5 Frames with Contax T2 and Kodak Tri-x 400

With my upcoming trip to Europe in May/June this year, I knew this would be an amazing chance for me to take pictures of anything and everything. I wanted to use this opportunity to enhance my skills as a photographer, but I also wanted to enjoy taking quick photos of whatever I came across. I knew I would be using Tri-X, which is my usual go to stock.

I contemplated only using my Leica M6 but with all the bags and hands being full I knew I would be limited in the time to take pictures. I knew then I needed a point and shoot camera. I wanted something which was sharp and could take a fair bit of abuse as it would always be in my hand. After a lot of back and forth I did settle with Contax T2 because Contax T3 was out of my price range. Also, T2 seemed to be closer to my favourite 40mm focal length. I found one at a store where I usually go and they had it in a beautiful champagne colour which was more expensive, but it had been recently clad which meant I did not have to worry it would die on me anytime soon.

When I first held it, I could tell it was meant to be a high-end point and shoot. The whole body has heft to it and it’s cold to a touch. I know it seems superficial, but it seems pleasing to use it. All the buttons seem to be in their correct places, except, I wish the aperture selector was somewhere else instead of on top of the lens.

The camera is mostly automatic when you shoot it at F2.8 toggle but you can select the aperture up to F16. Also, you cannot select F2.8 on your own, manually only F4 can be selected. The camera will select F2.8 when it determines light is too low. And off we went to Europe. I put the Tri-X in the camera (because it’s my fav black and white stock, also it’s cheap enough to not feel a pinch in case the camera didn’t work properly). I took quite a few pictures but here are few of my favourites.

I put the camera to its paces with different focal lengths and I’m happy to report it did not disappoint! If I only had this camera in my pocket, I would not fret. The DOF is very pleasing to the eye but if you want the sharpest image, put the ring to F8 and keep it there. It was very difficult to pick them out of 5 pictures out of 36 I’ll be very honest with you.

Keep an eye out as I plan to tell you more of my adventures and shenanigans.

Until then you can find me posting pictures Instagram and my blog on the website http://mrigankshekhar.com.au

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