It features a maximum shutter speed of 1/4000th of a second and a flash sync speed of 1/125s as well as exposure compensation, auto bracketing, mirror lock-up, a built-in motor drive (1.6fps), and TTL flash metering capabilities with Contax compatible Flashes like the TLA-360. The camera features TTL light metering and can be paired with a very bright prism or a waist-level finder. The 645 boasts many advanced features more often found on advanced 35mm SLRs while offering the better quality of medium-format. The body Contax 645 AF body offers a unqiue mixture of functionality not found elsewhere. Contax 645 lenses are designed by Zeiss, feature the legendary Carl Zeiss T* multi-coating, and produce images of exceptional color contrast and clarity. It's an AF (Autofocus) SLR camera designed to shoot incredible lenses on the 6x4.5cm format.
The Contax 645 is regarded as one of the best film medium format bodies ever created. This has no issue with camera performance, you just can't switch multiple backs on the camera. There is no darkslide for the film back but in reality, most of us don't change the film back, we just get additional inserts. What is nice about the battery grip, is the camera now takes AA batteries (we recommend the eneloop rechargeables you can get in the shop) instead of the 2CR5 batteries that drain quickly.
The shutter is not quick enough resulting in half blackened photos.This is an amazing Contax kit with the coveted 80mm F2.0 lens AND the extended battery grip. Very important is the exposure time: While 1/1000 is working reliable with the Rollei lenses, the Contax often gets problems with fast exposure times. Furthermore the bokeh of the Rollei lenses are much more calm and harmonious.
However, the current 1:2,8 80mm Xenotar or Angulon lens have beaten those two lenses by far: Even with the widest aperture these two Rollei lenses give sharp focuses to the edges but still have a bokeh, which matches up with the Contax lens 1:2,0/80mm. The difference to the Contax lens is marginal. It’s said that the rarer the Contax system gets the more glorified gets a photo taken with this 80mm.Ī comparable good lens from Rollei is the Xenotar 1:2,0/80mm HFT. It renders photos with such an unusual glance and with its own soft bokeh. There is the opportunity to use the multi-zone measurement with weighting on the lower third or spotmetering.Ĭurrently we don’t know any other system with such an accurate intern metering which obviates the need for an extern light meter.Ī classic in this area is the 1:2,0mm Zeiss auto focus lens for Contax 645. The Hy6 allows 500 releases with a fully loaded battery.Īlso important to say is the reliable light metering of the Rollei system. The Contax needs a high current with using the autofocus whereby the battery is depleted in a minimum of time.
A contax 645 professional#
The significant difference: You can buy the whole Hy6 System new with warranty and support.Īt the first sight the original price for the Hy6 System seems to be high, but the professional market requires a system which especially at weddings needs to work reliable and can be maintained. Same as a used Contax body with 2,0/80mm Zeiss Planer AF lens you pay around 3000€ for a used Hy6 body with 1:2,8/80mm lens. Let us compare both systems and demystify the Contax 645 system.