Contax N 1 - SLR camera - 35mm - body only

The Contax N1 is a fabulous camera. It is bulit like a tank, but handles quickly and easily -- everything is where it should be and very intuitive. The lenses for the N1 are without peer. The N1 has a big and very bright viewfinder -- probably about the brightest you'll find in any 35mm SLR. It has many custom functions so you canset up the camera the way you like. It has many innovative features likeauto-focus bracketing, an ingenious LCD finder attachment, and can take the lenses from Contax 645 with an adapter that allows auto focus and full aperture control! The camera is a joy to use and the images it produces are stunning. the AF isn't as fast as Canon and the flash system but both are certainly more than adequate. The lens selection is not large, but it does cover a very wide range in very high quality. If great, intuitive handling, great lenses and unsurpassed image quality is what you are looking for, the N1 is your camera. I can not recommend the N1 more highly -- it surpasses the Contax manual focus cameras, with the possible exception of the equally phenomenal RTS III.

Hoping to revive its financial fortunes, Kyocera developed this autofocus SLR as the ultimate example of its kind, relying on Carl Zeiss to create a system of autofocus Zeiss lenses akin to what is available now on the Contax 645. Instead, Kyocera created the most expensive autofocus flagship SLR, and regrettably, it pales in comparison with its competition, most notably from Nikon and Canon (Kyocera's worst mistake was designing and producing the Contax N series digital camera, which sank from sight, faster than the RMS Titanic.). I wish Kyocera had done more to strengthen its Contax/Yashica SLR system, thinking perhaps of creating a digital back for the Contax RTS III, if not for either the RX or ST (Both fine cameras which have been discontinued by Kyocera.). It remains doubtful whether the current partnership between Kyocera and Carl Zeiss will endure, especially since Carl Zeiss has created a line of Zeiss-designed, predominantly Cosina (Voigtlander) built Leica M mount rangefinder lenses for its new Zeiss Ikon rangefinder camera scheduled to be released in the Spring of 2005 (Indeed, Carl Zeiss and Yashica have already severed ties, with the Contax brand being used solely for compact cameras, especially those which are digital. I understand that Zeiss has closed its Japanese lens making facility.).