Contax TVS or Yashica T Zoom?

[Odot]

Both look so great on paper, especially their lenses. which one do you like better?

 

[TheRook]

As they are very different cameras, it depends on which is more useful to you.
In my opinion, the TVS has the more interesting features. In comparison, the Yashica is basically a typical point and shoot.

 

[Odot]

I need to bring this thread back: has anyone had a TVS before? If yes, what was your experience and how does it compare to a Yashica T4 Zoom?

 

[Huss]

I briefly had the TVSIII. I loved the build quality, but hated the stupid trap door. The delay to use the camera from closed was silly. Turn on, wait for the trap door to come down, then wait for the lens to extract.
The lens was killer IF the camera focused correctly. But for some reason mine missed focus about 1/3 of the time. Not hugely, the pics just seemed 'off' then when you looked closely, you see that it focused slightly infront or behind the subject.
Weird, cuz even my most basic p&s cameras focused better.

As for the TVS 1 and 2 - they don't use the dumb trap door but now are very susceptible to main ribbon failure.

 

[Huss]

The most awesome luxury p&s is the Rollei QZ 35 series. Shutter speeds 1/8000 to 16 sec in all modes. Three dials control everything. Titanium build. Crazy good lenses. The size of a Leica M... so not exactly pocketable.

 

[Patrick Robert James]

The TVS is much better built. It has titanium covers. It has been a long time since I've seen a T4 Zoom, but they are just plastic, like the regular T4 which I also have. One thing about the TVS (probably the best feature) is the flash can be turned off by default. It has a huge range of exposure compensation, you can fit a filter on it, and it has aperture priority. Great little cameras. The TVS would be more comparable to the Minilux zoom I think. TVS don't sell for that much the last time I looked. You are better off with one of those. The Leica Z2X is another camera that is good in that group of better zooms. I was really impressed with the one I have though I haven't used it in years. I have a slew of point and shoots. I plan on getting rid of all of them except for the T4 and the TVS. I'd sell the T4 too but it has 26 years of abuse on it. Lol.