Superstars of the 1970s (and beyond)

Chris and Carol

These two from the mid-1970s are not often seen together. The RTS was released in 1975, and I purchased this F-1 in 1978. I considered buying the RTS instead of the F-1, but the representative from Canon at the Navy Exchange store in Yokohama convinced me the F-1 was better, and at the time, a bit less expensive than the Contax. Many years later, I was able to get the RTS, and I added the PMD W-6 as a bonus. The Canon handles better due to its larger rubberized grip, but the RTS is a bit more sporty (designed by Porsche). I use them both. The Contax can eat through film at 5 fps vs. the Canon’s 3.5 fps.

Heavyweight superstars.
The Canon’s drive is much larger, but the Contax is faster.
Designed to excel in sports and unmanned photography.
I find the large rubberized grip on the Canon to be easy to hold, and the extra-wide base kept the camera stable on a table.
The Contax is super slick; the drive almost disappears into the camera’s body. Conversely, the smaller footprint means the camera is not as stable on a table.
The grip on the Canon is removable, which opens up additional possibilities and accessories..
One of my favorite Carl Zeiss lenses.

Thanks for stopping by, Chris

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Comments are always welcome; I’ve learned a great deal from reader feedback. As always, thanks for stopping by. While there, visit my camera shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com (CC Design Studios, hosted on Etsy). – Chris Whelan

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