Contax's mechanical SLR — the S2, spot metering, manual-only, titanium, C/Y mount, 1992.
The Contax S2 was a mechanical 35mm film SLR in the Contax/Yashica system, made by Kyocera and released for the 60th anniversary of the Contax name. Unlike most of the electronic Contax bodies, it used a mechanical shutter and a titanium body, and was aimed at photographers who wanted a manual, battery-light approach to Zeiss T* lenses.
It is a 35mm single-lens-reflex camera on the Contax/Yashica mount. Its focal-plane shutter is mechanically timed, so the camera can fire without a battery, with power needed only for the light meter. Metering is TTL and uses a spot pattern, and the exposure mode is manual only, with the photographer setting both shutter speed and aperture. The viewfinder shows metering information for setting exposure. Because the shutter is mechanical, the body continues to operate for exposures even if the meter battery is flat.
This body suits general, landscape and considered professional or enthusiast work where a simple, durable manual camera is wanted for Zeiss lenses. The mechanical shutter and manual-only operation appeal to photographers who prefer a deliberate shooting style and reduced reliance on electronics, at the cost of the automation found on other Contax bodies.
For a used purchase, first check the mechanical shutter across all speeds for accuracy and capping, since this is the core of the camera. Test the spot meter and its battery, and inspect foam light seals and mirror-damper foam for perishing. Look through the finder for prism haze, test film advance and rewind feel, and confirm the titanium body shows no impact damage. Because the shutter is mechanical the camera still fires with a dead meter battery, but the meter itself needs power to read.