Contax's compact SLR — the 137 MA, aperture-priority plus manual, built-in drive, C/Y mount, 1982.
The Contax 137 MA, often marked 137 MA Quartz, was an electronic 35mm film SLR in the Contax/Yashica system built by Kyocera, following the earlier 137 MD. It kept the built-in motor drive and Carl Zeiss T* lens compatibility while adding a manual exposure mode alongside the automatic one. It sat below the professional RTS bodies and was aimed at enthusiasts who wanted both automation and manual control in one compact body.
It is a 35mm single-lens-reflex camera on the Contax/Yashica mount, with an electronically timed vertical focal-plane shutter that requires battery power to fire. Metering is TTL centre-weighted, and exposure modes include aperture-priority automatic plus a manual mode, distinguishing it from the aperture-priority-only 137 MD. A built-in motor drive winds the film automatically after each exposure. The viewfinder presents exposure information through LED readouts. Its electronic timing means a healthy power source is needed for correct operation.
This body suits general, travel and portrait photography for users who want Zeiss optics with the flexibility of switching between automatic and manual exposure. The built-in drive makes it convenient for casual sequences, and the added manual mode makes it more versatile than its predecessor for learning and for controlled situations.
For a used purchase, check the electronics and LED display, confirming the meter, both exposure modes and the motor drive all work. Inspect foam light seals and mirror-damper foam for age-related perishing, verify shutter accuracy across speeds with no capping, and test film advance and rewind. Look through the finder for prism haze, confirm the battery type and that the body powers up reliably, and note that this electronic body will not fire with dead batteries.