Why has this ‘Girls camera’ from the 90’s come back into trend?

During the 80’s and 90’s, the camera market was flooded with cheap, plastic compact cameras. While these compact cameras proved to be extremely convenient, they were never treated as serious cameras; Contax wanted to do something different. Using the combination of both European-influenced styling and design, as well as Japanese technological ingenuity, Contax wanted to create a luxury compact camera to rule them all.  The outline for this camera was simple: to be able to fit into a purse or jacket pocket, but be built like a tank, be a no-nonsense automatic camera, and take photos that would rival even the most professional camera set ups. The camera would be known as the Contax T2. >From a distance, like any other compact camera - it is unassuming; but as soon as you get up close and personal you realise how fantastic this little camera is. For starters, Contax didn’t muck around when it came to its lens. Nestled inside the camera body until you need it is a Zeiss Sonnar 38mm f2.8, and as we know, Zeiss are some of the best lens makers around.

The layout of the camera is super simple: Exposure compensation, Shutter count, Self timer, Focus wheel, Aperture adjustment and Shutter button - but 99% of the time the only thing that you need to touch is the shutter button, being an automatic camera. The design of the camera, unlike many compact cameras from the era, is surprisingly not outdated, and wouldn’t feel out of place amongst your modern tech. In fact, the matte titanium finish of the camera reminds me of the current line up of apple products - maybe they took some styling queues from Contax?  Even though this camera was released over 30 years ago, over the past few years it has come back into the limelight and is at the centre stage of compact film cameras. With film shooting coming back into fashion, many celebrities have also hopped onto the bandwagon; with two in particular being extremely vocal about their Contax T2’s: Chris Hemsworth and Kendall Jenner - two names I’m sure would be very difficult not to know.  Chris Hemsworth is seen here posting this artsy shot of him and his brother on his instagram, with a classic tongue-in-cheek aussie caption about shooting on film - the photo taken with his Contax T2.  image: https://www.instagram.com/p/BkeuVAPlEPM/?hl=en Check out this video of Kendall Jenner on The Tonight Show which has 6.8 million views where she talks about shooting on film, and shows Fallon her Contax T2. image: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PRFAh602kU With celebrity and influencer backing, an almost ageless European design style, and a Japanese build - it is easy to see why the Contax T2 is back in trend, and a perfect addition to a photographer that loves shooting on film anywhere they go.  On offer today is a Contax T2 set in fantastic condition - unlike all the other beaten up, heavily used T2's you see on the market, this set would be perfect to give as a gift to a film shooter in your life (if you don't keep it for yourself that is). K7732 - Contax T2 w/ Zeiss lens   Contax T2 - Titanium  35mm compact film camera Autofocus  Zeiss Sonnar 38mm f2.8 lens Original case and straps Original presentation box and manual Overall condition: 9.8/10