Contax T3 is no longer affordable to the average person, but I used to use a T3 when it was still cheap.
Although I have not had this camera with me since it was stolen by a burglar in my room during a trip, I will explain the advantages and disadvantages of the T3 and the differences in depiction depending on settings based on examples of my work.
Contax T3 example photos (Portra/Provia)
The negative film is Kodak’s Portra. Only the last one will be Fuji’s positive film PROVIA.
Champa ruins in Vietnam. The weather is not so good, but the light coming in to some extent is gentle, so this is a situation where the T3 excels.
The resolution and color are excellent.
This is also inside the Champa ruins. The rain dew and leaves on the grass are in the realm of digital resolution.
A food stall in Malaysia. This is not a good picture, but the great thing about T3 is that there is no noise running in the shadow area.
The image is shot with a maximum aperture of f/2.8, the color flux is subdued and the entire image is enveloped in a fluffy, three-dimensional effect.
This is also with the aperture wide open, and the soft light, which is Contax’s forte, makes for an impressive picture.
In Vietnam. This is a situation where the T3 is not good at, as the sky is cloudy and there is no light shining through.
The resolution is adequate, but without shadows, the T3 doesn’t show its best.
This is a monumental place in Vietnam. There is a haze in the sky, but it is a clear situation. I am not very good at these situations either.
However, there are only a few cameras that can project better than this.
Truthlane Museum, Cambodia. The camera is a little shaky, but the T3 really comes into its own when the light shines into the room.
Rote Island, Indonesia. The strong sunlight has completely blown away. The resolution is great, but it makes the picture look nondescript.
Squirrel tribe in Thailand. They are backlit and under-exposed, but they manage to stick around. It looks a little stiff for female portraits.
Angkor Thom. Only this photo was taken using Fuji’s positive film “Provia”.
It is the time of day shortly after sunrise. When there are shadows like this, and when there is warmth in the light coming in, such as sunrise or sunset, it is an outstanding descriptive ability.
Descriptive features of the ContaxT3
Resolution and depiction
The resolution is amazing, to say the least. I think T3 is better than the single focal length lenses of SLR cameras of the same era.
The lines are fine for a Contax, but the image has the right amount of thickness and is not too rigid while producing such high resolution.
Also, the lack of noise in night shots and indoors is amazing.
Color
It is more subdued than the Contax T2, but more saturated than other high-end compact cameras.
The tones are tight and probably strongly render blacks. As a result, colors can be a bit jumpy without shadows, and too much contrast can result in too much black.
Light through the window, sunrise, sunset
As is the case with all Sonar lenses, the rendering and three-dimensionality under gentle light sources are excellent.
This is a camera that does not break the bank in any situation, and in situations where it excels, it produces images that only the CONTAX T3 can produce.
But I guess the lack of color in the descriptions and the fact that they don’t give us the challenge of bankruptcy are the opposite of what I don’t love.