Contax S2B Camera Features

• The Contax S2B is a 35mm manual film camera. Jonathan Kitchen/Digital Vision/Getty Images

  The Contax S2B is a 35mm manual film camera that was manufactured from 1994 to 2000. The Contax S2B features a bayonet mounting system in order to be compatible with Carl Zeiss lenses. The top and bottom covers of the Contax S2B are made of titanium and make the body extremely durable. The Contax S2B is an ideal camera for hobbyists and beginners in film photography.

Focal Plane Shutter

• The Contax S2B camera uses a 35mm focal plane shutter, which means that the film is exposed through a series of overlapping panels that advance across the film plane. Contrary to leaf shutters, focal plane shutters are located within the camera body, mounted near the film plane. Focal plane shutters allow for much faster shutter speeds than leaf shutters. The Contax S2B has a shutter speed range of 1 second to 1/4000 as well as a "B," or bulb, function that exposes the image for as long as you press the shutter. The Contax S2B synchronizes with an external flash at a shutter speed of 1/250.

Depth of Field Preview Button

• The Contax S2B features a depth of field preview button to see which areas of your image will be in focus after developing. Changing the f-stop affects the depth of field in an image, but this is not visible when looking through the viewfinder. Lower f-stop numbers give less depth of field and an effect known as "selective focus." Higher f-stop numbers give a higher range of depth of field with more areas in focus the higher up you go. Pressing the depth of field preview button while looking through the viewfinder allows you to see the true depth of field of your image, even if you have stopped down.

• The Contax S2B uses a TTL, or "through the lens," spot metering system to help you expose your film correctly. This built-in light metering system measures the amount of light passing through the lens and combines that information with your aperture, film ISO settings shutter speed to calculate the stop range for a correct exposure. The TTL meter indicator is visible when you look through the viewfinder; pressing the shutter half of the way will activate the meter. The meter will change if you change your aperture, ISO settings or shutter speed. Using the built-in light metering system prevents botched shots and wasting film.