dexdog
Veteran
Thanks Honu-Hugger! 
rolleistef
Well-known
Unfortunetely I wont be able to but a contax I, but "only" a Kiev III or 4 (cf my previous posts on the russian rf page)... But i admit that contaxs always atracted me and before buying my current Rolleiflex T, the Contax was on the list of the cameras I may have bought. But I've now got an over-great Tessar (66 pl/mm at 11 in the middle!) so there is no point complaining
Stéphane
Stéphane
ErnestoJL
Well-known
For many people (of course me included) the Contax is a cult object. My obsession started when I was 15 y.o. and I got my first one at 52. There was a mid time training in using a Contax when I bought a Kiev 4 in 1982, but even being almost the same camera, it wasn´t the real thing. Anyway, being myself at that time an SLR shooter, the Kiev gained the position of my favourite camera disregarding the Contax grip, the slow knob winding, and the speed selection which IMO are by far the most uncomfortable features the Contax had.
Mine is a II from 1937 with a collapsible Tessar 2.8 50 mm, of which I was in doubt of being the best lens choice (to be honest I was looking for a Sonnar 2/50 or 1.5/50). The camera had the shutter defective, fogged RF, about 70 years of dirt inside and out, self timer jammed, lots of Zeiss bumps, and the chrome in the lens barrel was partially worn off. No doubt signs of extensive use. I´ve just payed USD 50 for it, so no complaints after seeing the asking price for others which were from USD 700 to 1250, both cameras fitted with Sonnars.
It took me about two months of patient restoring work, but now everything it´s OK (but the self timer).
Once the first shots came from the lab, no more doubts about the lens nor the camera. The most important thing I can say about the Contax design is that after 70 years, the shutter accuracy is still good (I don´t know if the ribbons were replaced or not). The only I have to remember is to extend the lens before shooting.
Now I´m looking for another Contax II but this time with a Sonnar 2. For the asking price it has, I can imagine another time for restoring practices.
No doubt they are excellent cameras, and they were one of the two best cameras of their time.
Go for the Kiev, it´s an excellent camera, and a good pre Contax training. Later you can raise the funds for a Contax.
Good luck.
Ernesto
Mine is a II from 1937 with a collapsible Tessar 2.8 50 mm, of which I was in doubt of being the best lens choice (to be honest I was looking for a Sonnar 2/50 or 1.5/50). The camera had the shutter defective, fogged RF, about 70 years of dirt inside and out, self timer jammed, lots of Zeiss bumps, and the chrome in the lens barrel was partially worn off. No doubt signs of extensive use. I´ve just payed USD 50 for it, so no complaints after seeing the asking price for others which were from USD 700 to 1250, both cameras fitted with Sonnars.
It took me about two months of patient restoring work, but now everything it´s OK (but the self timer).
Once the first shots came from the lab, no more doubts about the lens nor the camera. The most important thing I can say about the Contax design is that after 70 years, the shutter accuracy is still good (I don´t know if the ribbons were replaced or not). The only I have to remember is to extend the lens before shooting.
Now I´m looking for another Contax II but this time with a Sonnar 2. For the asking price it has, I can imagine another time for restoring practices.
No doubt they are excellent cameras, and they were one of the two best cameras of their time.
Go for the Kiev, it´s an excellent camera, and a good pre Contax training. Later you can raise the funds for a Contax.
Good luck.
Ernesto
darkkavenger
Massimiliano Mortillaro
ErnestoJL said:
I think I see very well what you mean... I worship my Kiev-2A, my "poor man's Contax" ... even if it's not a Contax, it's a loyal friend and nice user camera
My obsession with the Contax started when I was 26 (about a year ago).. I'm now 27 and I've some years ahead of me to save up for a Contax system.
ErnestoJL
Well-known
Massimiliano:
I´m, using either the Contax with the J8 or Tessar, or sometimes the opposite way, but no doubt the Kiev is a lot of fun to use (of course, the Contax too). Sometimes I´m shooting with both cameras.
But I needed to have a Contax II!!!!
Ooooohhhhh.....nice descending way into hell!!!
Best regards and good luck!
Ernesto
I´m, using either the Contax with the J8 or Tessar, or sometimes the opposite way, but no doubt the Kiev is a lot of fun to use (of course, the Contax too). Sometimes I´m shooting with both cameras.
But I needed to have a Contax II!!!!
Ooooohhhhh.....nice descending way into hell!!!
Best regards and good luck!
Ernesto
Mike Kovacs
Contax Connaisseur
What's wrong with your self timer? You have to pull the shutter module out then you have easy access to the self timer gearing. Most just need a cleaning.
You have to cock the ST to reinstall the shutter module, or the tripping arm for the ST will get in the way. Pretty easy to follow instructions on Kiev survival, if you've already been inside a Contax before.
You have to cock the ST to reinstall the shutter module, or the tripping arm for the ST will get in the way. Pretty easy to follow instructions on Kiev survival, if you've already been inside a Contax before.
Honu-Hugger
Well-known
That's a great story Ernesto. I'm going to see that this post of mine self-destructs after 30 seconds, ala "Mission Impossible" style so the evidence can not be used against me D). Frankly, I'm sure I would have been happy with any of the popular rangefinder cameras from the "Golden Era" (Leica, Nikon, Canon, etc.). I was forced into Contax because my Grandfather, Dad, and both of my brothers shoot with Leica -- that's the way I've been all my life and still am, and not likely to change now . No way in hell was I going to use the same camera they did -- I had to find something different so Contax it is for me. They all drive Mercedes, I have a Land Rover...they're back East, I'm out West -- so it goes (maturity seems to elude me ).
D). Frankly, I'm sure I would have been happy with any of the popular rangefinder cameras from the "Golden Era" (Leica, Nikon, Canon, etc.). I was forced into Contax because my Grandfather, Dad, and both of my brothers shoot with Leica -- that's the way I've been all my life and still am, and not likely to change now . No way in hell was I going to use the same camera they did -- I had to find something different so Contax it is for me. They all drive Mercedes, I have a Land Rover...they're back East, I'm out West -- so it goes (maturity seems to elude me ).
ErnestoJL
Well-known
Mike:
Thanks for the answer. I didn´t get inside the ST as I didn´t need it too much, however I want it working properly. I agree with you, it probably needs some extensive cleaning inside (which I didn´t yet) and relube. Hope to do it soon as in fact I want the camera fully workable
Honu-Hugger:
My story is a bit different.
Once when seeing a Contarex in 1966, my father said: son, this is the best camera in the world. Hope to have one, but is unaffordable for me now.
Later, he also told me about the Contax, that was the best RF in his opinion.
At the time a friend of mine showed me his dad´s camera, I thought: OMG!!! I need one! It was a Contax III.
And I waited some time to get my dirty hands on one of those fine jewelry pieces made by Zeiss.
My father also hated japanese cameras (for them thought of being cheap and low quality copycats of any decent german made camera), but not too surprisingly, most of my cameras are japanese made. Perhaps I´m differently minded than him, but all of my choices were of cameras that sported some specific and very particular capabilities, and all of them were bought under a simple specification: either cameras to be used inmediately, or something that lies within the limits (if there are some of it) of my obsession. Of course, no regrets for my choices.
Anyway, what a nice obsession it is!!!
Best regards gentlemen, and thank you!
Ernesto
Thanks for the answer. I didn´t get inside the ST as I didn´t need it too much, however I want it working properly. I agree with you, it probably needs some extensive cleaning inside (which I didn´t yet) and relube. Hope to do it soon as in fact I want the camera fully workable
Honu-Hugger:
My story is a bit different.
Once when seeing a Contarex in 1966, my father said: son, this is the best camera in the world. Hope to have one, but is unaffordable for me now.
Later, he also told me about the Contax, that was the best RF in his opinion.
At the time a friend of mine showed me his dad´s camera, I thought: OMG!!! I need one! It was a Contax III.
And I waited some time to get my dirty hands on one of those fine jewelry pieces made by Zeiss.
My father also hated japanese cameras (for them thought of being cheap and low quality copycats of any decent german made camera), but not too surprisingly, most of my cameras are japanese made. Perhaps I´m differently minded than him, but all of my choices were of cameras that sported some specific and very particular capabilities, and all of them were bought under a simple specification: either cameras to be used inmediately, or something that lies within the limits (if there are some of it) of my obsession. Of course, no regrets for my choices.
Anyway, what a nice obsession it is!!!
Best regards gentlemen, and thank you!
Ernesto
Christian B
Newbie
An other french Contax1
An other french Contax1
[i'd like to know whether there are poor fools still using this camera....
I think it's so cute!
Stéphane[/quote]
Good evening and bonsoir, I'm new to this forum and my english is quite poor, but I'm glad to meet you all.
I'm using a Contax1 (1934) since 1967, and I try to keep it working well at least three or four times a year... It has never been serviced (no repair letter, nothing unscrewed), still looks nice, and I have had a lot of pleasure with it. May be i'm lucky ? Cross my fingers ! May be I should have it cleaned by H.Scherer...
I use it with it's Tessar 2,8/50, a Sonnar 4/135 and some other goodies (even a Magniphot enlarger...).
Nice to meet you all
An other french Contax1
[i'd like to know whether there are poor fools still using this camera....
I think it's so cute!
Stéphane[/quote]
Good evening and bonsoir, I'm new to this forum and my english is quite poor, but I'm glad to meet you all.
I'm using a Contax1 (1934) since 1967, and I try to keep it working well at least three or four times a year... It has never been serviced (no repair letter, nothing unscrewed), still looks nice, and I have had a lot of pleasure with it. May be i'm lucky ? Cross my fingers ! May be I should have it cleaned by H.Scherer...
I use it with it's Tessar 2,8/50, a Sonnar 4/135 and some other goodies (even a Magniphot enlarger...).
Nice to meet you all