$50 Contax II & 5cm/f2 Sonnar

[leighmarrin]

Well, even though I've got a Kiev 2 currently being repaired, a Contax IIa (BD) with sticky slow speeds and TWO KIEV 4am bodies that respectively need minor and major work, I suffered yet another GAS attack yesterday. An older local collector is selling his collection and made me an offer I could not refuse; now I've got a fairly nice 1937ish E-prefix Contax II with a collapsible 5cm/f2 uncoated Sonnar (sn 255xxxx) for a mere $50/US. The lens is slightly dusty inside but otherwise in good shape; the body only has a little bit of brassing around the small RF front window (probably case wear), the RF focuses accurately, and only a little black enamel paint is missing on the back. And by the way... the shutter is completely BUSTED...

This is the first prewar Contax I've ever handled, and I LOVE it. Once I get my 1955 Kiev 2 back, I'm gonna send the repairman the Contax II and my worst Kiev 4am to canibalize the shutter if needed. This 1937 Contax has a BRIGHTER RF patch than my 1982 4am and a LARGER RF patch than my Contax IIa black dial; I really want to get this 70 year-old beauty back in working order.

A question: why did Zeiss choose to make the RF focusing patch SMALLER on the postwar IIa and IIIa? I much prefer the II version.

 

[payasam]

Let's hope the shutters of the II and the 4am are interchangeable.

 

[steamer]

That might be a crime against nature. Are you certain the shutter is broken in some way that can't be repaired?

 

[nzeeman]

kiev 4am shutter will not fit contax. i tried to put shutter from 60s kiev 4a into 1951 kiev II and it didnt fit quite well. 🙁 try to find some kiev 2 it will probably fit. especially if they are from 1950-1955 period.
good luck.

 

[ZeissFan]

The Contax IIa and the Contax II are different cameras mechanically, sharing only the same specifications for the lens mount (even those aren't interchangeable between the two cameras).

Because the Contax IIa is a physically smaller camera, it doesn't have the room necessary for the larger prism assembly.

 

[varjag]

Congrats, that's quite a bargain! I scored my wartime II for $49, very worn and brassed but functional. Alas, without lens.

The shutter problem could be just the ribbons: try seeing them in the shutter crate through the film opening. I would advise against replacing the shutter assembly from Kiev: usually Contax shutters are repairable.

 

[rxmd]

(even those aren't interchangeable between the two cameras)

Actually most are. It's mainly one that isn't (the pre-war 35/2.8 Biogon and its copy the Jupiter-12). That's rather irksome, though, because the latter is the only low-cost wideangle 😉

Philipp

 

[leighmarrin]

Heh.. I always thought all Kievs and Contax II bodies were mostly interchangeable; thanks for correcting me. (Good thing I did not get the screwdrivers/chisel/hammer and try to transplant shutters myself; I'll send it next week to the repairman who fixed my '55 Kiev 2.)

Mike E., thanks for the info on why the IIa and IIIa have smaller RF patches. But as the size difference is not major between the II/III and IIa/IIIa, I'd rather have a larger patch with a slightly larger body. (But I do prefer the more modern shutter speed selection of the IIa/IIIa.)

Thanks for all the replies, and I'll let you folks know how my Contax II works once fixed.

--Leigh Marrin.

 

[micromontenegro]

Actually most are. It's mainly one that isn't (the pre-war 35/2.8 Biogon and its copy the Jupiter-12). That's rather irksome, though, because the latter is the only low-cost wideangle 😉

Philipp

I'm guessing here, but I think Mike meant that a lens mount from a II won`t fit in a IIa. The lenses are fully interchangeable, with the exception you posted.

 

[raid]

Congratulations, Leigh! I wish you good luck in getting the camera fixed for a reasonable amount of money.


If your local collector has more such items,..... 🙂


Raid