Contax 645
Contax 645 Body
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The Contax 645 is a professional 6×4.5 medium-format film camera introduced in the late 1990s, combining autofocus, electronic exposure control and interchangeable film backs in a system built around Carl Zeiss lenses. Compared with more traditional medium-format cameras of its era, it brought faster handling and a more familiar SLR-style shooting experience, making it particularly well suited to fashion, portrait and editorial work.
Its appeal today is the balance between medium-format image quality and relatively fluid operation. The 6×4.5 format delivers a larger negative than 35mm with excellent detail and tonal depth, while the Zeiss lens range gives the system its distinctive character. For professional work, the Contax 645 remains especially attractive when you want the look of medium format without the slower, more deliberate handling of many larger systems.
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Type: Medium-format autofocus SLR
Film Format: 120 / 220 film
Frame Size: 6 × 4.5cm
Lens Mount: Contax 645
Focusing: Autofocus and manual focus
Exposure: Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority and Manual
Shutter: Electronically controlled focal-plane shutter
Film Advance: Motorised
Backs: Interchangeable film backs
Viewfinder: Interchangeable prism finder system
Power: 2CR5 lithium battery -
Contax 645 Body
Contax AE Prism Finder MF-1
Contax MFB-1 Film Back
Contax MFB-1A 120/220 Film Insert
Contax Battery Holder
Contax Dark Slide
Contax Body Cap
2CR5 Batteries (1x)
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Contax Distagon T* 35mm f/3.5
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The Contax 645 Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 35mm f/3.5 is the ultra-wide-angle lens of the Contax 645 system. On 6×4.5 format, its field of view is roughly equivalent to a 21mm lens on 35mm, giving a dramatic perspective while retaining the larger negative and rendering characteristics of medium format.
It is particularly well suited to interiors, architecture, landscape, advertising and environmental portraiture where a wide field of view is required without moving away from the Contax 645 system. For professional work, its value is in combining a genuinely expansive perspective with autofocus, Zeiss T* optics and the handling of a relatively fast medium-format SLR system.
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Type: Ultra-wide-angle autofocus lens
Mount: Contax 645
Focal Length: 35mm
35mm Equivalent: Approx. 21mm
Maximum Aperture: f/3.5
Optical Design: Carl Zeiss Distagon T*
Focusing: Autofocus and manual focus
Use: Architecture, interiors, landscape and advertising
Format: 6×4.5 medium format -
Contax Distagon T* 45mm f/2.8
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The Contax 645 Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 45mm f/2.8 is the general-purpose wide-angle lens of the Contax 645 system. On 6×4.5 format, its field of view is roughly equivalent to a 28mm lens on 35mm, giving a natural wide perspective that works well for landscape, architecture, interiors and location photography without becoming overly dramatic.
The lens uses an internal focusing design, helping maintain fast handling and consistent balance on the camera. For professional work, it is a particularly useful choice when you want a wider field of view than the standard lenses while keeping perspective controlled and compositions relatively natural.
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Type: Wide-angle autofocus lens
Mount: Contax 645
Focal Length: 45mm
35mm Equivalent: Approx. 28mm
Maximum Aperture: f/2.8
Optical Design: Carl Zeiss Distagon T*
Focusing: Internal focusing, autofocus and manual focus
Format: 6×4.5 medium format
Use: Landscape, architecture, interiors and location work -
Contax Distagon T* 55mm f/3.5
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The Contax 645 Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 55mm f/3.5 is the compact wide-angle option in the Contax 645 system. On 6×4.5 format, its field of view is roughly equivalent to a 35mm lens on 35mm, giving a natural, slightly wide perspective that feels especially well suited to documentary, editorial and location work.
Compared with the wider 35mm and 45mm Distagons, the 55mm offers a more restrained perspective while remaining noticeably wider than a standard lens. Its relatively compact size and versatile field of view make it a strong choice for street photography, environmental portraiture and general-purpose shooting with the Contax 645.
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Type: Wide-angle autofocus lens
Mount: Contax 645
Focal Length: 55mm
35mm Equivalent: Approx. 35mm
Maximum Aperture: f/3.5
Optical Design: Carl Zeiss Distagon T*
Focusing: Autofocus and manual focus
Format: 6×4.5 medium format
Use: Documentary, editorial, street and location work -
Contax Planar T* 80mm f/2
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The Contax 645 Carl Zeiss Planar T* 80mm f/2 is the standard lens of the system and one of its most distinctive optics. Based on the classic nearly symmetrical Planar design, it was engineered to deliver high correction of aberrations, strong colour performance, low distortion and a flat image plane, even at wide apertures.
On the Contax 645, the 80mm focal length sits in the normal range, but the fast f/2 maximum aperture gives it a much more distinctive character than a conventional standard lens. It is especially well suited to portrait, fashion and editorial work where shallow depth of field, subject separation and strong optical performance are important, while still remaining versatile enough for general use.
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Type: Standard autofocus lens
Mount: Contax 645
Focal Length: 80mm
Maximum Aperture: f/2
Optical Design: Carl Zeiss Planar T*
Focusing: Autofocus and manual focus
Format: 6×4.5 medium format
Use: Portrait, fashion, editorial and general-purpose work -
Contax Apo Makro Planar T* 120mm f/4
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The Contax Apo-Makro-Planar T* 120mm f/4 is the dedicated macro lens of the Contax 645 system, designed for critical close-up work from infinity down to true 1:1 reproduction. Its apochromatic correction and floating-element design help maintain high image quality across the full focusing range, with strong control of colour aberration and excellent detail even at close distances.
Unlike most lenses in the Contax 645 range, the 120mm is manual focus only — a deliberate choice aimed at photographers working carefully in product, beauty, still life, industrial and technical applications. It is a highly specialised optic, but one that rewards precision with extremely controlled rendering and professional-level close-up performance.
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Type: Macro / short telephoto lens
Mount: Contax 645
Focal Length: 120mm
Maximum Aperture: f/4
Minimum Aperture: f/45
Construction: 8 elements in 5 groups
Focusing: Manual focus only
Maximum Reproduction: 1:1
Minimum Focus: To life-size reproduction
Filter Size: 72mm
Weight: Approx. 796g -
Contax Sonnar T* 140mm f/2.8
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The Contax 645 Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 140mm f/2.8 is the system’s classic short telephoto, with a focal length particularly well suited to head-and-shoulders portraiture. Its perspective gives natural compression and strong subject separation, while the fast f/2.8 aperture keeps it practical for handheld work across fashion, editorial, theatre and travel photography.
Despite its reach, the 140mm was designed to remain relatively compact and manageable within the Contax 645 system. Autofocus adds to its versatility on location, making it a useful option when you want a tighter field of view than the standard lenses without moving to a much larger telephoto setup.
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Type: Short telephoto autofocus lens
Mount: Contax 645
Focal Length: 140mm
Maximum Aperture: f/2.8
Minimum Aperture: f/22
Construction: 7 elements in 5 groups
Minimum Focus: 1.3m
Focusing: Autofocus and manual focus
Filter Size: 72mm
Format: 6×4.5 medium format -
Contax 645 Film Back + 120/220 Film Insert
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The Contax 645 Film Back + 120/220 Film Insert is the complete interchangeable film back assembly for the Contax 645 system, supplied with the dedicated 120/220 insert. It is designed for 120 and 220 roll film, although 220 film is now discontinued.
For professional use, the main advantage is fast film changes during a shoot: multiple backs can be pre-loaded with different film stocks and swapped quickly without unloading the camera. The dedicated insert ensures correct film positioning and transport within the Contax 645 system.
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Type: Interchangeable film back
System: Contax 645
Film Type: 120 / 220 roll film
Format: 6×4.5 medium format
Insert: Removable 120/220 film insert
Pressure Plate: Adjustable for 120 or 220 film
Use: Allows rapid switching between pre-loaded film backs
Compatibility: Contax 645 camera body -
Contax MP-1 Battery Grip
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The Contax MP-1 Battery Grip is the dedicated vertical grip for the Contax 645 system, adding a second shutter release for more comfortable portrait-orientation shooting while also expanding the camera’s power options. Instead of relying only on the standard 2CR5 battery, the MP-1 allows the camera to run from four AA batteries, which can be considerably more practical for extended studio or location work.
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Type: Vertical battery grip
System: Contax 645
Power: 4 × AA batteries
Alternative Power: Compatible with 2CR5 battery operation
Controls: Vertical shutter release
Orientation: Designed for portrait-format shooting
Compatibility: Contax 645 camera body -
Contax TLA360 Flash
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The Contax TLA360 is a dedicated TTL flash for Contax cameras, offering a guide number of 36 at ISO 100 together with manual power control and a bounce-and-swivel head for more flexible light placement. Its higher output makes it better suited to demanding on-camera flash work than the smaller TLA200.
Fully compatible with the Contax 645 system, the TLA360 is a practical choice for portrait, fashion, event and location photography where reliable TTL operation and greater control over flash direction are important.
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Type: Dedicated TTL flash
System: Contax TLA
Guide Number: 36 (ISO 100, metres)
Flash Control: TTL and manual
Head Movement: Bounce and swivel
Zoom Coverage: 24–85mm
Flash Compensation: Supported in TTL mode
Second Curtain Sync: Supported with compatible Contax cameras
Mount: Hot shoe -