Just purchased my first Contax IIIa

Dave Jarosz

Dave Jarosz

Dave J
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Feb 6, 2012
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I just joined RF yesterday. Great forum. I was recently browsing through a local antique mall when I notice this Contax IIIa rangefinder camera. Being an advertising photog for 28 years, my main gear was 4x5, 8x10, and a lot of 120 film. I did some home work on the Contax and thought I'd better take another look at it. The camera was in overall good condition, but the 1,5 Sonnar had a dent on the outside lens barrel. The glass was clean as can be and the camera functioned perfectly at all shutter speeds. It was just a matter of the lens being OK and the rangefinder being right on. I took a chance and purchased it for $120, brought it to my studio and shot a roll of film, dropped it in the Wing Lynch and presto, I have a great little camera. Tack sharp lens & on the money focus. Can't wait to shoot some serious images with it. I'll keep you posted.
 
Congrats on your purchase! As you've discovered, the Contax & its Zeiss lenses are capable of providing top notch results today just like other pro-level equipment from the '50s. In my experience, unlike wides, 50mm lenses haven't really improved that much in past 60 years w/the exception of better flare resistance & slightly more contrast (& lower prices, when adjusted for inflation).

As far as posting photos on the RFF, I've found it to be much easier to just upload them to another service (flickr, tumblr, etc.) & then link to them using the "Insert Image" button.
 
Some pics of my Contax IIIa

Some pics of my Contax IIIa

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Great deal on a beautiful camera. That 50mm 1.5 Sonnar is one of the best lenses ever made. I like how you titled the thread "my first Contax IIIa." More to come?

Enjoy!
Joe
 
You got yourself a lovely camera and lens, and a great deal to boot. Is the meter working? Not really to be expected, of course, but they can be surprisingly accurate.
 
Thanks for the comments. No shelf queen here. My cameras are tools to be used. Its easy to abandon ideas when you get older, and my cheese is starting to slip off my cracker. I'll shoot as much as I can with the current tools I own, and a "new camera" gets you inspired to see what its all about again.

My buddy "Dirt", Toyo 4x5 Kodak TMX, circa 1991.
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Yes Nick, The meter is working. Glass is sweet, unexpected because of the ding on the front barrel. A few Zeiss bumps on the back, kinda gives it that "character". Very smooth working........ I'm very happy with it. Dave
 
It's a damn fine camera. I've had mine for eight years, and I still get a lot of use out of it. I carry my M3 with a Summaron 35, and my IIIa with that Sonnar 50/1.5. Oddly those two lenses are a pertect match. I have a lot of Contax/Sonnar pictures on my flickr, if you're interested.
 
Welcome aboard and best wishes to you and your fine Contax from across the ocean!

You'll find by yourself how great are these apparently complicated cameras.

I can't go travelling or just having a walk in the outdoors without my Contax outfit.

Enzo (Italy)
 
I like this image. It looks iconic. The Contax is a classical cameta and o is the lens. I have such a lens in Contax mount and also modified into ltm. It is one of the grestest lenses ever produced.
 
What a great bargain! I bought my IIIa for almost twice the price and I thought it was a bargain 🙂

The Sonnar 1.5 is really a great lens. The IIIa camera body has its shortcomings but is also fun to use.

Does your lens come with a lens cap? Mine doesn't have one so I have had it "naked" all the time lol
 
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