their credit at hold. Well, other than those
who depend on photography to make a living, Contax has attracted a huge pool of serious
photographers worldwide who has chosen it as their personal imaging tool. It is not
exaggerating to quote RTS II featured here was the SLR model that has help to springboard
CONTAX recognized as one of the main players in the photographic industry.
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| 1/4 Info on design concept and production, reliability,
internal circuitry, Metering cells etc.
Basic Instruction
Manuals:
6
Parts
Beyond the
User's Manual, some
relating topics:
6 Parts
Other Contax Accessories: Filters
| Eye-Cups / Diopter lens
/ Right
Angle Finder / Magnifier| Lens Caps/Lens Rear Caps / Body Caps / Lens Pouches
| Soft lens Shades/Metal Lens Hoods/Adapter Ring/Gelatin Filter
Holder set | Focusing Screens
| Back | to Index Page of Contax
RTS
| Back | to Index Page of Contax
RTS II Quartz
| Back | to Index Page of Contax
RTS III
| Back | to Main Index Page of
Contax RTS series models
Camera
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1975: RTS 1979: 139Q 1980: 137MD 1982: 137MA 1982: RTS II |
1985: 159MM 1987: 167MT 1990: RTS III 1992: S2 1992: S2b |
1992: ST 1994: RX 1996: AX 1998: Aria 2000~ |
| List of Carl Zeiss T* lenses for Contax SLR cameras | ||||
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Credit: MClau, joint maintainer of the Contax RTS MB. Some of the content are extracts from: Cees De Groot, who maintains a Contax FAQ site and Tim Roger website on Contax SLR cameras, A few of the images on Zeiss lenses were downloaded from Contax US website. My buddy, Yeak † & Rizal Yahya, for their cool programming with Contax RTS's Message Board, Note:certain contents and images appeared in this site were either scanned from official marketing leaflets, brochures, sales manuals or publications published by Kyocera over the years and/or contributions from surfers who claimed originality of their own work solely for educational purposes. The creator of the site will not be responsible for any discrepancies that may arise from such possible disputes except rectifying them after verification."Kyocera", "Yashica", "Contax" & "Carl Zeiss T*" are registered trade names of Kyocera Corporation Inc., Japan. A site made with an Apple IMac, dedicated to all fans of Contax cameras and Zeiss Optics.