Contax S2 / S2b

The Contax S2 was originally introduced in October 1992 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Contax cameras. The first model, the S2, was produced by Cosina to Contax specification. It is a fully mechanical, manual-focus, manually-operated 35mm SLR camera, using batteries only to power the light meter, and features titanium top and bottom plates. Like all modern Contax manual-focus SLR cameras, the S2 used the Contax/Yashica bayonet mount in order to accept Carl Zeiss T* lenses. The camera intended as a 'purist' model for use by customers who were experienced photographers. It is unusual among modern 35mm cameras in that the light meter was designed as a spot meter, without center-weighted or matrix metering options. The use of only a spot meter required some knowledge and expertise by the photographer for accurate exposures. A simple camera with a mechanical shutter, the S2 featured shutter speeds up to 1/4000 second and a 1/250 second flash synchronization.

In response to customer demands for an S2 with a more versatile light meter, Contax introduced the S2b in 1994, which was sold concurrently with the S2. The S2b is virtually identical to the S2 with the exception of a different external finish, and a light meter that is center-weighted to provide accurate exposure under an average range of lighting conditions. Both the S2 and S2b were discontinued by Contax in 2000.