I have a problem. I love cameras. Especially older film cameras. It’s that tactile feeling of holding it and finding all the controls under my fingertips.
A couple of years ago I dug out the remnants of an earlier collection I had and started adding to it. Every camera was a joy to handle in its own way. Friends heard that I was collecting and I was given a Yashica 108 Program. It didn’t work but I soon brought it back to life. I bought an adapter for the 35-70 MC lens it came with and tried it on my Fuji X-T4. I was pleasantly surprised. It prompted me to look for Zeiss lenses for it. It wasn’t long before that morphed into a desire to build a full Contax kit.
This led to a purchase of a Contax RX, followed by 28-85 and 80-200 Vario Sonnar lenses and a Sigma 24mm. As soon as I picked up the RX I was in love.
With the 28-85 lens it’s a big heavy beast. Given I gave up on my Nikon D3 because of its weight and size it was interesting this was such an instant favourite. It could only be the feeling of carved from granite solidity and the beautiful tactile feel of those Zeiss lenses. The RX did suffer from the usual slipping mirror issue but this was easily fixed with help from my local camera store who told me what I needed to do. An easy and permanent fix.
I regularly travel to France and of course the RX found space in the bag. In fact it’s been every time I’ve been since I bought it. Every time it reminds me why I love it so much.
Here’s a small selection of images all processed and scanned by the minilab in Northampton, England.
Interestingly the Yashica that started this all off has yet to have a film through it. For some reason that camera just doesn’t gel with me.
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Peter Schu on 5 frames in France with a Contax RX
Comment posted: 07/10/2025
Comment posted: 07/10/2025
Paul Taylor on 5 frames in France with a Contax RX
Comment posted: 07/10/2025
I recently took my RX and the C-Z 50mm 1.4 to a museum exhibit of Stradivarius instruments, with some Portra 800 it did a great job in some pretty challenging conditions.
Gary Smith on 5 frames in France with a Contax RX
Comment posted: 07/10/2025
Love the shot of St. Michel!
Thanks for your article Alastair!
Omar Tibi on 5 frames in France with a Contax RX
Comment posted: 07/10/2025
I have an RX body, sadly with a shutter capping issue, but my 167MT shoots like a dream. I've got a small bag of Zeiss primes, and I do most of my shooting with the classic 50/1.4 Planar. Love the way the 167MT feels, and I hope to get the RX CLAed when I have time, since it was even nicer in the hand.
Perhaps thankfully, the influencer hype wave that swept up all of the compact Contaxes, the T and G series, skipped over the SLRs for some reason (because of manual focus?), so just as Paul above said, pretty much all Contax SLRs can be had for far less then they should be worth. Some of the glass too is still a bargain, compared to the similar Leica R mount lenses that go for exorbitant prices.
Have fun shooting and enjoy your RX!