Contax 645
Taking the Contax 645 out for a walk through Plymouth is an experience that immediately reminds you this is no ordinary camera. Paired with the Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 35mm f3.5 super wide lens and the prism finder, it felt every bit of the professional medium format system it was designed to be. Starting along Armada Way and heading toward the Hoe, the camera quickly made its presence known, not just visually, but physically. It’s a fairly heavy and rather large setup, far from pocket sized or convenient for casual carry. This is a camera you commit to bringing along!
In use, however, the Contax 645 is surprisingly simple and intuitive. Despite its size, the controls are logically laid out and the prism finder offers a bright, confidence inspiring view of the scene. The autofocus, in particular, is a pleasure to use. For a medium format film camera, it feels refined and dependable. It removes much of the hesitation often associated with medium format shooting and lets you focus on composition rather than mechanics.
The camera was tested with Harman Phoenix II, an experimental colour film that brings its own character to the results. As you can see from the images, the colour balance is unique, sometimes unpredictable but always interesting.
There is a learning curve, particularly if you’re not used to this style of camera. The first couple of shots caught me off guard when the dark slide interrupted the flow… an easy mistake if you’re coming from smaller format systems. Once that initial surprise passed and I settled into the routine steps required to capture a photo, the process felt natural and even satisfying. The deliberate nature of the camera encourages a slower, more thoughtful approach to shooting.
The Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 35mm f3.5 lens is an excellent match for the Contax 645, offering a broad, immersive field of view that works perfectly for city scenes and open coastal landscapes. It captures a wide perspective without excessive distortion, making it well suited to architecture and environmental shots. The lens renders scenes naturally, allowing the unique colour balance of Harman Phoenix II to come through clearly.
The Contax 645 is a fantastic camera overall. It’s not light, discreet or especially convenient to carry, but it rewards the effort with excellent handling, reliable autofocus and stunning medium format results. Paired with the Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 35mm f3.5 lens and loaded with Harman Phoenix II, it delivers images full of character and presence. For photographers willing to embrace its size and weight, the Contax 645 remains a truly special camera.