Kiev-4a...how much better is the Contax?

[mh2000]

while I didn't get gypped by fedka, I also didn't end up with a camera as advertised either... hope you are luckier.

Well, if I were to buy one, it would be from Fedka, or this forum. I had a bad experience with a "mint" Fed-2 from eBay, and I've had only good experiences with Yuri and the classifieds.

So is a prewar Kiev 2 or 3 the best of the lot, generally?

 

[Highway 61]

As for the prices of Contaxes at eBay now, these "Buy it Now" are there (I selected the cheapest for prived sellers and shops, the list goes on at higher prices):

a) US $348.00 - not working, and no lens included:
http://search.ebay.com/zeiss-contax...rvZ1QQsabfmtsZ1QQsacatZ625QQsaslcZ2QQsbrsrtZd

<snip>

Now, it may be very much the case eBay is specially high priced for contaxes - I don't follow other sources.

Cheers,
Ruben

Well you haven't hit the $$ roof yet I'm afraid.

Here's the real McCoy :

http://cgi.ebay.com/CONTAX-II-JENA-Sonnar2-50-near-MINT_W0QQitemZ310079363420

😀

 

[micromontenegro]

Ebay can be semi-helpfull at determining prices if you look at finished auctions

Last ones, no picking at all:

Zeiss Contax III body shutter won't release $99

Zeiss Contax IIIa Camera with Color Dial $180.06

1950's ZEISS IKON CONTAX ILLA 35MM RANGEFINDER CAMERA $218.50 (1.5 Sonnar, case, instructions)

CONTAX III RANGEFINDER CAMERA w/ZEISS 50MM F2 AS IS $219.95

ZEISS CONTAX IIIA BLACK DIAL BODY 1A/96185 did not sell at BIN $275

Contax Rangerfinder Zeiss-Opton Sonnar 1:2 50mm lens NR $255

Those are real world prices- if a little on the high side, due to evilbay

 

[ruben]

Hi micromontenegro,

Many thanks for your follow up of finished auctions, your info is very relevant. Could you give me the link to the Contax Rangerfinder Zeiss-Opton Sonnar 1:2 50mm lens NR $255 ?

Cheers,
Ruben

 

[Highway 61]

Could you give me the link to the Contax Rangerfinder Zeiss-Opton Sonnar 1:2 50mm lens NR $255 ?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Contax-Rangerfinder-Zeiss-Opton-Sonnar-1-2-50mm-lens-NR_W0QQitemZ260278287411

Auction ended w/ a successful sale.

 

[wlewisiii]

Well you haven't hit the $$ roof yet I'm afraid.

Here's the real McCoy :

http://cgi.ebay.com/CONTAX-II-JENA-Sonnar2-50-near-MINT_W0QQitemZ310079363420

😀

That probably is a real pre-Kiev Contax, but I'd still consider it to be about 2x to 3x what even a collectable camera is worth to me. But then, I'm a bottom feeder :angel:

The finished auctions are a much better guide. The other thing is to remember that pre-war Jena items tend to go for less. I've never been sure why except that the chrome from Oberkochen is prettier.

William

 

[Highway 61]

That probably is a real pre-Kiev Contax, but I'd still consider it to be about 2x to 3x what even a collectable camera is worth to me.

Yes it looks to be a genuine "Jena Contax II", assembled at Saalfeld near Jena in 1946-1947 or so. The condition is stunning. And the leather case is beautiful (I didn't know that the postwar Contax II cases noses were "Carl Zeiss Jena" stamped rather than "Zeiss Ikon").

Also, the (not horizontal, and probably hand-engraved) Contax logo is typical of the postwar Contax II. A mix of the Courier-style 1935-1937 and the rounder Art-Deco 1938-1944 ones.

Leonid should ask the Zeiss Historica Museum to buy that camera from him.

The infamous Boris had two of them for sale these days - and for more $$, of course.

 

[ruben]

http://cgi.ebay.com/Contax-Rangerfinder-Zeiss-Opton-Sonnar-1-2-50mm-lens-NR_W0QQitemZ260278287411

Auction ended w/ a successful sale.

Hi Highway 61,

In view of the past and the future, I would like we stay in good relations and address the issues with our best, specially when we disagree.

Under this spirit, I don't understand why you disagree with my gross estimation, saying: "A CLAed Contax may be sold for, let's say, $500 or more, while some $200 are taken into account for that CLA".

The example I picked from micromontenegro, to which you kindly provided the link, clearly shows the involved camera must get a CLA. As far as I understand, the camera is not ready for immediate use.

I will thank your commentaries.

Cheers,
Ruben

 

[shadowfox]

Don't dismiss Contax IIIa.

You can read my impression of it compared to my Kiev 4 in this thread:
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=62631

 

[micromontenegro]

Ruben, seek and ye shall find. I only meant to show that even in the bay you can find prices within reason. Outside, opportunities are far better. Take a look at this beauty (the camera, not the girl):

It has been totally serviced (not by me this time) inside and out, new curtain straps, etc. Works as new. I don't remember total cost, but it was less then $300... last April in Europe, with the killer Euro.

I also purchased some years ago a IIIa Body (working, but needed service), with both pristine 35/2.8 and 21mm Biogons and a beater 440 finder... for $200

 

[Highway 61]

Wheew ! What a nice... lens hood.

😉

I don't understand why you disagree with my gross estimation, saying: "A CLAed Contax may be sold for, let's say, $500 or more, while some $200 are taken into account for that CLA".

The example I picked from micromontenegro,to which you kindly provided the link, clearly shows the involved camera must get a CLA. As far as I understand, the camera is not ready for immediate use.

A Contax that is in need for a $200 CLA (which is +/- the actual price for a total dissassembly, part-by-part cleaning, replacement of the shutter straps - if it's a prewar model - and rebuilt) is a camera that doesn't work. These are in average cosmetic condition, in general - that may be very clean after all, but you will have to deal with dirt, grime, corrosion, Zeiss bumps under the back leather, dim and/or separated rangefinder beamsplitter prism and the like.

So the residual value of that "as is" camera is about <$100 for a prewar model and <$150 for a postwar model if it's a IIa (the IIIa, on which most of the selenium cells are now dead, has a lesser value than the IIa but for late mint Color Dial IIIa's with a working and accurate meter and a platinum RF prism).

Speaking here of camera bodies only with no lens and not speaking of the price gap between "Black Dial" and "Color Dial" postwar models (the ultimate 1960-1961 "Color Dial" IIa models fitted w/ a platinum prism and a different camera body covering material being the most sought after and so, the most expensive classic Contax rangefinders by now).

That $255 Contax IIa quoted by micromontenegro came with a postwar Zeiss Opton Sonnar 50/2 T lens which is one of the finest 50mm ever made for any rangefinder camera. The value of the lens itself is easily $100-$125.

David Murphy sold one in mint condition last week here at the Classifieds for $85 and - how surprising - it got sold in a few minutes.

This leaves us with a $155 Contax IIa body, which puts the value of the camera in my own prices scale ballpark.

I wouldn't have bought that camera just because it's an originally "Black Dial" Contax IIa which has been afterwards fitted with an aftermarket standard PC flash connector by a repair shop but that's another OT point.

Well as for the Contax RF gear prices range, the obvious criteria are IMO :

- is it a prewar or a postwar Contax ?
- is it a user-friendly meterless or bulky-heavy III/IIIa model on which the meter has become useless because of a dead cell ?
- does it come w/ a lens, or as a bare body ?
- if it comes w/ a lens, does it come with the fairly common and generally heavily scratched collapsible prewar 50/2 uncoated Sonnar, or w/ a more interesting lens (the postwar Zeiss Opton 50/1.5 T Sonnar being the cherry on the cake) ?
- what is the camera mechanical condition ?
- what is the camera cosmetics condition ?

Using that quick caveats and criteria grid, it's up to each buyer to take the plunge within his own budget. And yes, for those who are not keen to take their cameras apart and service them as a nice wintertime DIY hobby job, the CLA price has to be taken into account before buying the camera.