Episode 3: Camera Legend TITANS: The CONTAX AX

Today we take a look at a TITAN of a Camera Legend from 1996 that attempted to “autofocus” manual focus lenses. A radical idea that no one's ever tried before or since!

Our review of this camera has been up for a couple of years and this is a quick video review to complement it. At that time we called the series “Tuesday Titans” but now we will just use “Titans” so as not to stuck to Tuesday 😀

Special for this video review, I have included tips on using the AF, the shutter sound, and a video view of the ingenious and rarely seen autofocus mechanism in action.

Thanks for watching and appreciate your time!

[DCor]

I recently picked up a mint in box ax with a 50 1.7, its a beast of a camera to use. The AF is spotty at times like some have stated, but ive learned to use it to gauge the exact focus, then just turn the focus ring as needed

[acidsnow]

People rave about the contax gs but this seriously is a beauty!
Thanks for sharing it with us!

It is great!

[cmathew]

Somewhere in 1998 I had the privilege of using one...I was in awe of it's focusing uniqueness...now I found out it focuses from inside the film cartridge... amazing contax😅

[contaxpaulharrison]

Contax's quirky engineering at it's most quirky, how can you not like a camera where it is handy to know the optical design of the lens in use in order to be able to focus it. Special treatment for lenses with floating elements and recommendations on how to autofocus a zoom based on how far the back is extended using a viewfinder bar. Even the cable release behaviour changes in different focussing modes. What is amazing is that at some point they didn't just stand back and look at it and realise it was a bad idea. Definitely not a user friendly camera. Apparently there is a design fault in the aperture follower at least I was told that by the repairer I use who tends to go pale every time I mention the AX, I expect that it gives him nightmares. Take the manual with you if you want to take a picture with one, you will need it.

[alfredobustamante]

You sound like the Drexel from the movie True Romance. Great review!

[areallyrealisticguyd]

Considering the quirks of the camera, would it be possible to mount Minolta or FD lenses onto it?

[sputumtube]

I'm only guessing, but I'd imagine that the lenses far outweigh the prices of the camera bodies now.

[geek]

In my hay days I was shooting football games and sport alike I ran 2 Nikon F4s bodies work horses films were provided just bring home 1-2 front page worthy print I snapped away. Other that I never run empty!

[angelisone]

@Jack Wiegmann, his name was stated in Adorama and the world of photography.
It wasn't that hard and I don't even live in USA.
Well, have a Happy New Year & keep on shooting.

[erichstocker]

Why in gods name would you compare a "full frame" film SLR with a 4/3 olympus or even a film olympus. When one compares against other top notch film cameras the AX is not that bulky. Where the AX differs is in body thickness not in overall size. The body thickness increase is necessary to do the autofocus of manual lenses. Thickness accepted it isn't that much bigger than my canon a2e. I've never thought about the increase in thickness as some liability. Obviously if you want to go mountain hiking, you might want a lighter camera. The internal mechanism obviously also increases the weight. The other aspects of this camera are much more interesting.

[tomislavstanich]

I am not sure is this video clip more about of the ring on his point finger or about this great camera, the CONRAX RX.

[teddystevens]

Love mine just need some zeiss glass lol

[tastebuds]

Wait what??? It’s a 35mm, I thought it was a medium format camera before 🤣

[jackeason]

The original Mamiya 7 focused by moving the film plane so the CONTAX AX is not unique in that regard.

[geek]

Trigger happy click shutter on empty one day those curtains will fold over. I called fuzzy logic focus back then

[angelisone]

One of the best cameras by ATG.
ATG knews that the German could not make AF lenses. It was first under ATG then changes to AX.
Only now Japan Zeiss makes AF lenses.

[eddyjcreative]

I want for the challenge i bet it can get good photos