Used prices of Contax 645 gear are getting out of hand. I recently saw a Really Right Stuff RRS L bracket sell for $610 at the auction site! I have this myself, but there are much cheaper alternatives that work well.
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Contax 645 Prices
- Thread starter engel001
- Start date
Audii-Dudii
Active member
IIRC, the one on eBay previous to this went for ~$165, which seems much more reasonable. For $610, it shouldn't be too difficult to have one custom-made by some firm such as S.K. Grimes and I expect even then that it still wouldn't cost nearly that much!
As for prices of gen-u-ine Contax gear (versus third-party products), it does appear the price for basic kits (body, finder, back, 80mm lens) has started climbing again, although the prices for lenses continue to fall. As ever, though, condition is definitely a factor (although, that said, I rarely ever see any Contax gear in "beater" condition ... why is that?) and sometimes a temporary supply shortage can cause prices of certain items to spike if somebody decides they really must have a particular item there and then rather than wait for one at a good price...
Fortunately, except for a good 45-90 zoom (the first two used ones I bought were good but not great performers, so I sold them on, but I gather that really good ones do exist), my needs are pretty well satisified for now...
lance_schad
Workshop Member
Production of the Contax 645 stopped in 2005 .
It is still a solid camera platform , the AF was a little slow, but great lenses. It has a great feel as well in hand.
There are still many loyalists out there. PhaseOne is still producing new backs in the Contax mount, even the new IQ series is available in the Contax mount.
I am sure Victor will chime in on this thread
.
L
It is still a solid camera platform , the AF was a little slow, but great lenses. It has a great feel as well in hand.
There are still many loyalists out there. PhaseOne is still producing new backs in the Contax mount, even the new IQ series is available in the Contax mount.
I am sure Victor will chime in on this thread
.L
I believe these are some of the factors driving the prices in the segment I am most comfortable in, i.e. Brand New unused, Like New in Box:
1. Dwindling supply of equipment in those categories.
2. Zeiss. The only medium format autofocus system with Zeiss lenses. The 120mm Makro (easily found new for over $1000 less than the comparable Hasselblad H lens). Some have bought into Contax 645 for that reason alone. Or for the 45-90mm zoom. Or for the 55mm Distagon, a fast 80mm f2.0, the character of the 45mm and 140mm lenses...
3. Waist level finder available.
4. Ability to use all Hasselblad V lenses, some of which are fantastic bargains (i.e. CB 60mm Distagon).
5. Built in flash metering.
6. 1/4000 top shutter speed.
7. Intuitive user interface.
8. Demand from current users stocking up with backups or completing their systems
9. New users finding entry to MFD. Last time I checked, Hasselblad H and Mamiya AF lens prices have mostly reached levels higher than new old stock Contax 645 cameras and lenses.
I personally view this as my system for life and am currently using a P65+ back. It is actually nice not to have new lenses tempt me to "upgrade" constantly. Another five years of Kyocera OEM support is reassuring.
1. Dwindling supply of equipment in those categories.
2. Zeiss. The only medium format autofocus system with Zeiss lenses. The 120mm Makro (easily found new for over $1000 less than the comparable Hasselblad H lens). Some have bought into Contax 645 for that reason alone. Or for the 45-90mm zoom. Or for the 55mm Distagon, a fast 80mm f2.0, the character of the 45mm and 140mm lenses...
3. Waist level finder available.
4. Ability to use all Hasselblad V lenses, some of which are fantastic bargains (i.e. CB 60mm Distagon).
5. Built in flash metering.
6. 1/4000 top shutter speed.
7. Intuitive user interface.
8. Demand from current users stocking up with backups or completing their systems
9. New users finding entry to MFD. Last time I checked, Hasselblad H and Mamiya AF lens prices have mostly reached levels higher than new old stock Contax 645 cameras and lenses.
I personally view this as my system for life and am currently using a P65+ back. It is actually nice not to have new lenses tempt me to "upgrade" constantly. Another five years of Kyocera OEM support is reassuring.
David Klepacki
New member
Just a fact check here.
The Contax 645 was the first autofocus system with Zeiss lenses, but it is not the only one. The Sinar M system is also a 645 system with autofocus Zeiss lenses. There are four Digital AF Zeiss lenses (40, 80, 120, 180) plus a Rodenstock Digaron 28mm HR lens adapted to support the Sinar live view system. And, it also accepts any Hasselblad V lens.
yaya
Active member
David I think it would be fair to say that most of these were sold and serve as a rear standard/ shutter on a P3 and that very few bodies have ever seen a Zeiss lens...
David Klepacki
New member
Well, I owned the whole system, including all the Zeiss AF lenses, and used it as an SLR almost exclusively. I also owned a compete Contax 645 kit at the same time so I could compare them side by side. After only a few weeks, I sold off my entire Contax 645 system, since the Sinar M was that much better. The autofocus was still the fastest I have ever seen on any medium format camera and the images were every bit as brilliant as the best Zeiss glass for Hasselblad. And, none of the AF Zeiss lenses for the Sinar M showed any CA.
I think there are many more users of this system as SLR than you think, although admittedly not a large number. Yes, many p3 owners bought the camera as a shutter, but they also bought the new Zeiss AF lenses. I personally know at least six other photographers who also shoot the Sinar M as a SLR, but only three of them are members of this forum.
Wyan, back to the Sunway bracket. I have both models and they are very versatile and strong. The fit is secure when mounted, but the battery grip contour is slightly oblique. The bracket's lip (the side imprinted with the manufacturer's web address) aligns itself with this contour which is not parallel to the film plane in the case of the MP-1 battery grip, but that doesn't really matter. Best would be of course if there were anti-twist pins on the bracket as there are two sockets in the undersurface of the camera or grip. By the way, plates for Mamiya 645 manual focus fit the Contax 645 perfectly and have properly spaced pins. - Christopher
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Thanks.
Audii-Dudii
Active member
Wyan:
Another option that works fairly well is the Really Right Stuff Universal L bracket, Part No. MC-L, $105 plus shipping: http://reallyrightstuff.com/ProductDesc.aspx?code=MC-L&type=0&eq=MCL-001&desc=MC-L%3A-Universal-L-Plate
It similarly has a rear lip that doesn't fit the battery grip especially well, but it will work. Likewise, the rear lip interferes a bit with the regular grip installed, but a pair of nickel coins positioned on each side of the screw are the perfect thickness shims to level the plate and it tightens down very securely, with the rear lip preventing it from twisting.
Another option that works fairly well is the Really Right Stuff Universal L bracket, Part No. MC-L, $105 plus shipping: http://reallyrightstuff.com/ProductDesc.aspx?code=MC-L&type=0&eq=MCL-001&desc=MC-L%3A-Universal-L-Plate
It similarly has a rear lip that doesn't fit the battery grip especially well, but it will work. Likewise, the rear lip interferes a bit with the regular grip installed, but a pair of nickel coins positioned on each side of the screw are the perfect thickness shims to level the plate and it tightens down very securely, with the rear lip preventing it from twisting.
Audii-Dudii
Active member
Well, here we go again ... will lightning strike twice? (And as if the starting bid and buy-it-now prices aren't bad enough, look at the shipping cost ... this seller certainly doesn't intend to leave any money on the table!)
http://cgi.ebay.com/Contax-645-L-Bracket-Really-Right-Stuff-rare-/110672957914?pt=Camera_Cables_Cords&hash=item19c49f51da
http://cgi.ebay.com/Contax-645-L-Bracket-Really-Right-Stuff-rare-/110672957914?pt=Camera_Cables_Cords&hash=item19c49f51da
Thank you very much. I actually like the camera without grip (for lighter weight).