It's an amazing camera - one notable feature you didn't mention that is quite unique for it is the built-in flash meter, which is huge for studio shooting or using strobes. With a flick of the lever below the shutter speed dial you can trigger the flash and have the spot meter read the reflected light and it will tell you in the viewfinder how many stops under / over the flash is on the subject and the ambient / flash mix. Most people using medium format with strobes go for a Hasselblad or RZ67 with a leaf shutter, but despite the 1/125 sync speed of the Contax the built in metering and automation make it super quick to use on location.
Dear, Sir;' I loved your video very much. It was super informative and very interesting to me. I loved the photo shoot with the young lady and the beautiful baby, who stole my heart. The black and white photos were great as well. I loved the one of the young lady. The puppy was great, one can tell that he is also a natural model. I just entered medium photography with a Mamiy 645, myself. Thank you again and good wishes to you all. God Bless.
Namour Filho: no need to cry, you lost nothing: sometime in the mid 2000s Popular Photography tested several equivalent lenses from contax 645 and Mamiya 645. All Mamiya lenses completely outperformed all the similar contax lenses in both center and corner or borders resolution. BTW, BOTH SYSTEMS ARE MADE IN JAPAN. Let's stop glorifying crap. 90% of Japanese cameras made in the 60s, 70s and 80s are still working flawlessly in 2019. German cameras can't compare in term of reliability. Leicas to a certain extent are an exception, other than that where are the Edixas, rolleis, Prácticas, Contaxes, Exactas, Contarexes, Agfas, voigtlanders? Where?.......
Hey for what it is worth alot of photogs old and new made this same move. The canon 10d file was beautiful and looked waay better than the competitors at the time ( nikon, kodak) & if you traded this beloved system for that. You were able to get that 10d early. If you could have predicted that contax would get sold and burned away out of spite, then you are on a Nostradamus level. No regrets man
Dude, your channel is EXACTLY what I've been looking for. Not that I'm against reading the late 90's websites of old ~60yo men to learn about these cameras, but it's so nice to have someone producing in-depth and thorough videos on all these MF cameras. Thank you so much!
started off by watching your video interviewing your wife, and it was great to see how personal the channel is, really like that. Watching this video now, your reviews are great and your photography even better, glad to have found your channel!
It's nice to see a review of such a wonderful camera. There isn't much information about it on the Internet. I've been using mine for about nine years now with no problems. I have the 45mm, 80mm, and 140mm lenses and they are all very good. You said that the remote is threaded but it's actually electronic. The Contax remote is hard to find in Korea (and expensive when you do find one) so I bought a cheap one made in China that works perfectly. You also expressed some concern about moving switches and dials accidentally but it's never happened to me and I'm quite clumsy. I love this camera because everything that needs to be changed is on a dial or button and there are no missing features. The Contax 360 flash works well, even for someone like me who doesn't have much experience with flash photography. There is probably no such thing as a perfect camera but this one is 99% close. I also have the Contax N1 and that's a pleasure to use as well. It was a sad day when Kyocera stopped making Contax cameras.
Holy fudge, your images are awesome! That camera is one expensive beast! Great content as always! A suggestion for a video: What Is It Like Being Married To Another Photographer?
+Photoinajuicebox Thank you! I appreciate that! Molly actually didn't start shooting until we started dating, but I am planning on interviewing her for the channel (without warning her of course). She seems to have a lot of fans on here anytime she's in a video!
Love the way you set up your videos: in depth review, actual use of the camera, final thoughts, favorite photos. Really helps potential buyers (like me) get sufficient information before jumping into getting a new/old camera! Keep up the good work!
Best thing about the Contax is the 80/2.0 lens. You can chop off the end, take away all the electronics and mount it on any more rugged medium format camera that won't break anytime soon :D With a little bit of trickery you can also use a 6x6 camera to maximize the lovely image from the Planar.
Hey Matt, Ive re-watched this video a few times, and have now finally taken the big step and got a Contax 645! So thanks for a great review and honest overview of the camera! keep up the really good work with the videos!
Just got my contact 645 and I really enjoyed the video! It was so helpful to see the different films you used out in the field. Loved the black and whites too!
+Matt Day Photo Quick question if I may: when you rate the portra 160 at 100, do you get it developed as you usually would if you had shot it at box speed?
great channel and amazing selection of topics. really enjoying your videos and the way you speak and present things. very calm, serious but still not boring at all. please keep up your good work and congratulations on the fine set of portraits shot in this video. thanks!
Wonderful video. I have a baby boy just about her age... outdoor shoots are a very similar experience. You have a wonderful family and a wonderful channel. Keep it up.
I owned one of these for a while and ended up selling it for $1,200 on eBay to buy a 5D Mark II. They weren't popular back in 2009 and you could barely give them away. Makes me sick.
Beautiful baby! You are a lucky man and you have created some great shots. I am too, trying out black and white film in addition to my usual color photos. I shoot mainly kodak film because they are cheaper than fuji and they are pretty good when it comes to consumer and professional film. I have shot at night and as well as daytime. Over 90% of my shots came out great and I am not perfect. I shoot with a Nikon F100 and I owned it for the past ten years. Peace, Flood!
superb video! i was kinda skeptical when i purchased it some 5 years ago. but it really grew on me! i never had issues with the electronics so far. though i even thought to sell it, because i don’t use it very often. but who wants to sell a perfect camera...
Hey Matt. I went to a wedding last weekend and the photographer (Jose Villa) was using a Contax 645 as well as some Canon 1V's. He actually had 3 of these 645's as his two assistants were also shooting with them. They were shooting exclusively with Fuji Pro400H. I asked the father of the bride (my uncle) if I could see some of the results. I'm sure they'll be incredible. This camera is lust worthy for sure.
Hey Matt!!! Greetings from Mexico. I just can say that every video you upload reflects the beauty of the art of photography! Recently I pick up a Yashica D and a Mamiya RB67 ProS, I hope you can make a review about 180mm sekor C lenses =) keep doing this great job!
wow! that was super inspiring. Great video and your shots are incredible! i have to go grab my camera right now and shoot! i love baby sneezes also, thanks!
another great kyocera-made contax. think their withdrawal from photo business was a great loss. the fact that 645 could/can take a number of digital backs too, was/is a great plus.
Nice photos and video production. I especially liked the one of your dog yawning. It was something about the mouth lines against the furniture. What is the flash sync speed? Not a leaf shutter, I'm guessing. Congratulations on becoming a father. It's the most important thing you'll ever do.
+EASTSIDERIDER707 Thank you! No, not a leaf shutter. I believe I remember it being 1/125 but I would do some research on that. And thank you! I couldn't agree more.
For those contax 645 lovers, this camera is not supported by KYOCERA any more, all the parts are gone since 2010 and if it's broken, you will need to take the chance and find parts on Ebay. Take great care of your contax 645, especially it's shutter
Great review of a great camera. As som younsters get their feet wet in film photography, I'd like to chime in and clarify that this camera was NOT made for handheld shooting neither was it made for fast pace. Those who machine gun their cameras will need to pay atttention to many things and being able to switch from 1/4000 to slower shutter speeds is one thing here. But again, those who focus on the story should not worry. Also that can be a plus for this camera, i.e. if you are at 1/4000 and need to go inside of building, to switch to 1/250 you will not have to dial all the way around. Great videos Matt, keep up. Regards, G
yes, Matt, the dark-slide is an important feature, esp. since the shutter/lock button is so "exposed" (pardon the pun here:-) ), this also offers a safety, that in event of camera being on, and the button being bumped in the bag, no shot will be wasted!!
Great video Matt! I like how you went over shooting the different films at other speeds than box speed. Think you could make an episode just on different films and how they act shooting at different speeds? I never thought about shooting Portra 160 at 100. Loading a roll in my FM2 right now to try that.
I nearly purchased this camera two years ago. What gave me pause is spending that amount on a system that is one broken part away from becoming a bookend. The Copal shutters are no longer manufactured and almost no NOS assemblies remain on the market. It's a tremendous system though.
I have a Contax N1 and it uses the same battery but I've never paid anywhere near $20 per battery. The winding mechanism sounds the same as the 645 though. Nice Video !.
22:33 “...and thats it. We’re gonna get this baby home.”
*taps and lovingly gazes down at Contax*
😂😂😂
It's an amazing camera - one notable feature you didn't mention that is quite unique for it is the built-in flash meter, which is huge for studio shooting or using strobes. With a flick of the lever below the shutter speed dial you can trigger the flash and have the spot meter read the reflected light and it will tell you in the viewfinder how many stops under / over the flash is on the subject and the ambient / flash mix. Most people using medium format with strobes go for a Hasselblad or RZ67 with a leaf shutter, but despite the 1/125 sync speed of the Contax the built in metering and automation make it super quick to use on location.
very patient model, nice to have someone in the family appreciate you as a photographer.
Dear, Sir;' I loved your video very much. It was super informative and very interesting to me. I loved the photo shoot with the young lady and the beautiful baby, who stole my heart. The black and white photos were great as well. I loved the one of the young lady. The puppy was great, one can tell that he is also a natural model. I just entered medium photography with a Mamiy 645, myself. Thank you again and good wishes to you all. God Bless.
I used to have this camera and sold it to buy 2 canon 10D. I cry when I remember this...
my condolences
Namour Filho: no need to cry, you lost nothing: sometime in the mid 2000s Popular Photography tested several equivalent lenses from contax 645 and Mamiya 645. All Mamiya lenses completely outperformed all the similar contax lenses in both center and corner or borders resolution. BTW, BOTH SYSTEMS ARE MADE IN JAPAN. Let's stop glorifying crap. 90% of Japanese cameras made in the 60s, 70s and 80s are still working flawlessly in 2019. German cameras can't compare in term of reliability. Leicas to a certain extent are an exception, other than that where are the Edixas, rolleis, Prácticas, Contaxes, Exactas, Contarexes, Agfas, voigtlanders? Where?.......
keep your 10D. who knows maybe in 30 years it costs 4k as well :P
So it just proves what an idiot you are?
Hey for what it is worth alot of photogs old and new made this same move. The canon 10d file was beautiful and looked waay better than the competitors at the time ( nikon, kodak) & if you traded this beloved system for that. You were able to get that 10d early.
If you could have predicted that contax would get sold and burned away out of spite, then you are on a Nostradamus level.
No regrets man
Dude, your channel is EXACTLY what I've been looking for. Not that I'm against reading the late 90's websites of old ~60yo men to learn about these cameras, but it's so nice to have someone producing in-depth and thorough videos on all these MF cameras. Thank you so much!
started off by watching your video interviewing your wife, and it was great to see how personal the channel is, really like that. Watching this video now, your reviews are great and your photography even better, glad to have found your channel!
Thanks for this Matt! It's great to see you take the camera in the field. That's something that countless camera reviews miss
The shots are beautiful...thanks Matt
Excellent video. I enjoyed the longer format, very informative. Great images too!
It's nice to see a review of such a wonderful camera. There isn't much information about it on the Internet. I've been using mine for about nine years now with no problems. I have the 45mm, 80mm, and 140mm lenses and they are all very good.
You said that the remote is threaded but it's actually electronic. The Contax remote is hard to find in Korea (and expensive when you do find one) so I bought a cheap one made in China that works perfectly. You also expressed some concern about moving switches and dials accidentally but it's never happened to me and I'm quite clumsy.
I love this camera because everything that needs to be changed is on a dial or button and there are no missing features. The Contax 360 flash works well, even for someone like me who doesn't have much experience with flash photography. There is probably no such thing as a perfect camera but this one is 99% close. I also have the Contax N1 and that's a pleasure to use as well. It was a sad day when Kyocera stopped making Contax cameras.
I'm jealous you've been able to shoot with that setup for that long! Maybe one day I'll own one. Thanks for watching and for the info!
Holy fudge, your images are awesome! That camera is one expensive beast! Great content as always!
A suggestion for a video: What Is It Like Being Married To Another Photographer?
+Photoinajuicebox Thank you! I appreciate that! Molly actually didn't start shooting until we started dating, but I am planning on interviewing her for the channel (without warning her of course). She seems to have a lot of fans on here anytime she's in a video!
Love the way you set up your videos: in depth review, actual use of the camera, final thoughts, favorite photos. Really helps potential buyers (like me) get sufficient information before jumping into getting a new/old camera! Keep up the good work!
Thank you! I appreciate that. I try to keep things honest and informative but entertaining or interesting as well.
You couldn't for wrong with the lovely Molly as the model! Nice camera too! :)
Cycling through old vids of the one and only tiny Matt, anyone else here from 2020?
Yeah me, Do you know if this camera can use digital backs ? Which ones, thanks.
2024
@@ivanguerra1260 maybe phase one
cool to see y'all from 2015 now :) as always, thanks for the video man
Best thing about the Contax is the 80/2.0 lens. You can chop off the end, take away all the electronics and mount it on any more rugged medium format camera that won't break anytime soon :D With a little bit of trickery you can also use a 6x6 camera to maximize the lovely image from the Planar.
The colours on both the fuji and portra are so vibrant and beautiful.
+NonProPhoto I was really happy with both rolls. As always, my favorite was the roll of Portra.
Hey Matt, Ive re-watched this video a few times, and have now finally taken the big step and got a Contax 645! So thanks for a great review and honest overview of the camera! keep up the really good work with the videos!
together are the best pics of the set. beautiful!
Just got my contact 645 and I really enjoyed the video! It was so helpful to see the different films you used out in the field. Loved the black and whites too!
Love that shot of your little one yawning especially, lol Great review! :)
Super cool video Matt. Loved the pics. The mounted cam was a nice extra man. Can't wait for the next video.
+187onaPigeon Thank you! I appreciate the support!
Very beautiful photos, Matt.
Thank you!
+Matt Day Photo Quick question if I may: when you rate the portra 160 at 100, do you get it developed as you usually would if you had shot it at box speed?
I’ll rob a bank for this kit. Great photos. The skin tones and color. Top notch
Best Contax 645 review that I've seen. Keep it up!
Thank you!
great channel and amazing selection of topics. really enjoying your videos and the way you speak and present things. very calm, serious but still not boring at all. please keep up your good work and congratulations on the fine set of portraits shot in this video. thanks!
We are gonna get this baby home and then he looks at the camera. Hahaha that was wicked funny
The color in these photos are unbelievable Matt.
I was very happy with the color in those rolls! Especially Portra.
That lens and Porta/400H is dreamy. Nice review Matt and lovely shots of Molly too.
+Dave Green Thank you! That lens definitely is special.
You guys are just so great 😍. Great results as always! Thank you for another awesome video.
+Lev Dimov Thank you for watching!
You made this enjoyable to watch. Very relaxed and friendly approach.
Well done.
Wonderful video. I have a baby boy just about her age... outdoor shoots are a very similar experience. You have a wonderful family and a wonderful channel. Keep it up.
Excellent and wonderful video!!!
that moment when you capture her yawning...then the photo came next...simply amazing
that depth of field is amazing man...
I owned one of these for a while and ended up selling it for $1,200 on eBay to buy a 5D Mark II. They weren't popular back in 2009 and you could barely give them away. Makes me sick.
Jesus Christ 🤦🏾♂️
Man, this deal you have with MPX is amazing. I love these vids. Thanks!
+Gabriel Sanz I'm certainly enjoying every bit of it. Haha. Thank you!
Beautiful baby! You are a lucky man and you have created some great shots. I am too, trying out black and white film in addition to my usual color photos. I shoot mainly kodak film because they are cheaper than fuji and they are pretty good when it comes to consumer and professional film. I have shot at night and as well as daytime. Over 90% of my shots came out great and I am not perfect. I shoot with a Nikon F100 and I owned it for the past ten years. Peace, Flood!
superb video!
i was kinda skeptical when i purchased it some 5 years ago. but it really grew on me! i never had issues with the electronics so far.
though i even thought to sell it, because i don’t use it very often. but who wants to sell a perfect camera...
This is hands down, the best review of this camera on the internet today.
Great job Matt!
Hey Matt. I went to a wedding last weekend and the photographer (Jose Villa) was using a Contax 645 as well as some Canon 1V's. He actually had 3 of these 645's as his two assistants were also shooting with them. They were shooting exclusively with Fuji Pro400H. I asked the father of the bride (my uncle) if I could see some of the results. I'm sure they'll be incredible. This camera is lust worthy for sure.
Oh and awesome shots you got of your wife. Hopefully some were printed.
still relevant. thanks for the effort and the sharing. please also thank the gals in your life. thumbs up.
Hey Matt!!! Greetings from Mexico. I just can say that every video you upload reflects the beauty of the art of photography! Recently I pick up a Yashica D and a Mamiya RB67 ProS, I hope you can make a review about 180mm sekor C lenses =) keep doing this great job!
This Contax and the RTS III was back in the day my dream, but I couldn't afford it. Now I'm again falling in love.
Excellent video, Matt. Great overview, field review, and especially images!
+amosk24 Thank you!
Really informative. Great video
What is in the air where you live? Step outside and boom! Beard. Excellent review.
Awesome. I love your reviews. I love your work in general to be honest. Keep it up, man! Cheers.
+Michel Oliveira Thank you! I appreciate that! More on the way.
wow! that was super inspiring. Great video and your shots are incredible! i have to go grab my camera right now and shoot! i love baby sneezes also, thanks!
+green tea Baby sneezes are my favorite. Haha. Thank you for the kind words! Glad you enjoyed it!
another great kyocera-made contax. think their withdrawal from photo business was a great loss.
the fact that 645 could/can take a number of digital backs too, was/is a great plus.
No kiddin'! The G2 and 645 are masterpieces in camera engineering!
Loved this, the format was great and gave a really good all round review of the camera. More please :)
+Rob Davie More on the way! Thanks!
Haha, I am so jealous right now! Great camera, and great review Matt! Cheers!
Nice photos and video production. I especially liked the one of your dog yawning. It was something about the mouth lines against the furniture.
What is the flash sync speed? Not a leaf shutter, I'm guessing.
Congratulations on becoming a father. It's the most important thing you'll ever do.
+EASTSIDERIDER707 Thank you! No, not a leaf shutter. I believe I remember it being 1/125 but I would do some research on that.
And thank you! I couldn't agree more.
The photos are amazing !!!
Great Job Matt.
+buttcaner Thank you!
awesome video matt really enjoyed every minute of that. well done 👍👍👍👍
+Matthew Lymer Thank you for watching! Happy to hear that.
For those contax 645 lovers, this camera is not supported by KYOCERA any more, all the parts are gone since 2010 and if it's broken, you will need to take the chance and find parts on Ebay.
Take great care of your contax 645, especially it's shutter
Great review of a great camera. As som younsters get their feet wet in film photography, I'd like to chime in and clarify that this camera was NOT made for handheld shooting neither was it made for fast pace. Those who machine gun their cameras will need to pay atttention to many things and being able to switch from 1/4000 to slower shutter speeds is one thing here. But again, those who focus on the story should not worry. Also that can be a plus for this camera, i.e. if you are at 1/4000 and need to go inside of building, to switch to 1/250 you will not have to dial all the way around.
Great videos Matt, keep up.
Regards,
G
Awesome video. I'm not buying one because of the cost but you were great to watch and learn from. Thanks!
Awesome. Thanks for the review. Maybe one day I will have one. BTW the best smiles from your wife was when she was holding the baby. :-)
I really like how you did the show - very well put together, thanks
Guys, this video is from 8 years ago. The quality of the video and photos is incredible.
i think this is the best camera review i've seen ever
Love to see you post up a similar piece for comparison results and thoughts using the Pentax 645nii. Good stuff and good shots.
I love this style of review! Keep 'em coming!
+AManWhoWasntThere Thank you! Happy to hear that! More on the way..
I have heard great things about both Contax and Pentax MF cameras 📷. Would like to see contax make a 67 camera
That bokeh omg
+Radu Andreyi Right?!
Thank you so much for this review, you pictures look adorable!
Great review; really enjoyed it. Enjoyed your photographs. Looking forward to more video and I do hope you get a Connie yourself.
Beautiful family. Congrats.
yes, Matt, the dark-slide is an important feature, esp. since the shutter/lock button is so "exposed" (pardon the pun here:-) ), this also offers a safety, that in event of camera being on, and the button being bumped in the bag, no shot will be wasted!!
wow. i'm late to this vid. you two look like kids. I never even knew she was in any of your videos!
Great Video, thank you for taking the time to make this. Really informative. Think I am going to get one to replace my 500cm
Great video Matt! I like how you went over shooting the different films at other speeds than box speed. Think you could make an episode just on different films and how they act shooting at different speeds? I never thought about shooting Portra 160 at 100. Loading a roll in my FM2 right now to try that.
Fantastic images Matt! Great review.
I nearly purchased this camera two years ago. What gave me pause is spending that amount on a system that is one broken part away from becoming a bookend. The Copal shutters are no longer manufactured and almost no NOS assemblies remain on the market. It's a tremendous system though.
Nice! Glad to see how you direct your subject/ wife. Great video and photos too!
By the way, your baby is growing so fast! haha
+Mambo Ferido Thank you! And yes, she seriously is. Too fast!
Thank you for this! I have now decided what system I’m going to invest in!
Very informative; simple, to the point. Thank you so much.
New fan of your work and your channel - rrrright here. Greetings from Germany.
Really digging the extra long in depth review thanks Matt.
+Ahhh714 Thanks for watching! I was hoping they wouldn't be too long/boring.
Hey Matt, Great video like always.
You rock man. Great review great shots
Excellent review! All my questions were answered.
one exciting fact about the removable back is that you can replace the film magazine for a Phase One digital back, so have either medium covered!
This is my favourite camera, one day maybe I will own one 😍
Damn Matt...nice shoot dude!!!
26-27 is my favourite, Thanks for going to the trouble of posting.
great vidéo Matt !
+Alexandre Lebel Thank you!
If it only were a 6x6 or 6 x 7.
Matt, great review!
I do love me some 6x7 and 6x6. But the 16 exposures per roll was nice! Thanks for watching!
You guys are such a beautiful family and oh my God your daughter should be the Gerber baby
Good stuff, man! Keep it coming!
+seriypshick Thank you! Definitely more on the way.
In regards to the battery: My Yashica T3 uses a 2CR5, and in the UK you can purchase name-brand 2CR5 batteries for £3, so not as bad as $20!
+ThrashedKidder Nowhere near as bad!
The result photo abundantly demonstrates the incapability of your video camera-just look at that vibrance and liveliness of the photo!
those images blow my bronica ETR images out of the water. amazing.
I have a Contax N1 and it uses the same battery but I've never paid anywhere near $20 per battery. The winding mechanism sounds the same as the 645 though. Nice Video !.
Very lovely video
great video matt!!
+Yassef Selman Thank you!
Have a Contax 645 with Distagon 3,5/35 and Varion Sonnar 4,5/45-90 for sale. Based in Germany.
btw... fantastic Review!!