Contax N Digital

Opinion: Great camera for quality landscapes or studio images. ISO usable from 25 to 100 only before noise starts to creep in. Dynamic range excellent also. Preview screen on the back hopeless compared with what is currently available. No use for sports photography - autofocus isn't fast enough.

Opinion: The Contax N Digital is different than all other DSLR cameras. I have used Nikon and Fuji DSLR as well. However non of them makes a N Digital picture and gives a sentimental feeling like it does.

This camera is like a wild horse.
If you know how to use it despite of all it's mechanical disadvantages, you will have an excellent pictures.
If you don't know how to use it, you will be crying out loud and full of complains.

I love pictures that this camera gives, so I don't have any complains. : )

Opinion: Excellent image quality...

Opinion: Visit http://www.contaxNclub.com

Opinion: What a disappointment this camera is! It's built around the Contax N with the same controls, shape, size etc. -soundly constructed and for Contax users, the answer to a prayer until you view the results.
Even with the wonderful lenses available for this camera the output is poor compared to a higher megapixel point-and-shoot like the Olympus 8080. What's worse is that one is now stuck with Contax and, until someone makes a decent camera which will fit the lenses, it's an expensive cul-de-sac.
Realising that the camera is far from what they expected, perhaps we can persuade Contax to recall and upgrade the N Digital for all those suckers like me who are stuck with it.
Bottom line-don't buy the first technical iteration of any manufacturer, however brilliant their regular products.

Opinion: I bought this camera new a couple of months ago. The very last few left on the market. I use a N1 and a 645 so it is logical to buy the ND to complete the system. This camera IMO is the best digital camera regardless of price. The controls are so nicly layout and the build quality is first class. The CZ lens are simply stunning. I had a Canon 10D and a Nikon D70 with L lens and AFS ED lens in the past and they just did not satisfied my needs.

Having said that, The Contax is hopeless if you try to shoot at night. The noise level is so high above ISO 200 and if exposure goes beyond 1 sec, forget it. Both Canon and Nikon are much better in this respect.

Apart from that, the auto focus speed is reasonable and mostly accurate.

If picture quality is what you are after, this is the camera for you. I alwalys believe each camera has its pros and cons and if you can make use of the pros and live with the cons, you can enjoy the camera and get great pictures.

The problem with the battery life is no longer an issue. I shot more than 400 pictures with one set of 2500mAH batteries.

Opinion: Considering this camera has two year old technology and being the 1st full frame dSLR, it is a great camera even in today standard for image quality. You cannot expect to use it to shoot fast action sport as Contax's market is more for artists. It is a great gear if you like Carl Zeiss lenses, and image quality is superb when you shoot RAW format and develop in CS.

Opinion: Excellent camera for studio work.
Pros: low iso, image quality, color, Dynamic Range, 250 flash sync, control layout, changing setting is very fast, fantstic Contax build quality and most of all... Zeiss Glass
(plus you can use all of the 645 lenses)