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.
View profile35mm SLR
Contax ST1992
- Format
- 35mm
- Mount
- Contax/Yashica
- Years
- 1992–
- Shutter
- 30s – 1/4000s
- Meter
- center-weighted-silicon
The Contax ST, introduced in 1992, was positioned as a capable mid-range body within the Contax C/Y SLR lineup - offering a more accessible price than the top-tier RTS III while retaining a notable feature from that flagship: a vacuum film-flattening system that held the film plane flat against the pressure plate using a small pump. This system, called the Real Time Vacuum (RTV) system on the RTS III, was implemented in a simplified form on the ST to improve film-plane flatness and therefore sharpness across the frame. The ST provided four exposure modes (manual, aperture-priority, shutter-priority, and program) alongside a center-weighted silicon meter with a quoted range down to EV 0. It took Carl Zeiss T* optics through the standard C/Y mount.
Reference
Find film for your Contax ST
Recommended film stocks for the 35mm format your camera takes.
ISO 400
BW
Kodak Tri-X 400
Kodak Tri-X 400 is a classic black-and-white film known for strong tonality, visible grain, and documentary character.
View profileC41
Kodak Gold 200
Kodak Gold 200 is a daylight-balanced C-41 color negative film with warm color, moderate grain, and a classic consumer-film look.
Develop 35mm film
Labs in our directory that process 35mm film.
Before you buy used
- **Price range**: $150-$400 USD body-only; priced above the 167MT, below the RTS III.
- **Vacuum system**: test that the pump operates and that film feels held flat after loading; a failed pump does not destroy the camera but removes its chief distinguishing feature.
- **Electronics**: fully dependent on battery power; no mechanical fallback. Test all modes.
- **CR2 batteries**: less universally available than AA/AAA; stock up or verify local availability.
- **Light seals**: inspect and replace as needed on any body of this age.
- **Viewfinder**: check for haze and fungal contamination on the focusing screen.
- **Flash sync at 1/200s**: slightly below the 167MT's 1/250s; a minor consideration for fill-flash users.
- Independent service technicians in Japan, Germany, and the US remain the primary repair resource; factory Kyocera/Contax support is no longer available.
About this camera
Contax's 1992 mid-range SLR with multi-mode AE and a vacuum film-flattening system inherited from the RTS III.
Key Specs
Frequently asked questions
- What film does the Contax ST use?
- The Contax ST shoots 35mm film.
- What battery does the Contax ST take?
- The Contax ST uses a 2x CR2 battery.
- What lens mount does the Contax ST have?
- The Contax ST uses the Contax/Yashica mount.
- What shutter speeds does the Contax ST offer?
- The Contax ST's shutter speeds range from 30s to 1/4000s.
- What light meter does the Contax ST use?
- The Contax ST meters with center-weighted-silicon.
