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About this product
Product Information
Contax 139Q 35mm cameras were introduced in 1979 for semi-professional and serious amateur photographer. Although digital cameras dominate today's market, there's a lot to like about the Contax 139. For one thing, the 35mm SLR camera is very compact. The machined aluminum body measures 135 millimeters by 85.5 millimeters by 50 millimeters, and it has a black leatherette covering. A hallmark of the original Contax 139Q was its “quartz crystal heart,” and this model carries on that tradition. Using a crystal-powered by electricity, this camera can control all of its timing features with the same accuracy as a quartz timepiece. It has a large lens mount that can accommodate the well-respected manual focus Carl Zeiss lenses. A mix of automatic and manual functions are available on this SLR camera. It has dual exposure modes, so you can either choose aperture priority with automatic EV control or meter-assisted full manual EV control. The camera’s through-the-lens (TTL) aperture metering function works particularly well if you choose the aperture priority mode, and it will give you photos of outstanding quality. If you need to tweak the exposure a bit, you can manually adjust it by plus-or-minus two EV. The shutter on this Contax model is mounted on bearings for silky smooth operation. It's a vertical-travel, metal blade mechanism that is quartz timed with electronic control. The shutter speeds range from 0.001 to one second in manual mode. In automatic mode, the shutter speed is continuously variable from 0.001 to 11 seconds. The shutter release button is both large and recessed. That makes it easy to find when you need it, but it is not likely to get triggered accidentally. You can have even more flexibility by setting the electronic self-timer. Its 10-second delay lets you be in your own picture or time the photo perfectly. Before you snap a picture, you can use the depth of field preview button to make sure you like what you see. When you're using a flash, you can set the Contax 139Q cameras to bulb mode. The automatic control will use the TTL capability to sync the flashbulb and the shutter to 0.01 seconds. The status of the flash is only one of the readings that you will see on the camera’s large LED viewfinder. The viewfinder is the fixed prism type with a micro-prism focusing screen and a horizontal split image to help you get the sharpest photo. It allows you to see 95 percent of the viewing area. Besides the flashbulb status, the LED screen shows you the aperture setting and the exposure setting. It will give a warning if the view is under- or over-exposed, and it will tell you if the auto-exposure lock is on. You will also get a warning if the batteries are low. Since the Contax 139Q 35mm is a film camera, you must advance it manually after each picture. The rapid advance lever draws the film through a single frame at a time with a smooth and almost silent operation. Rewinding is also easy with the release lever and the hand-operated crank.Product Identifiers
BrandContax
Model139 Body Only
eBay Product ID (ePID)103061208
Product Key Features
TypeSLR
Focus TypeManual
Additional Product Features
Film Type35mm
Camera TypeSLR
Ratings and reviews
Most relevant reviews
- 02 Feb, 2016
Old-school SLR, simple and reliable
For old-school film camera enthusiasts, this camera delivers all the necessary manual functions, with easy control, smooth and robust mechanics, in a compact frame. A camera of this age often suffers from an inaccurate light meter, but when that is sorted out, you get TTL light metering to support the manual settings. For best experience, use Yashica ML series lenses (extremely good quality!), or if budget is not of concern, you can of course use Zeiss-made lenses with Contax-Yashica bayonet mount. Soft grip cover often falls apart with age, but one can find nice looking custom-made replacement (needed to replace mine for the looks). Otherwise, the mostly metal make withstands a good deal of beating.Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-owned
- 04 Oct, 2017
First Roll Processed
I felt it was quite a gamble to purchase a used camera online but this Contax 139Q was the exact make and model I've been looking for for quite a while. I've now shot my first roll of B/W film through the camera and I'm thrilled with the results. The camera performs like new. Metering is perfect and cosmetically the camera is amazing. Can't say how happy I am with this purchase!Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-owned
- 08 Mar, 2016
It works
Although parts are missing on the camera it does work.Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-owned
- 31 Aug, 2016
best manual camera
perfekt manual camera 70-80 letVerified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-owned
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