If you landed here you know what this camera is capable of and how amazing it is.
So I'll just mention what I don't like that often isn't referenced on reviews:
- The titanium shell is beautiful, but again its just a thin layer of titanium that scratches very easily. It's beautiful, but not rugged.
- The top dial has a locking button you need to press to enter aperture priority mode and then again to return to program. I wish it also locked from off to on position, as many times I accidentally turn it on while storing it and makes the lens hit and obstacle and not opening properly. Many times I open my camera bag to find the camera allready on with the lens halfway open.
- The lens cover has 4 blades that are very prone to collecting dust and thus not close or open properly. Mine is close to perfect but sometimes it just doesn't close perfectly unless I force it a bit (and smudge the lens in the meantime).
- The viewfinder is the best I've seen in a compact camera, but the frame lines are so dim that I rarely see them properly, thus having many shots not properly framed.
- The shutter button has 2 actions, one very light press to check focus and lock exposure, and all the way down to shoot. But it doesn't have good haptic feedback so it's a bit finicky. A bit too much pressure and you accidentally shoot and waste a frame. Especially difficult if you want to check focus distance or lock exposure and reframe. Requires some getting used to and very precise index pressing.
- Overall I believe the cameras light meter overexposes at 0 EV. Most of my shots at EV +0 (no compensation) look a bit overexposed. Correct exposure seems to be somewhere at -0.3 and -0.6 EV comp.
- Although the camera has maximum shutter speed of 1/1200 if you shoot at f2.8 you are "limited" to max 1/500.
- Filter/hood mount is some proprietary mount and not a standard thread, so it's difficult to find accessories to use filters and sun shades
- The flash is very weak (as expected)
- The camera is not that silent. The rocking of the lens when powered on is very noisy, and so is the focus. Winding noise is OK, but again not silent.
- Although it's not a problem after modding, why Contax went for 1 or 2 teeth sprocket makes no sense to me. My camera was modded with a tiny hook in place of the teeth and works fine.
- Autofocus is most of the times accurate. But not always. Need to check focus readout distance on the top screen.
- Focus Lock button has to be pressed for 3 seconds to engage. Many times that feels like ages. Wish it was just instant.
- The small dial for adjusting +/- is a bit meh, many times I have to turn it 3 or 4 clicks to engage just 1 change. Not accurate.
That's it. You may find these negative points really not important, but it's a +2000€ camera nowadays. I was hoping for better. Selling mine for the same price I payed, 2000€.
It's a fantastic camera, but for the price it's just not worth it... Let the celebs have them.
