Camera Dojo

Contax T2: used prices, how to use it and the common faults

The short answer

The Contax T2 is Kyocera's titanium 35mm point-and-shoot from 1990-91 with a Carl Zeiss 38mm f/2.8 Sonnar lens, and owners and reviewers mostly agree the lens, viewfinder and build live up to the reputation.

The catch is price: serviced copies at US camera shops listed for $1,500 to $2,799.99 in October 2026, and its aging electronics have no new parts, so buy one serviced and with a warranty.

Lens
Zeiss Sonnar 38mm f/2.8
Battery
One CR123A (3V lithium)
Shutter
Up to 1/500 s (1/200 at f/2.8)
Serviced price
$1,500-$2,800 (Oct 2026)
Check used pricesWhat owners say

Built from 114 opinions from 33 pages and videos. Not yet tested by Camera Dojo. Updated .

A champagne silver Contax T2 with its lens extended, resting on a rock by a river
Photo: MIKI Yoshihito from Sapporo City,Hokkaido., JAPAN, CC BY 2.0

The short version

Across 114 opinions from owners, shops and reviewers, the praise is consistent. All 9 comments on the meter and all 9 on build quality are positive, and Gabriel Fontes, an owner with more than a hundred rolls through his T2, calls its finder the best he has seen in a point-and-shoot. The 38mm Sonnar is why people pay up: Safelight Berlin calls it sharp and contrasty, and 35mmc's Hamish Gill says it lives up to the hype.

The doubts are about money and age. Price is the most criticized topic, with 8 of 12 comments negative: Hamish Gill, who reviewed and later sold his T2, says its market value far outstrips its quality, and Casual Photophile found the much cheaper Contax TVS just as sharp in practice. Reliability is weak too, with 7 of 9 comments negative about lenses that stop halfway, mid-roll rewinds and failing autofocus, and Kyocera stopped making Contax cameras at the end of 2005.

Good fit if

  • You want one of the most praised lenses ever put in a 35mm compact and are happy to let the camera do most of the work
  • You like a bright finder with a live exposure readout and a quick exposure compensation dial
  • You want a tough travel camera that fits a coat pocket (not a jeans pocket)
  • You can buy a serviced copy with a warranty and keep $400 or more aside for a future repair

Think twice if

  • You want shallow depth of field in daylight: f/2.8 only comes in Program mode, and the top speed at f/2.8 is 1/200
  • You need manual ISO, multiple exposures or full manual exposure
  • You want a cheap, carefree everyday camera: Brooklyn Film Camera points to the Olympus Mju II or Yashica T4 at about $300 to $600
  • You are buying an untested copy with no budget for repairs
  • You want a camera any local shop can fix: many repairers turn away electronic compacts for lack of parts

What owners and reviewers say, topic by topic

We sorted 114 opinions about the Contax T2 from 33 pages and videos on 14 websites and channels. Each row shows how many people raised a topic and how many of them were positive. Open a row to read short quotes, each linked to its source.

Owner voices come mostly from long-form blogs (35mmc, Casual Photophile, Camera Legend, Myles Katherine), Flickr Contax T2 group threads, two camera shop blogs (Safelight Berlin, Cameras By Max) and five YouTube reviews. Reddit and DPReview threads could not be read, so forum voices are thinner than usual.

  1. Controls and features56% positiveof 16

    Split, 9 positive and 7 negative. Owners like the aperture ring, focus dial, exposure compensation, strong flash and automatic DX reading. The repeated complaint is that f/2.8 only works in Program mode, followed by the 1/500 top speed and the lack of a multiple exposure function.

    • “the aperture priority mode is not available with f2.8”

      Flickr Contax T2 group 2024-02Owner

    • “There is an inability to select f/2.8 without the Contax T2 also being set to program mode.”

      Hamish Gill, 35mmc 2013-11Owner

    • “One neat feature that I love on the T2 is the ability to change lens aperture via a ring around the lens mount.”

      Sam, Camera Legend 2016-10Owner

    • “It's a little ridiculous considering the T2 has a comparatively fiddle-free design.”

      Josh Solomon, Casual Photophile 2019-01

  2. Viewfinder and focusing54% positiveof 13

    Owners rank the finder among the best on any point-and-shoot: bright, clear and resistant to flare. Autofocus gets mixed marks, reliable in good light but prone to a missed frame or two per roll, misses close up or in dim light, and focusing on window glass.

    • “the viewfinder is hands down the best I have ever seen in a point-and-shoot camera”

      Gabriel Fontes, Casual Photophile 2019-03Owner

    • “It's bright and clear and doesn't seem to suffer in the same way as many do with flare or blackout.”

      Hamish Gill, 35mmc 2013-11Owner

    • “I have found its AF to be generally reliable in good light or when using flash, but less accurate in low or challenging light situations.”

      Sam, Camera Legend 2016-10Owner

    • “The T2 was a good shooter but sometimes AF using IR based detection would get fooled”

      Casual Photophile reader commentOwner

  3. Price and value8% positiveof 12

    The most criticized topic: 8 of 12 comments are negative. Owners and reviewers call the price too high for what the camera delivers, and some name celebrity hype as the cause. A few say the build and results still justify it, as long as buying one does not strain your budget.

    • “It's my view that the current value of the Contax T2 far outstretches it's quality as a camera.”

      Hamish Gill, 35mmc 2018-08Owner

    • “the prices on this camera are getting to the point where I don't think it's such a good value any more.”

      Sam, Camera Legend 2018-12Owner

    • “That's probably the biggest problem with the T2.”

      Safelight Berlin blogHands-on review

    • “I think the Contax T2 is worth all of the hype, as long as you're not breaking the bank to purchase it.”

      Myles Katherine Photography blog 2023-06Owner

  4. Light meter and exposure100% positiveof 9

    All nine comments are positive: owners like the live, constantly updated meter readout in the finder, how it handles backlit subjects, AE lock with manual focus, and the dial that adds or subtracts up to two stops.

    • “implementation of metering seems to be better in T2”

      Aivaras, 35mmc 2017-02Owner

    • “The camera also continuously meters while it's switched on, which is a really nice little feature.”

      Safelight Berlin blogHands-on review

    • “We were particularly impressed with the camera's ability to meter when the subject was lit from behind.”

      Cameras By Max blog 2025-01Hands-on review

    • “Combined with the AE lock, it's possible to focus on a subject and meter elsewhere in the scene for more accurate exposure”

      Josh Solomon, Casual Photophile 2019-01

  5. Build quality100% positiveof 9

    All nine comments praise the titanium body as solid and tough, and several owners say theirs has survived drops, mountaineering and years of travel.

    • “Every camera, even a new one has unknown longevity and the T2 is built better than most.”

      Casual Photophile reader commentOwner

    • “it's very solid, it seems that it is milled from one piece of titanium and that's a good thing.”

      Aivaras, 35mmc 2017-02Owner

    • “It sounds as if a component is slightly out of alignment. I would not worry about it. The camera is pretty tough.”

      Flickr Contax T2 groupOwner

    • “It's small, solid and properly over-engineered.”

      Safelight Berlin blogHands-on review

  6. Reliability today22% positiveof 9

    Seven of nine comments are negative: owners describe glitches, lenses that extend only halfway, mid-roll rewinds and failing autofocus as the electronics age. Two owners report years of trouble-free use, one since the early 1990s.

    • “every now and then it'll automatically rewind my film mid roll.”

      Flickr Contax T2 group 2015-02Owner

    • “I've had two T2's at different times in my life and experienced glitches with both of them.”

      Sam, Camera Legend 2018-12Owner

    • “I have come across quite a few T2s (and T3s) suffering from wonky autofocus one way or another.”

      Hern Tan, 35mmc 2018-06Owner

    • “It STILL looks and works like new even though I dragged it on backpacking adventures all over Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia and Japan”

      Casual Photophile reader commentOwner

  7. Repairs and servicing11% positiveof 9

    Mostly negative: owners report a repair quote of at least $400, circuit faults needing all the CPU parts replaced, worn plastic focus gears with no spares, and shops that will not take electronic compacts. One owner recommends a New York shop that serviced his.

    • “I sent it to Nippon and they said its a circuit issue and the all CPU parts need to be replaced.”

      Flickr Contax T2 group 2019-01Owner

    • “when I discovered that it was a minimum of $400 to repair it, I decided to hold off for the moment”

      Myles Katherine Photography blog 2023-06Owner

    • “I took it to a repair shop and they showed me the gears were made out of plastic and had worn out. No parts available.”

      35mmc reader commentOwner

    • “Metro Camera Repair in New York services Contax cameras.”

      Flickr Contax T2 groupOwner

  8. Image results75% positiveof 8

    Six of eight comments praise its sharpness and color, and one owner says his prints come close to a Leica lens. The Darkroom rates the quality as no better than many cheaper cameras, and Camera Legend warns the high contrast can blow highlights in very bright light.

  9. Lenses63% positiveof 8

    Most comments say the 38mm f/2.8 Sonnar lives up to its reputation for sharpness and contrast. Casual Photophile found the difference from the cheaper TVS negligible in real use, one owner notes slight vignetting and chromatic aberration, and one found his copy not very sharp.

    • “The Contax T2's 38mm f/2.8 Sonnar lives up to the hype in my opinion.”

      Hamish Gill, 35mmc 2013-11Owner

    • “When the AF is in its zone however, the 38mm f/2.8 produces excellent, sharp images with lots of contrast.”

      Sam, Camera Legend 2016-10Owner

    • “It's sharp, contrasty and produces the kind of negatives that make you understand why people have been obsessing over this camera for decades.”

      Safelight Berlin blogHands-on review

    • “No one (in the real world) will be able to tell a TVS shot against a T2 shot based on sharpness.”

      James Tocchio, Casual Photophile 2019-03Hands-on review

  10. Size and weight50% positiveof 8

    Evenly split, 4 to 4: some owners carry it in a coat pocket and love it for travel, while others find it heavy, too big for jeans and like a brick next to the original Contax T.

  11. Batteries and power33% positiveof 6

    Battery life gets praise, with one owner needing only a couple of CR123A cells in two years. The complaints are lockups and power loss after flash shots that owners trace to the battery contacts; cleaning them fixed it for one owner.

    • “Removing batteries remedy most problems but they happened again.”

      Sam, Camera Legend 2018-12Owner

    • “It's a power issue, when shooting with flash, sometimes it just dies.”

      Flickr Contax T2 group 2006-04Owner

    • “I cleaned the battery contacts with a pencil eraser and changed the battery and now it's fine....I hope.”

      Flickr Contax T2 groupOwner

    • “my Contax T2 was having a bit of trouble at one point with the battery connections and would occasionally lock up”

      Myles Katherine Photography blog 2023-06Owner

  12. Ease of use20% positiveof 5

    Only five comments, and they are split. Cameras By Max says the automatic exposure and focus make good pictures easy, while owners mention blurry frames from the center focus point, a lens that sits close to the grip, and an automated process some find unexciting or sterile.

    • “I took the first photo and felt the lens move against my middle finger.”

      Hamish Gill, 35mmc 2013-11Owner

    • “The automatic exposure and focus systems make it easy to capture stunning images without needing extensive technical knowledge.”

      Cameras By Max blog 2025-01Hands-on review

    • “I love it, yet frustrated with it at the same time. I'll tend to always get back a few photos that are blurry or unfocused”

      Enrique Insisienmay, Flickr Contax T2 group 2018-04Owner

    • “the T2, while undoubtedly one of the greatest compact film cameras ever made, can be seen as too sterile by some.”

      Edward Chang blog 2020-06

PositiveMixedNegative

How to use the Contax T2: Program, aperture priority and focus

Almost everything happens on two controls: the aperture ring around the lens and the main dial on top, which is both the power switch and the manual focus control. The camera is fully electronic, so start with a fresh battery.

  1. 1

    Fit the battery

    The T2 takes one 3V CR123A lithium cell under a solid metal cover you open with a coin. Nothing works without it: the meter, shutter, focus, flash and film transport are all electronic.

  2. 2

    Load the film

    According to the manual, you drop the cassette in, pull the leader across to the mark and close the back, and the camera winds to frame 01 by itself. A blinking 00 on the counter means the film did not catch, so open the back and reload.

  3. 3

    Let the DX code set the ISO

    The T2 reads film speed only from the DX code on the cassette, from ISO 25 to 5000. Film without a DX code is metered at ISO 100, and there is no manual override.

  4. 4

    Program mode

    Turn the aperture ring to 2.8 and the camera picks both aperture and shutter speed, from 1 s to 1/500 s. This is the only way to get f/2.8, and in bright light Program stops the lens down, so you cannot force it to shoot wide open.

  5. 5

    Aperture priority

    Set the ring to 4, 5.6, 8, 11 or 16 and the camera picks the speed. Camera-wiki lists a range of under 1 s to 1/200 s in this mode, against 1/500 s in Program, and exposures longer than 1 s run as auto bulb.

  6. 6

    Read the finder

    The finder shows only 30, 125 and 500 as speed marks: two lit together mean a speed in between, LT means slower than 1/30, and a blinking 500 warns of overexposure. Compose inside the bright frame lines, not the whole finder.

  7. 7

    Focus

    Autofocus uses an infrared beam aimed at the center of the frame, so half-press on your subject to lock focus, then recompose. For manual focus, turn the main dial to 0.7 m, 1 m, 2 m, 5 m or infinity. Owners use infinity for landscapes and the manual settings when glass or a foreground object fools the autofocus.

  8. 8

    Adjust exposure

    A recessed dial on top adds or subtracts up to 2 stops in half-stop clicks, which helps with backlit subjects. Set it back to 0 when you are done, or every shot after it will be off too.

  9. 9

    Use the flash only when you want it

    The flash is off by default and fires only when you turn the aperture ring past 2.8 to the flash setting, so it never goes off by surprise on candids. Its range is 0.7 to 3 m at ISO 100.

Sources: camera-wiki.org, casualphotophile.com, 35mmc.com, 35mmc.com, cute.camera, flickr.com, cameramanuals.org

Contax T2 battery: CR123A, battery life and lockups

The T2 runs on one 3V CR123A lithium cell. The manual also lists the DL123A and says the battery cannot be recharged, and it rates a new cell at about 25 rolls of 24 exposures with flash on half the shots. Owners who mention battery life praise it: the owner in the metal fingers video review needed only a couple of cells over two years.

Battery contact trouble is the most common power complaint. Myles Katherine's T2 locked up mid-shot because of poor battery contact, which caused accidental double exposures, and a Flickr owner whose camera died after flash shots fixed it by cleaning the contacts with a pencil eraser and fitting a new cell. If the camera suddenly stops responding, the manual's reset is to switch it off, take the battery out and put it back in.

Lithium cells lose power in the cold, so the manual suggests keeping the camera inside your jacket in freezing weather. Carry a spare either way, since a dead cell stops everything.

Brooklyn Film Camera says a crusty, corroded battery chamber often points to bigger electrical problems, so look before you buy. Our battery finder lists cells for other film cameras.

Sources: camera-wiki.org, cameramanuals.org, youtube.com, myleskatherine.com, flickr.com, brooklynfilmcamera.com

Best film for the Contax T2

Portra 400

Any DX-coded 35mm film works, and ISO 200 or 400 color negative is the easy place to start because the camera sets the speed itself. Brooklyn Film Camera singles out Kodak Portra 400 and Kodak Ektar 100 with this lens, and its buyer's guide describes Portra 400 frames as sharp edge to edge, with fine detail popping at f/5.6.

Since there is no ISO override, pushing film takes a workaround. 35mmc writer Ric Capucho found he could not push more than 2 stops with exposure compensation alone, and Hamish Gill suggests recoding the cassette's DX pattern instead. Our guide to pushing and pulling film explains the trade-offs.

Bright sun is the tricky case. The top speed is 1/200 at f/2.8, so on a sunny day with ISO 400 film the camera simply shoots stopped down, and Camera Legend's owner warns the lens's high contrast can blow highlights in very bright light.

Sources: brooklynfilmcamera.com, brooklynfilmcamera.com, 35mmc.com, 35mmc.com, cameralegend.com

What to check before buying a used Contax T2

Every T2 was made before Kyocera closed Contax in 2005, and no new parts are made, so how the camera works matters far more than its cosmetic grade. Our guide to buying used film cameras covers sellers and return policies.

  1. 1

    Ask what was serviced

    Brooklyn Film Camera gives every T2 it sells a full CLA and replaces flex cables when needed, with a 3-month warranty. Retrospekt sells refurbished copies with a 90-day warranty, and Cute Camera Co. restores to order with 60-day returns.

  2. 2

    Power it on and off several times

    The lens should extend fully and retract every time. A lens that stops halfway, a loud motor or a freeze are faults owners report, and Camera Legend's owner lists a loud motor among the glitches he has had.

  3. 3

    Test focus near, far and in dim light

    Shoot or at least focus on subjects close up, in the middle distance and at infinity. A former owner writing on 35mmc says he has come across quite a few T2s with wonky autofocus, and one reader's camera had worn plastic focus gears with no parts available.

  4. 4

    Fire the shutter and the flash

    Check it fires at several aperture settings and that the flash charges and fires. A 35mmc writer's T2 came with a burned-out flash, and Filmtypes says the flash has been known to fail.

  5. 5

    Check the film transport

    Run a roll if you can, or at least watch the counter advance. A blinking 00, overlapping frames or a mid-roll rewind point to the film advance, which Japan Camera Hunter says is the most common T2 problem he has heard of.

  6. 6

    Look inside

    Open the back and check the seals around the door. Brooklyn Film Camera says a crusty battery compartment often points to bigger electrical problems inside, and readers on Japan Camera Hunter mention a cloudy focusing window and fungus inside the lens. Unique Photo's last as-is T2 with fungus was listed at $699.95, against $1,299.95 to $1,799.95 for Good to Excellent copies.

  7. 7

    Pick the finish for your budget

    Champagne silver is the most common and cheapest finish. Titanium black is the second most common, jet black is the rarest and priciest, and the gold, 50th anniversary gold and Platin versions are special editions.

Sources: brooklynfilmcamera.com, brooklynfilmcamera.com, retrospekt.com, cute.camera, flickr.com, 35mmc.com, 35mmc.com, 35mmc.com, japancamerahunter.com, uniquephoto.com

Contax T2 vs T3, TVS and cheaper compacts

Mju II

The Contax T3 is the successor: smaller, with a 35mm Sonnar that focuses down to 35 cm against the T2's 70 cm, but with a menu-based control layout. Casual Photophile's buyer's guide calls the T2 the comparatively fiddle-free design and likes its manual focus override with a focus readout in the finder.

The zoom Contax TVS shares the Contax build at a much lower price. Casual Photophile's James Tocchio shot a TVS alongside a T2 for three weeks and concluded no one in the real world could tell the two apart on sharpness.

The original Contax T is smaller still, with manual focus. One Casual Photophile reader sold his T2 for a T and found it far more convenient to carry, and Edward Chang says the T2 feels like a brick by comparison.

For far less money, Brooklyn Film Camera points to the Olympus Mju II or Yashica T4 at about $300 to $600, and to premium compacts such as the Ricoh GR1v, Nikon 35Ti and Minolta TC-1 at about $700 to $1,300. Our best point-and-shoot film cameras guide compares more options.

People also ask whether the Contax G1 or G2 is better. Those are Contax G rangefinders, a different line with interchangeable lenses, not compacts like the T2. According to Camera-wiki, the G2 followed the G1 two years later, in 1996, with a higher top speed (1/4000 s in manual mode, 1/6000 s in aperture priority) and an active infrared focusing component, and the original G1 cannot use the 21mm, 35mm or 35-70mm lenses.

Sources: casualphotophile.com, casualphotophile.com, edwardchang.me, camera-wiki.org, brooklynfilmcamera.com

Known problems and what fixing them costs

These are the faults owners and repairers mention most. Costs are figures published by US shops or reported by owners, checked in October 2026; most shops quote T2 repairs only after an inspection.

Lens stuck halfway, camera freezes or will not fire

Raised in 3 opinions

How you notice
The lens stays in or comes out only partway at power on, or the camera locks up and refuses to fire, sometimes with a loud motor.
Fix
If the camera freezes or will not fire, try the manual's reset first: switch off, remove the CR123A and put it back. For a lens that comes out only halfway, a Flickr replier blames dust in the focus gears and warns against lubricant, and another owner tried a blower brush and a few shots at 0.7 m to exercise the lens extension. If the fault returns, it needs a shop that works on Contax compacts. Brooklyn Film Camera replaces flex cables during its T2 CLA when needed and warns that a broken flex cable can mean hunting for a donor camera.
Typical cost
One owner paid just under $200 at Nippon Photoclinic in New York in December 2015; Brooklyn Film Camera says a proper T2 CLA can run four or five hundred dollars.

Sources: flickr.com, cameralegend.com, japancamerahunter.com, brooklynfilmcamera.com, brooklynfilmcamera.com, cameramanuals.org

Film advance failure and mid-roll rewinds

Raised in 2 opinions

How you notice
Film will not wind to frame 01 (the counter blinks 00), stops advancing, overlaps frames or rewinds partway through the roll.
Fix
Reload first, since a blinking 00 means the film did not catch. Japan Camera Hunter says a dying film advance is the most common T2 problem he has heard of, and a former Kyocera UK service manager says early transport problems were fixed by adding a small circuit board brake. Persistent faults need a repair shop; one Flickr owner was told his camera needed all its CPU parts replaced.
Typical cost
No published flat rate. Nippon Photoclinic charges $5 to inspect, takes 1 to 2 weeks to send an estimate and 2 to 6 weeks to repair.

Sources: japancamerahunter.com, flickr.com, flickr.com, nipponphotoclinic.com, cameramanuals.org

Lockups and accidental double exposures from poor battery contact

Raised in 4 opinions

How you notice
The camera freezes mid-shot or dies after a flash shot; when it restarts it may expose the same frame again.
Fix
Clean the battery poles and contacts (one Flickr owner used a pencil eraser) and fit a fresh cell. If it keeps happening, it needs a repair shop.
Typical cost
Myles Katherine was told a repair would cost a minimum of $400 (2023).

Sources: myleskatherine.com, flickr.com, cameramanuals.org

Autofocus misses or a stripped focus gear

Raised in 7 opinions

How you notice
Autofocus misses close up or in dim light, locks onto window glass, or stops working.
Fix
Some misses are technique: the camera focuses on whatever is in the center, so lock focus on the subject first. Real faults need a shop. A 35mmc reader's repairer found worn plastic focus gears with no parts available, and a Flickr buyer was quoted 200 euros in Germany for a new focus board.
Typical cost
Quoted after inspection. Brooklyn Film Camera lists a full CLA on a premium compact at $250 to $400 and says a proper T2 CLA can run four or five hundred dollars.

Sources: 35mmc.com, 35mmc.com, flickr.com, brooklynfilmcamera.com, brooklynfilmcamera.com

Light leaks from aged door seals

How you notice
Fogged streaks or edges on negatives where light gets in around the film door.
Fix
Replace the internal light seals. As Brooklyn Film Camera puts it, the titanium shell is tough but the seals inside age and shrink.
Typical cost
Brooklyn Film Camera charges $80 to $120 for light seal replacement and similar single fixes.

Sources: brooklynfilmcamera.com, brooklynfilmcamera.com

Haze, fungus or a cloudy autofocus window

How you notice
Readers on Japan Camera Hunter report a cloudy focusing window and fungus spots inside the lens.
Fix
Cleaning means a shop that will open the retracting lens. Fungus-damaged bodies sell at a steep discount, so treat one as a project rather than a shooter.
Typical cost
Unique Photo listed an as-is T2 with fungus at $699.95, against $1,299.95 to $1,799.95 for Good to Excellent copies; cleaning is quoted after inspection.

Sources: uniquephoto.com, japancamerahunter.com

Flash will not fire

How you notice
The flash will not fire. According to the manual, the flash mark in the finder blinks while the flash charges and stays lit once it is ready.
Fix
Try a fresh battery first. Filmtypes says the T2 flash has been known to fail, and a 35mmc writer's T2 came with a burned-out flash that he never seriously looked into fixing.
Typical cost
Quoted after inspection: $5 at Nippon Photoclinic, or $50 at Brooklyn Film Camera, credited to the repair.

Sources: 35mmc.com, filmtypes.com, nipponphotoclinic.com, brooklynfilmcamera.com

Photos taken with a Contax T2

Photos taken with the Contax T2 by Wikimedia Commons contributors, mostly on Kodak Gold, in Hokkaido, Tokyo and Kaohsiung.

What a Contax T2 costs today

Serviced or restored T2s at US camera shops listed for $1,500 to $2,799.99 in October 2026, and most were sold out; only Cute Camera Co. was taking orders, restoring each camera to order. Brooklyn Film Camera says a serviced copy sells for around $2,000 in 2026, up from four or five hundred dollars fifteen years ago. Unique Photo's last listed used prices, all sold out, show how much condition matters: from $699.95 for an as-is body with fungus to $1,799.95 for Excellent.

  • Cute Camera Co. (Austin, TX)

    Restored to order, Average cosmetic grade, 60-day returns, Body with fresh CR123A battery

    $2,299.99

    See listing

  • Cute Camera Co. (Austin, TX)

    Restored to order, Good cosmetic grade, 60-day returns, Body with fresh CR123A battery

    $2,499.99

    See listing

  • Cute Camera Co. (Austin, TX)

    Restored to order, Very Good cosmetic grade, 60-day returns, Body with fresh CR123A battery

    $2,799.99

    See listing

  • Brooklyn Film Camera (Brooklyn, NY)

    Full CLA, 3-month warranty (grades A and B out of stock), Body only

    $2,600.00

    See listing

  • Retrospekt (Milwaukee, WI)

    Vintage refurbished, 90-day warranty (sold out), Body with original soft case, manual and presentation box

    $2,500.00

    See listing

  • Retrospekt (Milwaukee, WI)

    Vintage refurbished, 90-day warranty (sold out), Body only, black titanium

    $1,500.00

    See listing

  • Film Supply Club

    Used (sold out), Body

    $1,820.00

    See listing

  • Film Supply Club

    Used (sold out), Body with box

    $1,600.00

    See listing

  • Unique Photo (Fairfield, NJ)

    Used, Excellent (sold out, last listed price), Body, champagne silver

    $1,799.95

    See listing

  • Unique Photo (Fairfield, NJ)

    Used, Excellent (sold out, last listed price), Body, titanium black

    $1,499.95

    See listing

  • Unique Photo (Fairfield, NJ)

    Used, Good (sold out, last listed price), Body, titanium black

    $1,299.95

    See listing

  • Unique Photo (Fairfield, NJ)

    Used, Fair (sold out, last listed price), Body, silver

    $899.95

    See listing

  • Unique Photo (Fairfield, NJ)

    As-is with fungus (sold out, last listed price), Body, silver

    $699.95

    See listing

Prices checked on October 28, 2026. They move every week, so treat them as a range, not a quote. eBay, KEH, B&H and Adorama blocked our price checks and MPB's listings could not be verified, so marketplace and untested prices are not listed. Sold-out listings are included because they show what shops were asking.

Video reviews worth your time

  • Contax T2 Review

    NegativeFeedback, 2016

    The Contax T2 is a top-tier point-and-shoot film camera featuring exceptional build quality, fast autofocus, and reliable metering, though its high price is a drawback.

    • 0:15 Loading film into the Contax T2.
    • 0:30 Shooting street photography around London.
    • 1:07 Reviewing the camera's design and build quality.
    • 2:22 Displaying sample photos taken with the camera.

  • CONTAX T2 | Review & Sample Photos

    Benj Haisch, 2020

    The Contax T2 is a exceptionally durable premium compact camera with an outstanding Carl Zeiss lens, long battery life, and useful manual focus controls that justify its price.

    • 0:12 Introduction to the Contax T2 compact film camera
    • 3:40 Explanation of the f/2.8 and auto aperture setting limitation
    • 6:57 Demonstrating the manual focus dial and infinity mode
    • 9:19 Overview of the exposure compensation dial

  • Contax T2

    grainydays, 2021

    The Contax T2 is a high-end, titanium-clad point-and-shoot film camera featuring a sharp Carl Zeiss lens and advanced manual controls, though its high cost and vulnerable electronics make it a risky long-term purchase.

    • 0:30 Reviewer cuts into a camera shaped like a cake
    • 1:22 Showing top dials for exposure compensation and manual focus
    • 4:28 Adjusting aperture settings on the lens ring
    • 10:23 Showing the DX code reader inside the film compartment

  • Contax T2 is Overrated? || Review + Photos

    metal fingers, 2022

    The Contax T2 is a premium, highly durable point-and-shoot camera with a remarkably sharp Zeiss lens, though its high market price and occasional autofocus flaws are notable drawbacks.

    • 0:28 Contax T2 displayed alongside other photographic gear
    • 1:06 Close-up of the Carl Zeiss 38mm f/2.8 lens
    • 2:43 Showing the flash and aperture controls on the lens barrel
    • 4:31 Reviewer inspecting the titanium body outdoors

  • Is this £1200 film camera worth it? Contax T2 🎞 📸

    James Greenhalgh, 2022

    The Contax T2 is a high-quality, stylish point-and-shoot film camera with impressive optics, but its inflated secondhand price makes it overhyped for most buyers.

    • 00:12 Reviewer highlights the inflated current market price of the camera.
    • 01:51 Demonstrating the focus dial settings and self-timer mode.
    • 04:10 Showing a lens jittering defect present on his secondhand unit.
    • 06:50 Recommending alternative point-and-shoot cameras like the Yashica T4.

Specifications

Lens and exposure

Lens
Carl Zeiss T* Sonnar 38mm f/2.8, 5 elements in 4 groups, fixed
Apertures
f/2.8 to f/16 (ring marked 2.8, 4, 5.6, 8, 11, 16)
Exposure modes
Program AE (ring at 2.8) and aperture-priority AE; no full manual exposure
Shutter speeds
Program 1 s to 1/500 s; aperture priority under 1 s to 1/200 s; auto bulb beyond 1 s (some retailers list 8 s to 1/500 s)
Top speed at f/2.8
1/200 s
Film speed
DX-coded ISO 25 to 5000; non-DX film set to ISO 100
Exposure compensation
Plus or minus 2 EV in 0.5 EV steps
Filter thread
30.5mm (Brooklyn Film Camera listing; not confirmed by a second source)

Focus, finder and flash

Autofocus
Active infrared
Manual focus
0.7 m, 1 m, 2 m, 5 m and infinity on the main dial
Closest focus
0.7 m (about 2.3 ft)
Finder speed display
LEDs for 1/30, 1/125 and 1/500 only
Flash
Built in, red-eye preflash, 0.7 to 3 m at ISO 100, about 3.5 s recycle

Body and power

Battery
One 3V CR123A lithium
Needs a battery to shoot
Yes: meter, shutter, focus, flash and film transport are electronic
Size and weight
119 x 66 x 33 mm, 295 g without battery (filmtypes lists 120 x 70 x 38 mm and 320 g)
Body
Titanium on every finish
Film handling
Automatic loading, advance and rewind
Finishes
Champagne silver, titanium black, jet black, gold, 50th anniversary gold, Platin
Date back
A version with a date back was also sold

History and service

Maker
Kyocera, under the Contax brand; made in Japan
Released
1991 per camera-wiki and Wikipedia; The Darkroom says 1990
Predecessor
Contax T; the T2 added autofocus and dropped the folding lens cover
End of Contax
Kyocera sold its camera business to Cosina in 2005 and ended Contax camera activity at the end of that year
Authorized service
Nippon Photoclinic, New York (exclusive North American Contax service center)

Questions people ask about the Contax T2

Is the Contax T2 worth the hype?

Owners and reviewers mostly praise the quality and split on value. Myles Katherine says it is worth the hype as long as you are not breaking the bank to buy it, while 35mmc's Hamish Gill says its current value far outstrips its quality as a camera. Brooklyn Film Camera, which sells serviced T2s, argues that around $2,000 is too much for a camera that only comes out on vacations or a few times a year.

Sources: myleskatherine.com, 35mmc.com, brooklynfilmcamera.com

How much is a Contax T2 worth in 2026?

In October 2026, restored or CLA'd T2s at US shops listed from $1,500.00 (Retrospekt, black, sold out) to $2,799.99 (Cute Camera Co., Very Good grade), with Brooklyn Film Camera at $2,600.00. Brooklyn Film Camera puts a typical serviced copy at around $2,000. Unique Photo's last used listings ran from $899.95 for Fair to $1,799.95 for Excellent, plus a fungus-affected body at $699.95.

Sources: retrospekt.com, cute.camera, brooklynfilmcamera.com, brooklynfilmcamera.com, uniquephoto.com

Why is the Contax T2 so expensive?

No new T2s are being made, and demand jumped. Casual Photophile points to celebrity use, such as Kendall Jenner shooting Jimmy Fallon with one on The Tonight Show, and Camera Legend also blames collectors stockpiling the camera. Camera Legend's owner paid around $300 for his in 2013 and saw prices around $500 in fall 2016; Brooklyn Film Camera says they passed a thousand dollars by the early 2020s and a serviced copy now sells for around $2,000.

Sources: casualphotophile.com, cameralegend.com, brooklynfilmcamera.com

Did Contax stop making cameras?

Yes. Kyocera, which owned the Contax name from 1983, sold its camera business to Cosina in 2005 and ended all Contax camera manufacturing at the end of that year. Every T2 for sale is used, and no new parts are made, which is why condition and servicing matter so much.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org, japancamerahunter.com

What battery does the Contax T2 use?

One 3V CR123A lithium cell, which the manual says cannot be recharged (DL123A is the same size). The camera does nothing without it, since the meter, shutter, focus, flash and film transport are all electronic. Two video reviewers praise its battery life, and the manual rates a new cell at about 25 rolls of 24 exposures with flash on half the shots.

Sources: camera-wiki.org, cute.camera, cameramanuals.org

Can you shoot the Contax T2 wide open at f/2.8?

Only in Program mode, and only when the camera decides to. Turning the aperture ring to 2.8 switches on Program, which stops down in bright light, and the top speed at f/2.8 is 1/200. Aperture priority starts at f/4, and this is the most repeated complaint owners make about the T2's controls.

Sources: casualphotophile.com, brooklynfilmcamera.com, 35mmc.com, flickr.com

Why are my Contax T2 photos blurry?

Usually the autofocus picked the wrong target. It focuses on whatever sits in the center of the frame, so half-press on your subject to lock focus before recomposing, and remember the closest focus is 0.7 m (about 2.3 ft). Owners also report misses in dim light and focus landing on window glass, where the manual distance settings on the main dial help.

Sources: flickr.com, casualphotophile.com, cameralegend.com

Who repairs the Contax T2 in the US?

Nippon Photoclinic in New York says it is the exclusive North American authorized Contax service center, and it still accepts the T2 and T3 while turning away most other point-and-shoots; inspection costs $5 per item, estimates take 1 to 2 weeks and repairs 2 to 6 weeks. Brooklyn Film Camera charges a $50 inspection fee credited to the repair, with turnaround usually 6 to 12 weeks. A Flickr owner also recommends Metro Camera Repair in New York.

Sources: nipponphotoclinic.com, brooklynfilmcamera.com, flickr.com

What people compare it with

  • Contax T3

    The successor: smaller, with a 35mm Sonnar that focuses to 35 cm against the T2's 70 cm, but with menu-based controls that Casual Photophile finds fussier.

  • Yashica T4

    A far cheaper compact with a Carl Zeiss T* lens; Brooklyn Film Camera calls its build tougher and puts it at about $300 to $600.

  • Olympus Mju II (Stylus Epic)

    Brooklyn Film Camera calls it smaller, weather-sealed and far more reliable than the T2, with a sharp 35mm f/2.8 lens, for about $300 to $600 and less to service.

  • Contax TVS

    The zoom Contax with a 28-56mm Vario-Sonnar; Casual Photophile found its sharpness indistinguishable from the T2's in real use, and Brooklyn Film Camera listed one at $900.

Every source behind this page

Read them yourself. How we pick and count them is in our methodology.

Show all 55 sources

Manuals and references 22

Independent blogs 14

Forums 10

Video reviews 5

Editorial reviews 4

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