View allAll Photos Tagged Contax_AX,
Contax AX / Contax Auto Extension Bellows / Oscillo-Paragon Ilex 75mm f1.9
Agfaphoto APX100 / R09 1+25 7,5min
若問我在C/Y mount的Contax中那一部機最有趣，我一定不用考慮的便直接回答是AX！能接上的鏡頭都能實現自動對焦，能有不有趣之理嗎？
先來溫習一下歷史
於上世紀三十年代，原本只專注於鏡片生產的Zeiss開始生產相機，而所用的品牌就是Contax，直至六十年代停產。到了七十年代，Zeiss找上了日本的Yashica合作，重新再以Contax的名字來推出相機。重生Contax主打的當然仍是Zeiss的高質量鏡頭，但這些掛著Contax名號的相機中亦不乏一些名機，而當中最吸引我的，就是那台在1996年發表的AX
在外觀上，九十年代的Contax機身看起來都差不多一個樣子，頂多是尺吋上有一點點的分別。AX當然也都不例外，分別是他的厚度和高度都比兄弟們大了一點吧。高大的身型加上複雜的結構，令AX有著1080g的機身淨重，比 Minolta 的 Dynax 9重 (910g )，但仍比 Nikon F5 輕一點 (1210g )。其實機身拿在手上沒有想像中那麽重，全金屬的外殼也有著一份札實的手感。就算已差不多二十歲，各個按鈕和轉盤亦仍有著適當的阻力，沒有因經年操作而變得鬆鬆散散。把機身造得這麽大，其實就是為了收藏了那項到現在還是他獨有的科技 -- 機身自動對焦。他的菱鏡、反光鏡箱和底片架等組件都是安裝在一套滑軌上的，透過電動馬達控制這些組件前後移動，便能實現自動對焦功能了。雖然說起來好像很輕易，但這仍是一件要依靠特別技術才能實現的事情。例如要為了令相機在滑軌上移動時仍保持精確性，Yashica的母公司京瓷( Kyocera ) 便提供的特製陶瓷軌導；而為了令相機的內組件能迅速移動，便用上了超音波馬達來作為驅動系統。這些技術令AX有著高速的對焦能力，速度雖然跟 Nikon 和 Canon 的旗艦機相比也許還是差了一點點，但確實已是足夠有餘了。最重要的是這項技術能令手動對焦的鏡頭也擁有自動對焦的能力！
除了 Zeiss 自家和合作伙伴 Yashica 的鏡頭群外，最常看到的就是M42鏡頭的轉接環。有了這個接環，就等於令一大堆老Pentax，Carl Zeiss Jena 和 Pentacon 等老鏡頭能實現自動對焦！機身對焦還附帶了一項特殊功能 -- 幾乎所有鏡頭都能變成微距鏡！AX的對焦桿有一個 MACRO 選項，當選用這個選項時機身的內組件便會自動移動至最遠的距離，令相機好像加上了一個extension tube一樣，令鏡頭的對焦距離近了很多.
除此之外，AX還是第一台有Custom Function的相機。Custom Function在現代的高階數位相中幾乎已是必要的能力，舉凡ISO step、對焦輔助等慣用功能都能在裡面設定。而在當年的AX，能設定的功能也有八項，可控制對焦燈和機身正面按鈕等功能，再配合相機上大大小小共十多個的各式按鈕和轉盤，說AX是最複雜的底片相機之一也不為過
photo taken with
Sony NEX-3
Porst Color Reflex Auto 55/1.4
Mitakon Lens Turbo
150319
The AX is the first autofocus Contax SLR produced by Kyocera. The AX achieves autofocus capability with the standard manual focus Carl Zeiss lenses by utilizing a specially-developed automatic back focusing system. With this system, the fixed mirror box, pentaprism assembly and film plane move as a unit along a ceramic rail to achieve focus. Contax later introduced the N1/NX series of autofocus film SLRs that used a new generation of autofocus Carl Zeiss lenses. The later model N1 and NX are not compatible with manual focus Contax/Yashica mount Carl Zeiss and Yashica lenses.
Being a long-time manual focus SLR user when the AX first came out, I at first did not know how to react to this camera. Recall at the time that many photographers were still shooting manual focus SLRs, such as the Nikon F3, Contax ST,etc. The AX generated a lot of commentary in the press and especially on the Internet soon after its release. Some thought it was great that Contax took this approach to finally develop an autofocus SLR. Others though this was an admission of defeat by a camera maker that waited far too long to get onto the autofocus SLR bandwagon. Looking back from a historical standpoint, the AX was a brilliant solution by Kyocera to try to compete in the autofocus SLR market while maintaining compatibility with their existing base of Contax line Carl Zeiss lenses. In a way, the RX and AX were stepping stones by Kyocera on their way from traditional manual focus to a complete autofocus system with the N1/NX.
For those who are used to the image of sleek, thin SLRs such as the RX and the ST, the AX does not immediately appear to be beautiful. The camera has the cosmetics of an RX, but the AX body is much thicker from front to back to make room for the moving focus assembly within the camera. However, once one gets used to the camera's bulky image, at least for a 35mm SLR, one realizes that it is packed with useful technology and really does combine the best features of automatic focus capabilities and compatibility with Carl Zeiss manual focus lenses.
The AX continued the tradition of providing the tank-like over-engineered feel common to most Contax bodies. The camera has a titanium top cover and an aluminum alloy die-cast chassis, and is made with the same attention to detail and finely-machined parts for which Contax cameras are renowned. All of the controls are consistent with the design of other high-end Contax cameras, employing the switches and knobs representative of a traditional analog user interface but which are actually electronic controls connected to state-of-the-are electronic circuitry within the camera. The camera weighs in at 1,080 grams without battery, so it is no lightweight. However, its weight is still acceptable when compared with certain other contemporaneous professional-level bodies from Contax (RTSIII), Nikon (F4 and F5) and others, especially after battery weight is factored in.
Let's check out the various features of this fascinating camera. Basically, the designers have successfully combined the best and most important features of the RX, ST and RTSIII, and then gone a step further by adding autofocus. The AX has a shutter speed dial positioned at the standard Contax location on the top left of the camera. While shutter speed can only be set from 4 sec. to 1/4000 sec. in manual and shutter priority mode, the shutter has an increased range from 32 sec. to 1/6000 sec. in Av and P modes. Surrounding the shutter speed dial is an exposure mode selector lever, which permits selection of the following metering modes: Av, Tv, P, M, X and B. The same lever is also used for selecting modes to directly adjust film ISO and to modify the custom functions of the camera. Custom functions such as film leader out on rewind are actually set using the two adjustment buttons on the top right of the camera. The AX has the standard Contax exposure compensation dial on the top right of the camera, which allows very easy and quick adjustment of exposure compensation in the range of +-2 EV. The exposure compensation dial is surrounded by the automatic bracketing control ("ABC") lever, which permits a series of three photographs to be taken with +- 0.5 or 1.0 EV exposure compensation. The ABC function works either by making one exposure with each press of the shutter release button, or a continuous burst of three frames as long as the shutter release button is held down, depending on how the drive mode selector dial is set (single or continuous exposure). The top-mounted drive mode selector dial allows adjustment for single frame exposure, continuous exposure (at 3 or 5 fps), multiple exposure, and self timer (2 or 10 second delay). Surrounding the drive mode selector dial is the focus mode selector lever. This lever allows rapid selection among manual focus, single autofocus, continuous autofocus, and a macro setting. A combination button/dial just under the thumb position on the back right of the camera body works with the focus mode selector lever to adjust the operation of the focus system. The main switch surrounding the shutter release button has the usual Contax autoexposure lock functionality. However, the AX adopts the RTSIII's very convenient placement of the exposure meter selection switch to the left side of the lens mount. Other controls include the standard Contax exposure check button and electronic depth-of-field preview button on the right front of the camera. The exposure check button activates the viewfinder information without the risk of tripping the shutter when trying to press the shutter release button down only half-way. The camera also provides built-it dioptric adjustment and a shutter for the viewfinder eyepiece.
The viewfinder of the AX is very good. The camera uses an oversized prism, providing a very bright view of the subject and a 95% field of view. While it is an autofocus camera, the AX, like the RX, also sports the traditional horizontal split image, microprism collar, and of course matte field optical focusing aids. All of the viewfinder readouts are located on a LCD display below the viewfinder image. This display includes an exposure frame counter, spot/average metering indicator, exposure compensation indicator (+ or -, as well as a numerical readout of the amount of compensation), flash indicator, back focus position indicator, in-focus indicator, aperture indicator, over/under exposure warning, and shutter speed indicator. Because of the packed real estate on the viewfinder LCD readout, there is unfortunately no room for a graphical indication of the exact amount of exposure compensation, or any indication of the amount of over/under exposure when setting exposure in M mode. Metering patterns are a 5 mm spot meter, which includes the area within the microprism focusing collar, and a wide area center-weighted average pattern. In addition to the standard FW-1 focusing screen, Contax also provides four other selections of focusing screens for various applications.
The flash functionality of the AX combines the best features of both the RX and the ST, but does not offer the pre-flash spot meter found on the RTSIII. Flash synch is at a fastest speed of 1/200 second. Among Contax electronic cameras, only the RTSIII offers a faster maximum synch speed (1/250 second). This speed should be fast enough for fill flash in most available light conditions. TTL flash appears to be based on a fairly narrow center-weighted pattern. The AX shares the RX's five-point flash contact on the accessory shoe, providing enhanced camera to flash communication, as well as a locking slot to keep the flash unit from falling off. With this improved communication, the Contax TLA flash readout panel will automatically reflect the film ISO and lens aperture, as well as activate the direct flash exposure compensation functionality on the flash unit itself. With this system, balanced fill flash is implemented by setting the appropriate negative flash compensation on the flash unit.
The AX can be fit with an optional multi-functional data back (D-8). This highly advanced data back allows the recording of data (such as shutter speed and aperture, date, time or exposure mode) between the film frames or on frames one and two at the beginning of the roll. Somewhat uniquely in its class, the D-8 also provides an intervalometer that can be set to trigger exposures from every two seconds to 99 hours, 59 minutes, 59 seconds.
The AX works on one 6V lithium 2CR5 battery. The battery is inserted on one side of the camera base, allowing the tripod mount of this relatively weighty camera to be placed at the body's center of balance. Kyocera claims that the battery has a capacity of about 50 rolls of 36-exposure film under their test conditions. The automatic back focusing system of the AX appears to be relatively energy-efficient. As I mentioned in my separate review for the RX, I prefer the use of lithium batteries in Contax cameras, which provides for longer time between battery changes, better cold weather performance, and lighter travelling weight.
The autofocus system of the AX utilizes an AF-assist beam, which is emitted from the right front of the camera. The camera’s autofocus capability is relatively fast and accurate for general use, especially for the time when the AX was released. It was not as fast as the autofocus systems on high-end sports-oriented cameras, such as the Nikon F5 or the Canon EOS 1n. Nevertheless, the AX's focusing speed and accuracy compared very favorably with other autofocus bodies offered by the competition. A very nice feature of the AX's autofocus system is its ability to turn almost any lens into a macro lens (by eliminating the need to use extension tubes). In normal (non-macro) autofocus mode, some care must be taken when focusing floating element/group lenses at relatively close distances.
Copyright © 1997-2015 Timothy A. Rogers. All rights reserved.
(DSC_1584mod1BR25 Rev1)
Fujichrome Provia 100 (RDPII)
Contax AX
Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar 28-85mm f/3.3-4.0
(Set 46 - Transparency0035k br35v2)
grater - a closer look
Contax AX / Contax Auto Extension Bellows / Oscillo-Paragon Ilex 75mm f1.9
Agfaphoto APX100 / R09 1+25 7,5min
Trying out the Contax AX which had not had an outing for a while. I'd forgotten what a nice camera it was to use. Being able to have autofocus with manual focus Zeiss lenses is great. It might not be the fastest autofocus in the world but it is very accurate in decent light and because you have a regular focusing screen you can see instantly whether the picture is completely sharp or not.
I only had a few minutes of good light before the clouds came over and the rain started but it was very pleasant to have the place to myself for a short spell.
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Shot on ILFORD HP5 PLUS at EI 400.
Black and white negative film in 35mm format.
Contax AX, Hasselblad Distagon C 50mm F4.
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Large version at: emulsive.org/photography/35mm-format/decision-time-ilford...
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Filed under: #35mm_format, #Photography,
CONTAX AX
Vario-Sonnar T* 28-85mm F3.3-4 MMJ
Kodak T-MAX 400
HC-110 (H)
Pentax K-3II
DFA 100mm F2.8 Macro
Pentax Film Duplicator
RRS
Trying out the Contax AX which had not had an outing for a while. I'd forgotten what a nice camera it was to use. Being able to have autofocus with manual focus Zeiss lenses is great. It might not be the fastest autofocus in the world but it is very accurate in decent light and because you have a regular focusing screen you can see instantly whether the picture is completely sharp or not.
I only had a few minutes of good light before the clouds came over and the rain started but it was very pleasant to have the place to myself for a short spell.
I had packed up and was heading back to the van when this rainbow appeared. Luckily I had two frames left at the end of the roll.
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Shot on Rollei Vario Chrome at EI 400.
Color reversal (slide) film in 35mm format.
Exposure bracketing test
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Large version at: emulsive.org/photography/35mm-format/fallen-bougainvillea...
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Filed under: #35mm_format, #Photography, #2017_August, #35Mm_Format_Film, #Color_Reversal_Slide_Film, #Contax_AX, #EI_200, #EI_400, #EMULSIVE_Daily_Photo, #Helios_443_MC, #Macodirect, #Rollei, #Rollei_Vario_Chrome
You can never have enough of a good thing... A new AX and 100mm f2 Planar. It's amazing to use the Planar as a macro lens thanks to the awesome AX's capabilities...