First film with the Contax II

[Nick De Marco]

I like this camera






I ran my first film through this Contax II rangefinder I picked up the other day with the beautiful Zeiss Sonar 50mm f1.5 lens wide open.



It took me a while to get used to, but it is a great camera. I especially like the 50/1.5 lens.

I bought a R2C as well but unfortunately it broke as soon as I fixed the 50/1.5 to it, as the 50/1.5 had a dented tab which jammed the focussing. I'm hoping it will be repaired. But the Contax II on the other hand worked fine with the lens




The above is my favourite from the series. I also had a R3M with Heliar with 50/2 on me the day I took that and not one of the pics from that came out inside this room. F2 was not good enough handheld. But the 1.5, shooting at 1.5 on the Contax was perfect. I love the slight softness of this lens.

http://www.pbase.com/nickdemarco/contax_ii

As usual your comments are welcome

 

[gabrioladude]

nice shots

which version of the f1.5
is it the prewar uncoated (which I purchased with my CII)
or is it the coated version (which I also have with my CIIa)?

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Nice pictures, and it is a great camera.

Which version of the Sonnar do you have? Pictures are listed with the Carl Zeiss 50/1.5, which would be a later issue lens (mid 1950s) than the Contax II. The formula of the Carl Zeiss 50/1.5 is a bit different than the pre-war and wartime Carl Zeiss Jena 5cm f1.5. the Post-War Carl Zeiss Jena 5cm f1.5 is also a tweeked formula.

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

I am presently in love with the CZ 50/1.5, adapted and mounted on my M7, at least until my IIIa gets adjusted. But your pictures look great!

 

[Nick De Marco]

This is a photo of the camera and lens if that helps

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

Looks like a CZJ. Nice!

 

[Sonnar Brian]

That looks like the 1930s uncoated Sonnar that originally came with the Contax II.

They are my favorite version of Sonnar.

 

[Nick De Marco]

Thanks for the feedback
Is there a way to be sure?
Serial number?

 

[Sonnar Brian]

The Serial Number will give year of manufacture.

Quick Google aleays brings up this:
http://photo.net/large-format-photography-forum/00AAam

SN;s below 2.6M are "usually uncoated". The "T" in the name denotes a coating. I have one early lens in the 175xxxx range that has a coated front element. I've seen a photo of a second one in that early range also with the front element coated.

 

[Nick De Marco]

Thank you Brian
The number is Carl Zeiss Jena Nr. 1,754,445 with no T, which I think would make it about 1932 uncoated according to that link.

I have another one I picked up from ebay (bid for 2 at the same time) which I have yet to try but is slightly different as it does not have Jena in the name, Rather: Carl Zeiss Nr. 1438181

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Mine was probably made right next to yours!

Cool! It's great for color as well, beautiful colors with shadow detail preserved.

 

[furcafe]

The serial # lists tend to be approximate. I don't have my books w/me, but I would guess that your lens was actually produced later than 1932 since it doesn't have the combination black enamel & chrome finish of the early lenses for the Contax. Charlie Barringer of the Zeiss Historica Society keeps a list (he might appreciate your posting your serial #s on the Zeiss Ikon Collectors Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZICG/) & he gave an approximate date for 1 of my Sonnars, #1629618, as 1935.

Thank you Brian
The number is Carl Zeiss Jena Nr. 1,754,445 with no T, which I think would make it about 1932 uncoated according to that link.

I have another one I picked up from ebay (bid for 2 at the same time) which I have yet to try but is slightly different as it does not have Jena in the name, Rather: Carl Zeiss Nr. 1438181

 

[Dibs]

I have seen first photo in of this topic and it stayed in my mind.
I must tell you that it's great one=)
Keep up=)

 

[helen.HH]

Fantastic shots 1&2.....😎