For many photographers, the perfect film camera is the all-mechanical, compact, single lens reflex, and within this very specific class of camera there are some which have become legendary. The Olympus OM1, the Leica R6, the Nikon FM3a. These cameras are usually discussed in equal parts awed whisper and histrionic hyperventilation. And they deserve it. They’re great cameras. To this pantheon we may add another – the Contax S2.
The Contax S2 is a nearly perfect expression of the form. It has a titanium skin. It has a superb mechanical shutter. It’s fully manual with convenient light meter assistance. It works without batteries. And it’s able to mount a suite of excellent Carl Zeiss lenses (or alternatively affordable versions from Yashica).
I spent a couple of weeks shooting the Contax S2 earlier in the summer. By the end of my time with it I was convinced thatthe S2 belongs in the same conversations with those other, much better-known all-mechanical all-manual masterpieces. Though it’s not the sort of camera that I would personally want, I recognize it as the equal of the best mechanical manual SLRs that I’ve used and reviewed.
Specifications of the Contax S2
- Camera Type : 35mm Film, Single Lens Reflex
- Lens Mount : Contax/Yashica Mount
- Shutter : Manual mechanical focal plane shutter, vertically traveling, metal
- Shutter Speeds :1/4000th second to 1 second; Bulb mode for long exposures
- Exposure Modes : Manual with light meter assistance
- Light Meter : Spot meter EV4 to EV20 (ISO 100 f/1.4) via Silicon photo diode cell
- Film Speed Range : ISO 12 to 6400
- Viewfinder : Fixed eye-level pentaprism, 0.82x magnification and 95% image area (with 50mm lens); Interchangeable focusing screens
- Viewfinder Information : LEDs for light meter reading, flash indicator, over- and under-exposure warning and shutter speed display
- Focusing : Manual focus only
- Film Transport : Manual film advance and rewind, automatic film frame counter
- Power Supply : 2x 1.5v LR44 battery
- Dimensions / Weight : 134 x 89 x 50mm / 560 grams
- Other Features : Self timer; Shutter release cable socket; Shutter release lock; VF diopter adjustment
What is the Contax S2
For those who detest spec sheets and would rather have the essence of the camera presented in a few easily digestible paragraphs, allow me.
The Contax S2 was designed to be a refined 35mm film SLR camera, presented in a premium package. It was manufactured by Kyocera in Japan (Kyocera had acquired Yashica in 1983, another Japanese camera company that had been licensing the Contax name from Zeiss since 1973). First sold in 1992, it offered photographers of its day a no-frills (yet high quality) all-mechanical, all-manual camera on which to mount Zeiss’ world-renowned manual focus lenses.
The S2 was a basic camera. A big, bright viewfinder, an obvious control layout, a robust and durable body with titanium top and bottom plates, and nothing unnecessary to the creation of exposed frames of film, it was a true photographers’ tool.
Its most interesting feature was its light meter, which was unusual in that it was a spot meter. Spot meters take their light readings from one specific point within the image area. This allows for very accurate metering (of a very specific area of the image), and in an experienced photographer’s hands, the spot meter is a precision tool. In an amateur’s hands, however, the spot meter can pose a problem.
In photos in which there are very dark and very light areas, say when shooting a subject with the sun positioned behind them, a spot meter might expose for the shadows on the subject and create a photo that is totally over-whelmed by the backlit sun and background. Or, the opposite might happen. If the spot meter registers the extreme light in the background, it might cause drastic under-exposure of the subject in the foreground.
Metering for the bright sky caused a total loss of detail in the shadows of the tree’s branches.
Had I metered for the dark shadows or the bright splotches of sunlight in this shot, the flowers in the center of the frame would’ve been either too light or too dark. Here the spot meter, centered on the flowers themselves, created a good reading.
The center-weighted meters or averaging meters that most camera manufacturers preferred to put into their cameras are more user-friendly and, on the whole, will make more accurate shots for the average photographer. This is because they take a broader sample of the light in a larger portion of the image area and average the reading so that most highlights and shadows will be properly exposed.
Many other 35mm SLRs offered spot meters as well, but most of them include the spot meter as a secondary system to complement their primary metering mode. Cameras like the Leica R6.2 and models within Olympus’ OM line do this beautifully. The Contax S2, on the other hand, offered a spot meter and nothing else.
Perhaps acknowledging the learning curve demanded by their chosen metering system, just two years after the S2 debuted Contax released an updated model, the Contax S2b. The S2b replaced the S2’s spot meter with the more familiar center-weighted meter. This is the version that I’d buy, were I making the decision between the two cameras (though it costs about $300 more than the original). The S2b was sold concurrently with the S2 until the year 2000, when both models were discontinued.
Practical Use
The Contax S2 is a deceptive camera. It’s fancy, with its titanium skin and its refined controls and its professional persona, but it’s also one of the most basic film cameras available today. Like a Minolta SRT or a Pentax K1000, it offers nothing more than is necessary to shoot a photo. It is the quintessential “light tight box” and very little more. Admittedly, this is an over-simplification – the Contax’s shutter, topping out at 1/4000th of a second, is more advanced than most basic cameras, and its light meter (as mentioned) is highly specialized.
But the camera’s overall simplicity means that people who know what they’re doing with a camera will pick up the S2 and instantly know what to do. We look at the manually adjustable ISO dial and understand that we need to set our ISO, and that we can also easily shoot with makeshift exposure compensation or shoot under- or over-exposed to push/pull process in development. We see the shutter speed dial, with its color coded denotation at 1/250th of a second, and understand that that’s our flash sync speed. We look through the viewfinder and see the split-image focusing patch with micro-prism surround and instantly know how to focus. We see the light meter readout LEDs and dial our exposures to suit. And we see the depth-of-field preview plunger and, uh, know that we’ll never touch it.
I used the Contax S2 during two day trips earlier in the summer. The first trip was a scenic drive to Maine’s rocky coast, the second a summer day in Boston’s North End. In both instances I loaded the camera with Rollei Retro 80s, a fine grained, low sensitivity panchromatic black and white film.
Slow films tend to be trickier to use than mid-speed films, and low ISO films tend to require more precise exposure, so I figured that this film would be a good test of the camera’s spot metering system. And it was. In numerous instances I recognized that the meter was being a bit too precious, and adjusted my shutter speed accordingly. In most cases, I got it right. In other shots I made mistakes (or the meter did) and the photos were under- or over-exposed. In these instances I know that a more advanced camera would have done the job – something like a Minolta a7, or a Canon EOS in any model.
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Still, the Contax S2 was fun to use. When I reviewed the Canon AE-1 way back in 2014 I called that camera “the quintessential ‘old camera'” and I say the same about the Contax S2. At least in ergonomics and style, it looks, feels, and behaves like an old camera. It fits well in the hands, balances nicely, and exudes that quality of old timey workmanship that we camera nerds love.
The metal body is cool to the touch, reminding us always that we’re holding something made out of titanium, the material with the highest strength-to-density ratio of any metallic element. The controls are finely finished, with deep knurling and large diameter knobs. The leather body covering is soft and supple, and while it’s a bit too cute for my taste (I prefer the more industrial and textured grip materials of other cameras), I can see some photographers loving the luxurious feel.
The lenses that I used during my time with the Contax S2 were two that I’ve previously used extensively; the Carl Zeiss 50mm F/1.4 Planar and the Carl Zeiss Tessar 45mm F/2.8 Pancake. Both of these lenses are amazing. They’re superbly built and create excellent and very characteristic images. The 50mm creates amazing bokeh. The 45mm combines with the camera to create a truly tiny 35mm SLR machine, perfect for travel and for day trips. But we won’t discuss the lenses further. Today’s article is about the camera, and since this camera is an interchangeable lens camera, the image quality that I got from these lenses is not very important for the purposes of today’s writing.
I will, at least, be sure to mention that any buyer who uses the S2 will be satisfied with the lenses that are available for the Contax/Yashica system cameras. Under the Zeiss umbrella we find prime lenses from 15mm to 1000mm focal lengths, and within the Yashica range (the more affordable lens lineup for this mount) we find a similar range of prime lenses, as well as a full suite of zoom lenses.
Strength as Weakness
The Contax S2 isn’t perfect. While its flaws are few and unlikely to chill the blood of photographers lusting for the S2, other would-be buyers might balk.
To start, it’s expensive. Over the past six month period, the average selling price for a used Contax S2 on eBay (at time of writing) was $447 (body only). Buyers looking for an unblemished example should expect to pay ten percent more. While this price isn’t unreasonable for a specialized and extremely fine film camera, some photographers would argue otherwise (and they’d have a strong argument).
Consider that the Contax S2, while desirable and fancy, is a fundamentally simple camera. By the specs, it doesn’t really offer much more than what a buyer would get for a $50 Minolta SRT. An Olympus OM1 body costs approximately $75.
Next, the light meter of the S2 could be a strike against it. The S2 has a spot meter, as opposed to the more forgiving center-weighted meters or average meters found in similar cameras. While a spot meter is desirable for some photographers, it’s more likely to shove a stick in the spokes of the average amateur photographer shooting film today. Even I, an extremely talented and nearly perfect photographer who never makes mistakes, was occasionally joked upon by the S2’s precise (stupid) meter.
And then there’s the lenses. While the Contax S2 can mount some truly amazing lenses, they don’t come cheap. The Zeiss range of Contax/Yashica Mount lenses often cost as much as the camera. Some speciality lenses for the S2 actually cost double what the camera does. While this is pretty typical in photography, and has been for decades, it’s less typical in the budget-friendly film camera space. We can opt for the less expensive Yashica lenses in C/Y Mount, but who wants to shoot a Contax and forego the luxurious Zeiss branding? That’s another conundrum that pales the glimmer of the S2 (just a bit).
Lastly, the Contax S2 is an all-mechanical all-manual camera. No aperture-priority, no shutter-priority, no auto mode, no auto-focus, no automatic film advance or rewind. It’s got nothing. And while much of this review has lauded the camera’s lack of frills as a benefit, it could easily be argued that it’s a liability. A fully-equipped SLR from the era of auto-everything costs $40 and will take as-good or better pictures (and here’s the important part) with a higher hit rate.
I’ve approached the Contax S2 through the prism of a photographer who likes manual cameras. I’ve suspended my personal preference to do so. I personally dislike shooting in manual mode. I find it to be pointless. I’d rather pick a camera that meters perfectly in aperture-priority mode, and then simply let the camera do the math of exposure while I concentrate on composition, depth-of-field, focus, and living the moment that I’m photographing. If you’re like me, you probably won’t prefer the $400 Contax S2 over a $100 Minolta X700.
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While my wife and I were sitting in the grass on the Greenway, with my kids running through the splash pad area, this friendly golden retriever kept darting up to us in between fetch sessions. Here it’s testing the minimum focus distance of the Zeiss 45mm.
I’ve sub-headed this section of the review intentionally – Strengths as Weakness. The Contax has weaknesses, as do all cameras. But each of these flaws could be countered if we simply adopt the opposite view, and neither perspective would be wrong.
It’s an expensive camera. A bad thing when we buy. But it’s an expensive camera. A good thing when we sell!
Its light meter is too specialized. Bad when we’re not paying attention. But the same meter allows precision in the right hands. Good!
The lenses are pricey. Bad, again, when we buy. But good when we sell, and even better when we can further adapt them to our digital camera!
It lacks advanced shooting modes and electronics. Bad. But it won’t die in the field or complicate the day’s shooting, or overrule our own artistic vision, and it’ll be infinitely repairable. See? All of that is good.
Inevitably, the strength and weakness of the Contax S2 will be judged by the individual photo geek. Choose your side.
Final Thoughts
The Contax S2 is a great camera. It deserves to be among the legendary cameras that are frequently discussed whenever and wherever people gush about all-mechanical, all-manual, no frills classic cameras like the FM3a and the Leica R6. Solid, reliable, and focused, it’s a camera for people who want to make photographs as much with their mind as with their eyes.
While I personally would prefer a more automated machine, as I’ve mentioned in many of my articles covering these sorts of bare-bones classic cameras, I can totally understand why the Contax S2 (and cameras like it) are the be-all, end-all for a whole subset of film photographers today.
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FAQs
What is the difference between Contax S2 and S2b? ›
The S2b is virtually identical to the S2 with the exception of a different external finish, and a light meter that is center-weighted to provide accurate exposure under an average range of lighting conditions. Both the S2 and S2b were discontinued by Contax in 2000.
Is the Contax S2 fully mechanical? ›Lastly, the Contax S2 is an all-mechanical all-manual camera. No aperture-priority, no shutter-priority, no auto mode, no auto-focus, no automatic film advance or rewind.
Which is the best camera in Contax? ›The Contax T2/T3 is a 35mm film camera lauded by many of the world's greatest point and shoot photographers. The Zeiss lens is as sharp as you would expect – it's light and feels superb in your hand. Aperture priority, exposure compensation and focus lock confirmation make it more user-controllable than other cameras.
What is the difference between Contax S2 and 139? ›Almost identical in size and shape, the 139Q has an electronic shutter, full metered manual mode and auto exposure. The S2 has 2 stops faster (mechanical) shutter, one stop higher meter setting (6400ASA) and a film check window, but loses aperture priority AE.
Why is the Contax G2 so popular? ›The modern, smooth, autofocus Contax G2 system is significantly more advanced and refined than the 1950s-based manual focus LEICA system of today. The Contax G2 is a joy to use and shoot. It is tight, precise and fast. Autofocus and metering just work, and the film advances quietly and smartly after each shot.
What camera does Jay Maisel use? ›The only photo of her I ended up with was one taken among the crowds out on the street.” Maisel made the switch to digital in the year 2000 when his friend Sam Garcia, “who knows I'm an anti-technician, forced one into my hand.” Today his go-to cameras are the Nikon D3S and the D4S with a 28-300mm zoom lens.
What is so special about Contax T2? ›Contax T2 Build Quality: A Well-Built, Titanium Monster
It's pretty remarkable considering its size and function. It's a beautiful all metal body. Made from titanium, it's heavy and makes you feel like you're holding an actual camera, not an all-plastic toy (looking at you Olympus XA2).
The new CONTAX ARIA is the smallest , lightest CONTAX SLR ever at 16.2 ounces.
When did Contax go out of business? ›In 2005, Kyocera discontinued all photographic equipment manufacture, including the Contax brand in 2005, thus, for now, bringing the Contax story to a close.
What type of camera do most photographers use? ›63% of professional photographers use a mirrorless camera, while 36% of them use a DSLR camera. Only 1% use both. 2. Mirrorless cameras are more popular than DSLR cameras for amateur photographers too (but not by much).
What camera does Annie Leibovitz use? ›
By the '80s, Annie found her main camera — the medium format workhorse that is the Mamiya RZ67. Annie reportedly shot most of her work with the RZ67 till her transition into digital by the early 2000s. Leibovitz, unlike many who built their careers in the days of 120 film, had no issues migrating to digital.
What camera takes high quality pictures? ›The Sony a7R V is a phenomenal mirrorless camera that tops our list. It has a powerful full frame sensor with a 60.1 MP resolution. The image quality is breathtaking.
What camera did Beastie Boys use? ›The Hi-8 cameras capture the scene as the rappers tear through a 24-song set.
Which camera does Kendall Jenner use? ›The Contax T2 is a popular film camera among photographers and celebrities alike, including Kendall Jenner. This compact camera was first released in 1990 and quickly gained a reputation for its high-quality optics and easy-to-use controls.
Why are 35mm cameras popular? ›35mm lenses are amongst the most popular out there, considered to be standard lenses with an ideal focal length that covers multiple applications. They're accessible, easy to use and fun to shoot with which is why many photographers include them in their kit.
What camera did Zendaya use? ›The Contax T2 has earned a reputation as a stylish and reliable film camera, favored by celebrities like Kendall Jenner and Zendaya. Let's explore some of the unique features that make this camera a must-have for both amateur and professional photographers alike.
Who owns Contax? ›At that time, Kyocera's new camera division took over responsibility for production of all Contax and Yashica branded cameras, eventually introducing cameras under its own name, as well as contracting production of other models to outside manufacturers, such as Cosina.
What camera did Jackie Kennedy use? ›More From Digital Trends. One of those devices was her Leicaflex SL SLR camera that she used alongside a Leitz Wetzlar Summicron-R 50mm f/2.8 lens. Two other pieces of equipment that she employed were a Leica Leitz Wetzlar Summicron-R 50mm f/2 lens and a Nikon Nippon Kikkor-S Kogaku 35mm f/2.8 lens.
What camera does Kate Elizabeth use? ›The Duchess, who uses a Fujifilm X-T3 digital camera (worth about £1,149), has been a keen photographer since she was a child.
What camera did Ashton Kutcher promote? ›Regular TV watchers have likely seen the Nikon commercial with Ashton Kutcher traipsing around a Hollywood cocktail party with a touch-screen camera--the Nikon Coolpix S60. (In case you haven't and simply must, here's the site dedicated to the campaign.)
Why are Contax camera so expensive? ›
why is contax t2 so expensive? The honest answer is the hype behind it. When so many celebrities started using it, everyone else went to eBay and other sellers to pick one up. There are some great things about this camera for sure: primarily the lens.
What celebrities have a contax T2 camera? ›Contax T2 – Kendall Jenner's Point-And-Shoot Film Camera
The holy grail of the point-and-shoot world, the rangefinder that everyone (including Emma Chamberlain, Zendaya, Frank Ocean, and Gunner Stahl) has been using – the titanium-bodied, 35mm Carl Zeiss f/2.8 lens goodness! We're talking about the Contax T2.
Like any camera, the Contax G2 has its share of pros and cons. Some of the main pros of the G2 include its fast and accurate autofocus, durable build, and wide range of compatible lenses. It is also known for its high image quality and excellent low-light performance.
What is the best beginner lens SLR? ›- Canon EF-S 35mm f/2.8 Macro IS STM: Adorama | B&H | Amazon.
- Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM: Adorama | B&H | Amazon.
- Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM: Adorama | B&H | Amazon.
- Canon EF 70-300mm f/4 – 5.6 III USM: Adorama | B&H | Amazon.
🥇 Minolta TC-1 is the smallest full-frame 35mm film camera ever made. It measures 99mm × 61mm and weighs 224g (less than 8oz).
What lens is most like human vision on our 35mm SLR cameras? ›On a 35mm full frame camera, a 43mm lens provides an angle of view of 55 degrees, so that focal length provides exactly the same angle of view that we humans have.
Are 35mm cameras still being made? ›Is 35mm Film Still Made? Yes! 35mm is still made and is by far the most popular film format that we sell. 35mm is still made by a few of the big dogs in film such as Kodak, Ilford and Fujifilm as well as lots of lovely indie brands such as Film Washi, Dubblefilm and revolog.
What was the last 35mm film camera made? ›You'll know that the last professional film cameras were the best film cameras ever made. And since the Canon EOS 1V was the final 35mm professional SLR that Canon built, you'll know that it is quite simply their best. Made in the year 2000 and produced until 2018, it proudly ushered out the era of film.
Do Contax still make cameras? ›Alas, Contax and Kyocera broke up after cameras became digital. Kyocera could not produce digital cameras. Sony was quick to pick up the lens system of Contax, and there are Sony cameras with Carl Zeiss lenses. Thus, the best way to insist on the Contax tradition is to carry Sony cameras with those Zeiss lenses.
Do professionals use DSLR or mirrorless? ›Do professionals use mirrorless cameras? Yes, but they also use DSLRs, too, depending on the genre of photography. In fact, many people switch between DLSR vs mirrorless cameras. Some are advocates that mirrorless lenses and autofocus are still not there yet, and prefer to use DSLRs.
Why do photographers prefer DSLR cameras? ›
DSLRs are durable, versatile in their ability to pair with numerous lenses and attachments, have great battery life and give you a higher shooting speed with better autofocusing — these are the reasons photographers love this type of camera.
What camera did Ansel Adams use? ›For instance, several of the photographs in the Center for Creative Photography's exhibition Intimate Nature: Ansel Adams and the Close View were taken with a Hasselblad, a medium-format camera that uses 120mm roll film and is known for its high quality lenses (the individual negatives are 2 1/4 x 2 1/4 inches).
What camera did Leonardo da Vinci use? ›Renaissance artists like Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo used the camera obscura to study perspective, though few would admit to experimenting with the device. Not only was it connected with the occult, but its use was also considered 'cheating' by artists of the day.
What camera did Picasso use? ›Though explored less than his other works, Picasso was equally interested in getting behind the lens as in front of it—as his friend and biographer, John Richardson, revealed in Picasso and the Camera, the artist owned many cameras, “mostly Leicas”, and used them extensively in his own practice.
Which camera has best JPEG quality? ›- Fujifilm. Of all the camera brands, Fujifilm gets its JPEG processing mostly right most of the time. ...
- OM System / Olympus. Even before its sale and rebranding as OM System, Olympus has long had a strong reputation for attractive colour rendition. ...
- Canon.
Expensive cameras have a lot of features that are nice to have but won't necessarily affect the quality of your photo including: high burst rate (the number of frames-per-second you can take) super-fast auto focus. weatherproofing.
Why Hasselblad is the best? ›It all starts with the sensor. The CMOS sensors built inside Hasselblad medium format cameras deliver the best in image quality, resolution, and detail capture possible. More importantly, it's the size of the pixels that makes the biggest difference in image quality.
What camera does Christopher Nolan use? ›Nolan is known for shooting on 70 mm film, and is credited for popularising the use of IMAX 70mm cameras in contemporary cinema.
What camera did John Lennon use? ›At least three of The Beatles were firm fans of Pentax cameras.
What lens do most filmmakers use? ›Standard lenses (35mm – 70mm focal length)
While 35mm are very popular among film directors, 50mm lenses represent a versatile option for all filmmakers. As well as minimising visual distortion, 500mm lenses are great for capturing naturalistic footage that flatters human subjects.
What camera are most movies shot on? ›
- Arri Alexa.
- Blackmagic URSA.
- Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Cameras.
- Canon Cinema EOS.
- Panavision Genesis.
- Panasonic VariCam.
- Red Epic.
- Red Scarlet.
For street photography on film, we recommend a 400-speed film like Ilford HP5 or Kodak Portra 400. During the day, these films will allow you to stop your aperture down to f/8, maintain a fast enough shutter speed, and capture a greater depth in your images.
What camera does Lady Gaga own? ›The GL30 Instant Digital Camera is one of the three products that's part of the Polaroid Grey Label by Haus of Gaga and Polaroid.
What camera was used for House of Gucci? ›House of Gucci was captured by director of photography Dariusz Wolski digitally in the ARRIRAW codec (at 4.5K) using Arri Alexa Mini LF cameras and Panavision Vintage 65 and Panaspeed lenses, finished as a 4K Digital Intermediate, and presented in the widescreen aspect ratio of 2.39:1.
What is Bella Hadid's camera? ›Bella Hadid has a number of digital cameras she uses on rotation, including the COZPUZHAT Digital Camera and the Ricoh GR III. The Ricoh GR III is a pocket-size camera that features an updated design for high-resolution images.
What does B Cam mean on camera? ›In many cases, these are A-camera and B-camera setups, where your A-cam is your high-end option for the majority of your filming, while your B-cam is usually your slightly lower-end camera, used for off-angle coverage and pickup shots.
What does B camera mean? ›The Bulb setting (abbreviated B) on camera shutters is a momentary-action mode that holds shutters open for as long as a photographer depresses the shutter-release button.
What is a Grade B camera? ›B grades are usually pretty much like new but without a box (sometimes minor scratches).
What is B ISO camera? ›B is the abbreviation of Bulb, a mode which will keep a camera shutter open while the shutter button is pressed or will close the shutter on the second press of the button depending on your camera.
What does N and B mean on camera? ›The Shutter Speed Switch, located on the top of the Lens has two settings: “N” and “B.” “N” is for normal daytime shots, and fires the shutter at approximately 1/60 of a second. “B” allows you to keep the shutter open for as long as you like – which is great for nighttime and low-light images.
What is the point of camming? ›
The term “camming” refers to the modification of a truck's camshaft. While it may sound justifiably complex, the process of changing out the camshaft allows you to build a custom engine that performs better within a particular RPM range.
What is C mode on a camera? ›In P, S, A, and M modes, the CUSTOM SET option in the shooting menu can be used to save current camera and menu settings. These settings are recalled whenever the mode dial is rotated to C (custom mode).
What does P mean on camera? ›The P mode on a digital SLR stands for Programmed Automatic settings. Shooting in this mode gives you control over some settings that are automatic in your camera's fully automatic mode. P mode is a great way to learn more about manual settings if you're not ready to jump into manual mode with both feet quite yet.
What are all 3 cameras for? ›Three cameras can capture more light than one which helps users take better pictures. Apple pairs the three cameras at the factory. When you're recording a video, you can actually record different angles and magnification at the same time.
What is a military grade camera? ›Military grade PTZ camera system solution is a revolutionary multisensory PTZ cameras featuring a long-range visible night, thermal infrared continuous zoom, and optional ZLID NIR illumination with LRF. This multi-sensory payload enables high-resolution images in any environment, from thick fog to complete darkness.
What is considered a professional grade camera? ›Professional-grade cameras are designed to be used by professionals, and they're built to last. They're also designed to be easy to use, so you can get great shots without having to spend hours learning how to use them.
What is low quality camera? ›Lower resolution cameras translate to lower image dimensions in pixels, which means that you do not have a lot of pixels to start with. So if you need to crop an image heavily, you are basically out of luck – your will lose a lot of resolution and your images will become much smaller when doing so.
What aperture should I use? ›If you want a large depth of field, you need a small aperture. If you want a shallow depth of field, you need a large aperture. That's the general rule. Using an aperture like f/1.4 or f/2 will give you a very shallow depth of field.
What ISO is too high? ›This is exactly what's needed in bright conditions in order to avoid overly-exposed photos. A high ISO value (e.g. 800, 1600 or higher) means a high sensitivity to light.