I just bought a Contax 1a

[Dez]

At least I think it is a Contax 1a. These things are hyper scarce, and finding one that still works is not much short of miraculous.

I recently bought an old Contax on ebay, and apprently really got lucky, as it still seems to be working fairly well. All the shutter speeds work, although the 1/1000 speed is dubious. Then again it probably was dubious when it was new as well. It appears to be a model 1a, as it has no slow speeds or swing-out foot, the viewfinder is inboard of the rangefinder, and the front plate is a simple rectangular piece, which does not extend to the rangefinder window.

However I have heard that the 1a always had a raised dimple over the centre of the focus wheel, presumably to clear something inside. This camera does not, but has a round unpainted area where the dimple would be. From the edges of the paint, there obviously used to be something there.. Is this dimple a little metal piece that is attached here, and if so, what on earth is it for?

The camera cannot be said to be original, as it was missing the knurled collar used to get a good grip on the winding knob. The chances of finding one of these parts are pretty low, so I cranked up my lathe and knurling tool and made a new one, which when nickel plated looks great and fits perfectly, but has a different knurl pattern than the original.

I do not know my way around the innards of the Contax 1, and I keep hearing that they are a nightmare to service, so all I did was a bit of largely unnecessary cleaning of the winding and shutter cocking mechanism.

Cheers,
Dez

 

[former member]

Congratulations. I would like to see some pictures from the F3.5 Tessar of that vintage, I have the F2.8 version of the same vintage.

 

[Dralowid]

Congratulations Dez!

Shutter release looks 'early' too. No shutter speed 'pointer' either.

The 'dimple' that I have seen looked like a moulding in the plate to cover a nut on the end of the focus wheel shaft.

If it has an 'A' on the front of the serial number it may well have been modified at the factory.

There are those who claim the 3.5 Tessar is superior to the 2.8. Although I have both, I can't really comment apart from saying that 3.5 is great and every bit as great as the comparable Elmar.... but I emphasise that this is purely an emotional judgement influenced by the satisfaction of getting one of the damn things to work!

Michael
(who is down to one functioning Contax I out of a clutch of three)

 

[dexdog]

Yep, that is a Contax 1a. Also, I looked the 5cm/3.5 Tessar up in Theile's book, and it is number 778 of the first batch of 5,000 such Tessars made in Contax mount (although this batch also includes some Tessars made in another mount). Delivery date on the lens is given as 1931, which coincides with the time of the Contax 1a. BTW, I just looked at the bump on my 1a, and it does not appear to be part of the stamped metal front, but appears to be a separate piece affixed to the front. Not sure why it's there, if there is nothing behind it, as is the case with your camera.

 

[Dez]

The mysterious bump

The mysterious bump

That is truly strange. I had assumed that the famous bump, or dimple, was there to clear something behind it, and was actually pressed into a brass front plate.

I was not thinking all that clearly, as the front plate of the 1A covering the winding wheel is an aluminum casting, unlike the later cameras. When I look at my camera carefully, I see that there is actually a small brass plug inserted into the aluminum casting. I would guess that some time during the evolution of the Contax 1A, a change was made to the focus wheel making the bump unnecessary, and a flat brass piece was inserted, instead of a domed one. So, how come there is no paint on it, when the paint on the rest of this front plate is quite good? Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,
Dez

 

[Rikkirutter]

Contax 1d

Contax 1d

I have recently been given what I believe is a 1d (X prefix to serial number, so 1934; no A prefix so didn't get returned for repair work) with a 5cm f/2.8 Tessar lens. Seems to be in full working order, but is missing a knob from the rear top right with an arrow beside it pointing down. What's this for?😕 I am also baffled by the shutter speed selector knob.

I find using the rangefinder on these cameras difficult - I had a leica iii and couldn't get on with that either - because my eyesight is so poor that without my specs on I can't see anything in the finder😱, and with them on I can't get my eye close enough to the finder to see anything:bang:. I have an Albada finder for the Contax that slides into the accessory shoe, but this has to be removed to close the leather case. I use a Leica CL which I much prefer, and am thinking of getting an Epson R-D1, so will probably flog this Contax - any idea of what it's worth?

 

[Dralowid]

The missing knob is for resetting the film counter.

Only turn the speed knob anti clockwise, ever. I had a go at describing it's use in a previous thread but seem to lack the mental agility to do it again. It goes something like... lift and turn the knob to select white or red spots that correspond to different ranges of speeds, also coloured. Set the speeds by twisting anti clockwise. Red introduces the slow speed mechanism. A little fiddling and somewhat contorted logic will prevail.

I have given up using my Contax I and reverted to Leica.

Though techincally adventurous the Contax is a struggle ergonomically. Value? On that site somewhere between £200 if 'collectors' are not interested and £400 plus when they wake up. Contax Id not at the higher end. Contax I collecting is big money country but I really don't know the subtle differences that add value. Early (dimples etc) or very late (almost a user) seem to fetch most. As always, unless really something special, condition is all.

Michael

 

[Rikkirutter]

Thanks Michael. I was guessing around the £300 mark as most early Leicas go for £300+ on ebay.

 

[Rikkirutter]

10 day auction on ebay.co.uk

10 day auction on ebay.co.uk

I've just gone live with the sale of my Contax 1, and also an Albada view finder.🙂