Contax Aria

[digitalintrigue]

Does anyone have any experience with an Aria?

I just came across one at a bargain price, and it appears to be an impressive little camera. Definitely not the tank that the RTS models are, but light and quiet. Looks to be an SLR version of the G1/G2, with similar control system. My only lens is a 50/1.7 Planar at the moment, the body is so light, I'm not sure it would balance well with a big lens, so I'm thinking the 85/2.8 may be a good match.

[Jeff L]

My Sonnar 85mm f 2.8 is an impressive lens. You won't go wrong with it.

[Alex]

The Aria is a peach, and it's a toss up for me between the Aria and the 159 as to which sits better in my hands, but as I have both, I have the luxury of self-indulgence. The 159's plus is when I need the higher flash sync speed.

It is indeed light, and I use it with the P50, the Pancake Tessar, and the S85/2.8. I've also been using it with a recently acquired VS 35-70, and found it surprisingly manageable. Neither have I had any problems using it with the S135. I've also used it with the S180 and the TT300, though in these cases I tripod mount the camera and use a long lens support (the Manfrotto 293) or built-in collar.

[digitalintrigue]

The Aria is a good fit, about the size of a Nikon FM or FE without motor, and the molded grip is excellent. The only thing I wish it had, is built-in diopter correction...I'm left eyed and the viewfinder display is a bit fuzzy with my left. It's sharp with my right eye but that's unnatural for me, and it is harder to see the display as it's on the far right of the view.

Now I need to find some diopter lenses... :)

EDIT: looking closely at the eyepiece, there was a diopter already attached...removed it, and now the view is perfectly sharp. :) Looks like it was a zero diopter (zero etched into the corner of the glass.) Whatever the native correction is, it's perfect for my left eye now. What a great viewfinder.

[fuwen]

Aria is probably the most reliable Contax body built. From many experienced Contax users the common mirror slip problem was finally solved in Aria. Yes it is light so when use with heavy lenses not so balance. Other than that it has all the latest technologies like spot metering and matrix metering, 5-pin TTL flash connection, and full phtography data recording on film with the very expensive data back.

I have used RTS, RTS II, RTS III, 159MM, AX.