C41
Kodak Portra 400
Kodak Portra 400 is a professional C-41 color negative film known for flexible exposure latitude, natural skin tones, and fine grain.
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compact-35mm
The Contax T2 Black is a variant of the T2 premium compact (introduced 1991), finished in black-anodized titanium rather than the standard brushed silver. Mechanically and optically identical to the silver T2: fixed Carl Zeiss T* Sonnar 38mm f/2.8 lens, programmed/aperture-priority electronic shutter to 1/500s, passive/active autofocus, and titanium body construction. The black finish commands a significant premium on the used market driven by aesthetic preference and social media visibility.
Reference
Recommended film stocks for the 35mm format your camera takes.
C41
Kodak Portra 400 is a professional C-41 color negative film known for flexible exposure latitude, natural skin tones, and fine grain.
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Kodak Gold 200 is a daylight-balanced C-41 color negative film with warm color, moderate grain, and a classic consumer-film look.
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Kodak UltraMax 400 is a versatile consumer-grade ISO 400 daylight-balanced color negative film with T-grain emulsion, delivering warm Kodak colors, fine-for-speed grain (PGI 46), and wide exposure latitude. Currently in production and available globally as a single-roll and multi-pack.
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Before you buy used
About this camera
The standard silver T2 in black titanium - same Zeiss Sonnar optics, higher collector premium.
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Format | 35mm |
| Mount | Fixed |
| Lens | Carl Zeiss T* Sonnar 38mm f/2.8 |
| Years | ~1991 |
| Shutter | 8s - 1/500s, electronic leaf |
| Flash sync | 1/500s (full sync at all speeds) |
| Meter | TTL multi-pattern |
| Modes | Program, Aperture-priority |
| Focus | Passive AF + active infrared assist |
| Weight | ~265 g |
| Battery | 2x CR123A |
The Contax T2 launched in 1991 as the successor to the original Contax T (1984), both products of the Kyocera-managed Contax brand. Kyocera had inherited the Contax name through the Yashica acquisition and maintained the Carl Zeiss collaboration for lens supply. The T2 was engineered to compete with the Nikon 35Ti and Minolta TC-1 at the top of the premium compact segment. The black variant was offered alongside the silver to cater to buyers who preferred a lower-profile, all-black aesthetic. The T2 remained in production through the 1990s before being replaced by the T3 (2001), which gained a 35mm f/2.8 Sonnar and a slightly slimmer profile. Kyocera ceased all Contax production in 2005.
The T2 occupies a paradoxical position in 2026: it is simultaneously one of the most technically capable film compacts ever produced and one of the most heavily hyped by social media culture. The Zeiss Sonnar 38/2.8 delivers measurably superior contrast, microcontrast, and bokeh rendering compared to budget compact lenses of the same era. At the same time, used prices have been inflated substantially by demand from photographers who want the camera as much as a status object as a shooting tool. The black variant draws a further premium - typically 20-40% over equivalent silver examples - based almost entirely on finish aesthetics rather than performance difference. Nonetheless, as a shooting tool the T2 is genuinely excellent: full-speed flash sync at 1/500s is class-leading, the aperture-priority mode gives meaningful creative control, and the titanium body is durable under daily use.
The T2 Black's price inflation relative to its silver sibling is one of the cleaner case studies in film camera market irrational premiums. A silver T2 in excellent condition and a black T2 in comparable condition are functionally the same camera; the ~$300-600 price gap is entirely cosmetic.
C41
Kodak ColorPlus 200 is an affordable, consumer-oriented daylight-balanced color negative film at ISO 200. Known for warm, slightly muted color rendition, fine grain, and wide exposure latitude, it is currently in production and widely available in Asia and select global markets.
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Kodak Tri-X 400 is a classic black-and-white film known for strong tonality, visible grain, and documentary character.
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