Contax 139 Quartz

Introduction: The Contax 139 Quartz at a Glance

The Contax 139 Quartz is an electronic 35mm SLR that arrived in 1979 and stayed in production until 1987. Yashica assembled it in Japan, working under a licence from Zeiss, and the numbers suggest it found its audience: more than 200,000 bodies left the factory. If you enjoy browsing SLR film cameras, this one stands out for the way it combines a quartz clock with a manual-focus reflex design.

The name tells you the main idea. Instead of relying on a purely mechanical timing train, the camera uses a crystal oscillator to govern how long the shutter stays open. Here we pair the body with a 135mm f/2.8 lens and cover its history, specification and what to check when buying.

An SLR like this rewards a slower rhythm. You compose on a ground-glass screen, judge focus by eye, and let the meter and the timer handle the rest, which tends to make each frame feel considered rather than casual.

Design Roots and Historical Background

A Zeiss name, a Yashica factory

The 139 Quartz carries the Contax badge, yet the people building it were at Yashica. Production took place in Japan under a licensing arrangement with Zeiss, which explains the mix of a German-linked brand and Japanese manufacturing.

The manual describes it as the first camera in the world to apply the accuracy of quartz. That is the maker's own wording, not an independent ranking.

A system around the body

According to the manual, the camera was part of a wider system. Carl Zeiss T* lenses were offered from 15 mm f/3.5 all the way to 1000 mm f/5.6, and the body could be extended with a Winder and a Data Back.

Key Technical Highlights

Shutter and timing

The shutter is a vertical-travel metal design under electronic control, with a quartz crystal keeping time. In aperture-priority automatic mode it spans 11 s to 1/1000 s, while manual mode runs from 1 s to 1/1000 s. Flash users get a sync speed of 1/100 s, and TTL flash is supported with the TLA20 and TLA30 units.

Metering and exposure control

Light is read by a silicon photodiode with a centre-weighted pattern, and the stated working range is 0 to 18 EV with an f/1.4 lens. You can choose between fully manual exposure and aperture priority, check depth of field with a dedicated lever, hold a reading with AE lock and shift the result by up to 2 EV in either direction.

Viewfinder and power

The focusing screen is matte. Within it sits a horizontal split-image spot ringed by microprisms, and a LED display on the right side reports the shutter time. Two SR44 cells power the body, and the optional winder takes four AA batteries of its own.

• Shutter: metal blades, vertical travel, quartz crystal timing
• Auto range 11 s to 1/1000 s; manual 1 s to 1/1000 s
• Centre-weighted silicon photodiode meter, 0 to 18 EV at f/1.4
• Flash sync 1/100 s; TTL with TLA20 and TLA30
• Power: two SR44 button cells

Modern-Day Use in 2026

Where the 139 Quartz excels

Today the camera suits photographers who want a manual-focus SLR with a helpful automatic mode. The split-image spot helps with focusing, and the finder readout keeps your eye on the scene. Paired with a 135mm f/2.8, it is a natural fit for portraits and details at a distance.

Use it for:

• Portraits where a telephoto perspective flatters faces.
• Street and travel pictures in aperture-priority mode.
• Learning how aperture, time and film speed interact.

Practical shooting tips

• Use the depth-of-field lever when you shoot a fast lens near wide open.
• At 135mm, choose a shutter time that matches the focal length, or brace the camera.
• Carry a spare pair of button cells in a small case.

Buying and Maintenance Guide

What to check before buying used

A camera from this period has aged in ways that matter, so go through a simple routine before you commit.

• Fire the shutter at slow and fast speeds and listen for hesitation.
• Look inside the battery compartment for corrosion.
• Inspect the focusing screen and viewfinder for haze, fungus or dust.
• Confirm the LED readout and meter respond when settings change.
• Check the back-door light seals for crumbling foam.

Ask for the serial number and run the shutter several times in a row.

Power and batteries

The body runs on two SR44 button cells, and the winder accessory uses four AA batteries.

• Remove the cells if the camera will sit unused for months.
• Pick fresh cells of the same type rather than mixing old and new.

Basic care and accessories

A few simple photography accessories help the camera last:

• A padded bag or case that keeps dust off the lens and mirror box.
• A lens hood or cap to guard the front element.
• A microfibre cloth and a blower for careful cleaning.
• The original Winder or Data Back, if you want the system extras.

What to pay

At DutchThrift, recent working examples sold for about €175–€299, in each case as a kit with a lens.

Conclusion: Quartz Precision on Film

The Contax 139 Quartz mixes a Zeiss-licensed badge, Yashica manufacturing and an unusual quartz-timed shutter. For anyone who likes electronic exposure help but still wants to focus by hand, it offers a clear, well-equipped way to shoot film.

Buy with care: check the release magnet, the batteries and the finder. With a 135mm f/2.8 on the front, it is ready for portraits and distant details.

Ready to explore cameras like the Contax 139 Quartz? Browse our SLR film cameras and the wider analog cameras range at DutchThrift.com.

Sources: the original Contax 139 Quartz instruction manual; Contax 139 on camera-wiki.org, text licensed under GFDL 1.3; price range from DutchThrift's own kit sales over the past two years.