One of the most solid, well constructed and capable manual focus cameras ever marketed; and which enjoys the amazing advantage of the availability of a, now, very reasonably priced selection of some of the very best optics ever made for the 35mm format.
The camera top has a very unusual (shared with the RTS III) but highly functional left handed layout for setting exposure mode and shutter speeds (when in Tv or manual modes).
The oversized controls coupled with the very, very solid feel to the camera body gives it a very reassuring mechanical feel despite how totally electronic it is. It has a built in diopter adjustment which is conveniently adjustable by a small knurled knob on the right side of the pentaprism housing. About the only feature that it seems to lack is a mirror lock up which Contax argues that the need for which is largely obviated by the body's very sophisticated mirror counterweight and damping system.
The illuminated external panel display illustrates: Exposure counter/film speed, remaining time on self-timer, elapsed time in bulb exposure, drive modes (3 FPS on auto), battery warning mark.
VIEWFINDER DISPLAY: Aperture and shutter speed by LED, under-over warning, LT, metering display, flash ready symbol, exposure compensation + or -. ABC display and film counter.
The ST body has a date back that prints data between frames; it has a ceramic film pressure plate (Kyocera is a ceramics materials supplier); it has an electronic self-timer with 10 sec. delay; it has an eyepiece shutter; but it has no provision for multiple exposures.
