The Contax 137 MA Quartz  was introduced in 1981 as an update to the 137 MD camera.  It maintained much of the same look and feel but most importantly added the capability to manuall select shutter speeds, in addition to keeping the aperture priority mode of the previous version.  Like the 137 MD before it, the 137 MA also sports a built-in motor drive, but as with shutter speed control, the motor drive in the 137 MA was also upgraded to a faster 3 fps over the previous rate of 2 fps.  The third difference between the two was the ability to remove the back door of the 137 MA and replace it with a data back that allowed the recording and imprinting of a wide range of data onto the film.

But taking a step back for a moment, it is worth looking at the 137 MA Quartz on its own without referencing its predecessor.  The 137 MA Quartz is very much what you would expect of a higher end camera built in the 1980s.  It has a rugged, durable feel to it (that yes, means it is also a heavier camera).  It aims to thread the needle between being versatile and highly capable but also easy to pick up, learn and use.  Contax (Yashica really) aimed to make a camera that looked and felt familiar, but also wasn't afraid to experiment with alternate control layouts.  A good example of this is the location of the shutter speed dial, which on the 137 MA Quartz is located on the left side of the camera under the rewind arm, rather in the more traditional spot over on the right side.  The benefit to this alternate placement though is that the user can keep their right finger on the shutter button and adjust shutter speed with their left hand.  Of course the trade off here is that means your left hand is no longer on the aperture or focus ring of the lens.  Another rather ingenious addition that the 137 MA Quartz boasts is an analog frame counter display in the viewfinder itself.  We're not sure why this wasn't more commonly done, and it is also not something that you feel like you are missing when you don't have it, but after experiencing it in the 137 MA Quartz it is quite appreciated indeed!

Of course the 137 MA Quartz has a lot going on under its hood too.  The Quartz in its name refers to its quartz-timed electronic shutter.  At the time this was a bit of a transition as many cameras used a mechanically-timed shutter.  The electronically-governed shutter offered greater consistency and accuracy, particularly in cold weather and over long periods of time.  Of course, this also meant the shutter was dependent upon battery power to function.  So again, trade offs.

The 137 MA Quartz has a few additional features worth pointing out before we wrap this exhibit summary up.  Some big, some minor.  As with any Contax/Yashica body it is always worth mentioning that one of the draws of any camera in the system is its ability to use all the very exceptionally fine Carl Zeiss lenses.  These are arguably some of the best optics you can get for a 35mm SLR film camera and if you are fortunate enough to have a chance to experience them, you should.  On the more minor end of the scale there is an AE Lock mode that can be locked in.  AE lock is a feature used when you want the camera to hold a certain exposure, mainly when you plan on changing the composition in the viewfinder in a way that would cause the meter to adjust.  On a lot of cameras this is usually a button that must be pressed in and held, but on the 137 MA Quartz it is a mode that can be toggled on with the main on/off lever, meaning you can leave the camera easily locked on an exposure for several photos without tying up any of your fingers.  Also the 137 MA Quartz has a nifty small window on the back door of the camera that has a white line that spins as film advances. Having misloaded more than one roll of film ourselves, there is a much appreciated peace of mind that comes from the certainty that film is moving as it should through the camera.

There is more to discover about this somewhat hidden gem of a camera, but we don't want to give you all the spoilers.  Part of the joy of any new camera is the discovery of getting to know it.  And with that in mind, we'll encourage you to pick up one of these if you ever see it, and enjoy learning the rest firsthand.