Contax TVS Digital Review

By Movable Type Admin

Review posted 4/8/03

Click to take a QuickTime VR tour of the Contax TVS Digital

Click to take a QTVR tour of the TVS Digital

Incorporating a 5 megapixel CCD, the Contax TVS Digital combines the superior optical quality from a newly-designed Carl Zeiss T* Vario Sonnar lens with the cutting-edge technology that Contax is famous for. The TVS Digital is the first Contax "Boutique" digital camera and incorporates many of the unique features found on Contax T series cameras. Starting with a titanium body, stronger than steel and lighter than aluminum, it ensures durability along with elegance. A diopter control is built-in to adjust the viewfinder for your needs. Sapphire glass viewfinder covers provide scratch-resistant protection to help keep the TVS Digital looking like new, even after years of use.

The Carl Zeiss T* Vario-Sonnar 7.3 - 21.9mm zoom (offering the equivalent view of a 35 - 105mm lens in 35mm format) offers 3X optical and 4X digital zoom. The latest technology in lens design is standard on the Vario-Sonnar. Three aspheric surfaces are incorporated in this six-element design. The T* anti-reflection coating is applied to each lens element, dramatically reducing flare and increasing contrast and sharpness in your photographs.

The Contax Tvs Digital features various multi-shooting modes. The macro mode allows the camera to focus as close as 3.7 inches. Five flash mode options are available (auto flash, red-eye reduction auto flash, fill-in flash, flash off and nighttime portrait). A variety of other modes are offered, including landscape, color, sepia, b/w, white balance (auto, preset, daylight, tungsten, cloudy, fluorescent), sharpness and chroma. Manual exposure compensation (+/- 2 EV in 1/2 or 1/3 increments) is also available.

The well-designed layout provides quick access to the menu items you want to control. Two setup modes for customization allow the user greater control over camera functions. Setup "C" changes camera functions (Flash mode setting, change of exposure compensation range, etc.) while Setup "D" changes digital functions (electronic tone, electronic zooming, startup screen setting, etc.). An AVI movie mode is also featured on the new Contax TVS Digital and can hold up to 30 seconds of high quality digital video.

Designed for long-time shooting, the camera is powered by a high capacity and rechargeable lithium-ion battery. The Contax Tvs Digital comes in both titanium silver or black finish, measures at 4.4" W x 2.4" H x 1.4'" D and weighs 7.4 ounces. Images are downloaded via the included USB cable.

TVS Digital Features

5 Megapixel CCD imager for up to 2560x1920 pixel images
Carl Zeiss T* Vario Sonnar 3x optical 35-105mm f/2.8-4.8 zoom
1.6" Dayfine color LCD monitor
Compact and durable titanium body (silver or black finish)
Program AE, Aperture priority and AE Bracketing
Movie mode w/sound 320x240 to 30 secs
Built in flash with five modes
Evaluative metering on focus point, Center-weighted or Spot
Exposure compensation: +/-2EV in 1/3-step increments
White Balance: Auto, 5 presets or Custom
Color mode, saturation and sharpness control
Shutter speeds: 1 to 1/2000 second, Long Time mode: 1, 2, 4 or 8 seconds
Selectable ISO settings from 50 to 400
Voice memo (up to 30 secs) can be attached to images
Builtin microphone and speaker
Rechargeable 1500mAh lithium-ion battery included
USB connectivity for PC and Mac
Epson PRINT Image Matching compatible

The Contax TVS Digital will be available in March 2003 at suggested list price of $899.95 for the titanium silver and $995 for the titanium black.

Physical Views

The TVS compared to an average CD disc.

Continue on to
Page Two

TVS Digital Specifications

Type	Digital still camera with record, playback and erase modes
Recording Media Image Format	SD Memory Card and MultiMedia (MMC) cards Complies with JPEG standard (Exif 2.2), DCF Standard, supports DPOF
Effective Pixels	5.0 Megapixels
Pickup Device	1/1.8" square-pixel interlace readout system CCD with 5.25 million gross pixels
Recorded Pixels	Still: 2560x1920, 1600x1200, 1280x960, 640x480 Movie: 320x240, 160x120
Image Quality	JPEG F (Fine) or N (Normal)
Lens Aperture	Carl Zeiss T* Vario Sonnar 7.3mm-21.9mm, F2.8-4.8 (6 elements in 6 groups), (approx. focal length in 35mm format, 35mm-105mm) Wide: F2.8, F3.3, F4.0, F4.7, F5.6, F6.7 Telephoto: F4.8, F5.6, F6.7
Digital Zoom	x1.3, x1.6, x2, x3, x4
Focusing Control	Video feedback auto-focus and manual focus
Focusing Range (from CCD surface)	AF: 0.6m ~ infinity MF: 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 1, 1.5, 2, 5m, infinity Macro: 0.15 ~ 0.6m
Exposure Control	Program AE, aperture-priority AE, LT (Long Time) mode
Metering modes	CCD multi-area evaluation metering, center-weighted metering, and spot metering
Exposure compensation	+2.0EV ~ -2.0EV (1/3EV or 1/2 steps) ABC (Automatic Bracketing Control) +/-0.3EV, +/-0.5EV, +/-1.0EV
Automatic exposure range	LV3 ~ LV16.5
Shutter	CCD electronic shutter and programmed electronic shutter with independent aperture control, 1 ~ 1/2000 sec LT mode: 1 sec, 2sec, 4sec, 8sec
White Balance	Auto, Day light, Cloudy, Tungsten lamp, Fluorescent light, Preset
Color mode	Color, B/W, Sepia
Sharpness	+3 ~ -1 (5 steps)
Chroma	+, 0, - (3steps)
Exposure sensitivity	Auto and Manual setting
Optical finder	Real-image zoom viewfinder Approx. field of view 83%, magnification 0.35 ~ 0.99, diopter adjustment, -3 ~ +1 diopter
LCD monitor	1.6-inch 84,960 pixels TFT Color LCD monitor (354x240 dot)
Flash	Built-in Flash, flash-compensation -1 ~ +1
Flash modes	Auto-flash, auto red-eye-reduction flash, no flash, fill-in flash, night portrait flash
AF modes	Wide AF and Spot AF
Movie mode	File format: AVI file, sound record on/off Recording resolution: 320x240, 160x120 Recording period: 30 sec/session (320x240), 120 sec/session (160x120) Playback: QuickTime 4.1 or above (Windows, Macintosh)
LCD Monitor Info	Flash mode, WB, metering mode, focus mark, drive(C ), pixels, quality, number of recordable images, exposure compensation, shutter speed, aperture, exposure sensitivity, Sharpness, Chroma, digital zoom, self-timer/remote release, macro, MF, AFL, ABC, WB bracketing, battery indicator ,date
Display Panel	Flash mode, macro, drive mode (c), number of recordable images, MF, AFL, exposure compensation indicator, LT, battery indicator
Playback mode	Multiple image display, after record, protect, erase, erase all, resizing, slide show, DPOF setting Close up image playback, Thumbnail Playback, Histogram display
Audio record	30sec/still image File format: wave
Resizing	320x240 or 160x120 file format: jpeg
Delete	Erase single frame or erase all frames
Video output mode	NTSC/PAL composite video signal selectable
Input/output	Video output connector, External power input connector, USB connector (mini-B)
Power Supply	3.7v rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack (1500mAh) 310 frames with the LCD off or 260 frames with the LCD on Continuous playback time is four hours and thirty minutes The maximum charging time is six hours
Outer shell material	Titanium, silver or black finish
Dimension	4.4"W x 2.4"H x 1.3"D (not including protruding parts) 112 x 60 x 33 mm
Weight	Approx. 7.4 oz / 210 g (without battery pack and memory card)
Operating temperature	0 ~ 45°C (under the dry conditions)
Accessories included	Remote release RC-1, lithium battery and charger, USB cable, A-V cable, user manual, 16MB SD card, software CD and carrying case

*Specifications as represented by the manufacturer and subject to change

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