Contax 139 Quartz

Photos by Eric Carlhan text by PDI. From the collection of Eric Carlhan. Last update 2024-06-27 par Sylvain Halgand.

Manufactured or assembled in Japan from 1979 to (After) 1984.
Index of rarity in France: Rare (among non-specialized garage sales)
Inventory number: 12254

See the complete technical specifications

Chronology of cameras Contax

After the RTS, in 1979, came the Contax 139 Quartz, which was the first camera to benefit from quartz technology. Below are a few lines from a promotional magazine dedicated to the camera:

"After revolutionizing watchmaking technology, quartz is now making its way into the field of photography. This is quite natural since photography and time measurement are intimately connected. The extraordinarily precise impulses generated by this tiny crystal govern all time-dependent functions of the Contax 139 Quartz, the world's first camera to embrace quartz precision.
Thus, shutter speeds and all operating sequences of the camera are virtually error-free. What's more, this high-precision quartz-controlled system is housed in an ultra-compact and lightweight body.
Among other features of this camera, note the dual exposure metering system: through-the-lens metering for normal exposure and reflected light metering off the film surface for flash photography, allowing complete exposure control within the camera.
As the newest member of the Contax system, the Contax 139 Quartz invites you to enter the unique world of Contax photography."

It's also worth noting that the dimensions of the 139 Quartz make it one of the most compact and lightweight SLR cameras of its time (135 x 85.5 x 50mm; 500 grams).

Introduced at Photokina '78 as a pre-production model under the name 139, it received its final name upon commercial release in 1979. It positioned itself between the 137 and the RTS models. The 139 featured TTL flash metering as well.

Interesting links or bibliography :

Sur mes-appareils-photos.fr, suggested by Eric Carlhan

Dans ma collection sur Flickr, suggested by Gilles Péris

PhotoGraphic de 1980

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