Zeiss Contax Month - April

[markjwyatt]

Apparently we have a Nikon Rangefinder Month- March. In that spirit I would like to declare April "Zeiss Contax Month" unless there already exists such a month, or April is taken by another camera. January should really be the correct month (since the Contax and Leica were the original coupled rangefinder 35mm cameras introduced 1932), but I don't want to wait until next year!

 

[FujiLove]

I’m up for that. I’ll fire up the G1 🙂

 

[markjwyatt]

I’m up for that. I’ll fire up the G1 🙂

Well with that Contax, throw another Bergger on the G1 for me (sorry spending too much time on the photo pun thread).

 

[css9450]

Someone needs to buy that Contax II that is in the classifieds (before I invest in yet another camera system)!

 

[markjwyatt]

Someone needs to buy that Contax II that is in the classifieds (before I invest in yet another camera system)!

It is tempting and if it works, it is a great price- even if just for the 50mm f2 collapsible Sonnar.

 

[FujiLove]

Marrakech
Contax G1 | 45mm | Kodak ColorPlus 200 | Pakon scan

 

[Mr_Flibble]

I guess I could feed some film through one of my Contax I or II cameras

 

[markjwyatt]

Here are a few recent Contax shots:


horse by Mark Wyatt, on Flickr


Wildflowers on Hillside by Mark Wyatt, on Flickr


Below Cliffs by Mark Wyatt, on Flickr


Sikorsky UH-60A Helicopter "Black Hawk" by Mark Wyatt, on Flickr

None were actually shot in April, but I would say that "recent" counts. I am shooting the Contax this month, so should have more coming.

 

[markjwyatt]

Marrakech
Contax G1 | 45mm | Kodak ColorPlus 200 | Pakon scan

Nice image. I like the composition and colors.

 

[Bingley]

An excellent idea for a Zeiss Contax month, which I celebrated by getting a very nice Contax IIa to go with my Contax IIIa. Here are a couple of shots from the IIIa, with the Zeiss Opton Sonnar 50/2.0:

Winter by bingley0522, on Flickr

Tangle. by bingley0522, on Flickr

 

[PRJ]

How about a Contax 139 and 50 Planar? Does that count?

 

[PRJ]

Contax IIa 85mm Sonnar

 

[steveyork]

Contax II & 50mm collapsible Sonnar + Efke 50 in Rodinal

God's Bus #3 by Steve, on Flickr

 

[steveyork]

50mm collapsible Sonnar + Fomapan 100 in HC-110

Birds of a Feather (Contax II, 1936) by Steve, on Flickr

 

[steveyork]

Pre-war 50mm Sonnar + Agfa Vista 200

Hanging Fruit (Contax II, 1937) by Steve, on Flickr

 

[steveyork]

The pre-war Zeiss are such well made stuff, whether a folder, TLR, or Contax, with optics that always surprised, in a good way, but the rangefinders chewed up my glasses and none of it survived 'the Great Camera Sell-Off of 2018/19.'

In a few ways, the old Contax rangefinders I owned and used were better then even M mount Leicas -- longer rangefinder base, bigger rangefinder patch, more contrast, and the lack of frame lines is just so liberating. Sold the Zeiss though; kept an M3.

Hard to imagine something made so long ago still functioned so well. World was a different place back in the late 1930's. Hope I'm doing as well in my 80's.

 

[pauld111]

The pre-war Zeiss are such well made stuff, whether a folder, TLR, or Contax, with optics that always surprised, in a good way, but the rangefinders chewed up my glasses and none of it survived 'the Great Camera Sell-Off of 2018/19.'

In a few ways, the old Contax rangefinders I owned and used were better then even M mount Leicas -- longer rangefinder base, bigger rangefinder patch, more contrast, and the lack of frame lines is just so liberating. Sold the Zeiss though; kept an M3.

Hard to imagine something made so long ago still functioned so well. World was a different place back in the late 1930's. Hope I'm doing as well in my 80's.

The Contax II is my favourite camera of all time. I own 2 camera bodies (one of them soon to arrive on my door). I sold my Leica gear in order to invest in Contax. It is my hobby and I am slowly learning things as I go along. I view using the Contax like fly fishing on beautiful lake, it's all about the process.

 

[Bingley]

Contax IIIa with a Biogon 35mm f2.8:

Pears by bingley0522, on Flickr
American River by bingley0522, on Flickr

 

[markjwyatt]

Beautiful shots everyone. Zeiss optics just work so well (especially with capable photographers standing behind them).

 

[markjwyatt]

April Contax Story:

Last week I traveled to Detroit and Wisconsin. Leaving California, my Contax iia apparently flagged during a hand check. They insisted on X-raying it (I had film in it- I wound it up and sacrificed half a roll). The female security who wiped it looked at it and said (paraphrasing), ' My dad gave me a camera just like that, I think'. I asked a few questions and she confirmed it was German, and said she still had it. When another security guard came over after the camera flagged, I wound the roll, removed it and handed it to him. He X-rayed it and commented (paraphrase), 'wow, that is a dense camera'!

Coming back through Chicago, the camera did not set off the detector, so I suspect it was a fluke (I have done a hand check at least once before with no issues).

I dropped by Westborn Camera in Dearborn and looked at a lens (Sonnar 135mm, Captain Jack collection; had fungus). I also stopped by Alpine Camera in Des Plaines Illinois and picked up some more FP4+. Nice people and they have some quality cameras at reasonable prices. No Contax stuff at the time.