i just bought into Contax as my first foray into MF a week ago. I paid $1381 on eBay for the package you describe, and think that I got a little lucky. They seem to be going for a few hundred more, on average.
I'm about to buy more lenses and a MP-1 battery grip from a friend. On the horizon is a P25+ back for me, and Phase seems like a safe bet for now. I had concerns about how long it would be supported, but the final thing that sealed the deal for me, was when I realized that I could sell it off on eBay with a decent return on my original investment if I change my mind down the road. I also know that I won't have the funds to buy the successor to the P45+ for a long, long time.
I figure that there are reasonable odds that most of the Contax mounts that are on the market now are unlikely to be discarded, and as long back portion of the mount doesn't change, new backs will still be able to be mounted on existing Contax bodies even if Phase isn't pushing the concept.
You've likely already read it, but Michael has a good review here: http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/...contax645.shtml
Best of luck,
Ron H.
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The Contax is a fine system. We have many clients who still use them. They are a solidly built camera with excellent lenses.
You are right they do hold their values.
Phase One is still making backs in the Contax mount and should for the foreseeable future because they have a solid customer base with them that are creating demand for upgrades and such. There are also those folks that are just buying the camera system now and sitting on it.
Most likely they won't be shooting film with them.
Also if you purchase a Phase One with the Value Added Warranty you get to switch your platform once for free over the three years. So its hard to predict the future, but at least you have an option to switch if you decide you like another platform better for one reason on another.
L
Lance Schad
Capture Integration - Miami/Atlanta
Phase One Dealer of the Year
305-394-3196 cell
[a href=\"http://www.captureintegration.com]Capture Integration , Phase One Dealer[/url]
lance@captureintegration.com
