Contax's compact auto SLR — the 137 MD, aperture-priority, built-in drive, C/Y mount, 1980.
The Contax 137 MD, sometimes marked 137 MD Quartz, was a compact electronic 35mm film SLR in the Contax/Yashica system, made by Kyocera. It brought a built-in motor drive to the Contax range at a more accessible level than the RTS bodies, while still taking Carl Zeiss T* lenses. It sat below the professional RTS line and was aimed at enthusiasts who wanted automatic exposure and integrated winding in one body.
It is a 35mm single-lens-reflex camera on the Contax/Yashica mount, with an electronically timed vertical focal-plane shutter, so it needs battery power to fire. Metering is TTL centre-weighted, and the main exposure mode is aperture-priority automatic, with the shutter speed set by the camera. An integrated motor drive advances the film automatically after each frame. The viewfinder shows exposure information through LED readouts. Because the shutter is electronic, correct power is required for reliable operation.
The 137 MD suits general photography, travel and portrait work for users who want Zeiss lens quality without a separate winder. The built-in drive makes it convenient for sequences and casual shooting, and the aperture-priority automation keeps handling simple, which also makes it approachable for students moving up to a Zeiss system.
When buying used, test the electronics and LCD or LED readouts, confirming the meter and auto exposure respond and the motor drive advances and stops correctly. Check foam light seals and mirror-damper foam for perishing, verify the shutter fires cleanly across speeds without capping, and test rewind. Inspect the finder for prism haze, confirm the battery type and that the body powers up dependably, and remember that an electronic Contax body will not shoot with flat batteries.