A bout the Contax 1

[rolleistef]

hello all,
out of pure interest i'd like to have informations about THE contax, the black thing with a a big knob on the front 🙂 . of course, I read the article on cameraquest, but i'd like to know whether there are poor fools still using this camera....
I think it's so cute!
Stéphane

 

[dexdog]

I am one of those poor fools who actually use a Contax 1. They are a lot of fun to use once you get someone to fix the inevitable problems with a 70 year old camera, usually needs new shutter tapes, and a thorough cleaning of the rangefinder. The camera is very compact, and easy to carry in a coat pocket when mounted with a 50mm or smaller lens. A couple of the camera features are either a bit awkward, such as the front-mounted film wind knob, or not especially user-friendly, such as the rather squinty separate viewfinder and rangefinder windows, or remembering to use the "Contax grip" to avoid blocking the rangefinder window. I really like the top-mounted focusing wheel that is typically used with the 50mm lens. Seems a little strange at first, but easy to get the hang of.

That said, it is one of my favorite cameras, and is capable of taking great pictures. I usually use mine with the uncoated black/nickel lenses, although I will also use the post-war coated lenses too.

 

[wlewisiii]

Search for Honu-Hugger and Contax 1 here and you'll learn all about the use of them 😀 He's got some glorious tales here.

William

 

[Honu-Hugger]

In regular service... 🙂 and love using them, especially when they are mistaken for new digital cameras (honest).

 

[dexdog]

Honu-Hugger, those are without a doubt the prettiest Contax 1s that I have ever seen. Mine are nice, but not near as shiny new as that pair!

 

[Little Prince]

I have long been impressed by the ONE and thought about finding one. I think it's a very handsome camera too. Not on the cards anytime soon though.

 

[Honu-Hugger]

Honu-Hugger, those are without a doubt the prettiest Contax 1s that I have ever seen. Mine are nice, but not near as shiny new as that pair!

Thank you, I feel fortunate to have found them. With all the horror stories of eBay these are a couple of instances where things went better than expected. The one on the left is the nicer of the two; it had a part installed wrong from the factory and never worked -- we surmise the owner put it away rather than have it repaired. Henry Scherer reworked it and said it was like new in every respect. The other I bought from the original owner's grandson and it was always cased. I'm pleased to see other Contax I users surfacing -- should we form a support group to commiserate 😉?

 

[harry01562]

I have to add my admiration for the pic of those 2 exquisite cameras. I don't think I've seen a model 1 as nice as those.... and you have a pair!! Fortunate indeed to have beautiful classics to take your non-digital shots with.
Thank you for sharing with us.

Harry

 

[Mike Kovacs]

One of these days ZIAS demands that I pick one up 🙂 An online acquaintance of mine has one apart now for service and I'm looking forward to his opinion from a repair standpoint.

I surmise that the front mounted knob effectively lends to a shutter design very much like a horizontally travelling shutter, but turned on its side. It would seem to be half Leica, half Contax II/III in execution. Remember, at the time they were scrambling to put a camera in direct competition with the Leica.

I also understand there are MANY variations of the Contax I - a collector's dream for sure.

 

[Honu-Hugger]

Here are a few more...the single camera is now owned by another RFF member and is used regularly (he's nick-named it "Mud and Guts"); as far as we can tell it has never been serviced.

 

[jan normandale]

So it' s safe to say you like the Contax... with 7 (count 'em) and counting.. ;- )

Here are a few more...the single camera is now owned by another RFF member and is used regularly (he's nick-named it "Mud and Guts"); as far as we can tell it has never been serviced.

 

[Joerg]

Seems you are missing a IIIa 😀

Joerg

 

[CameraQuest]

one of the interesting things about the Contax I is trying to find the correct black lenses for it. of course at this date only 7 decades after their manufacturer, most are sure to need cleaning. IF you do find a working sample, wind it GENTLY. the exquisite original leather cases are quite a trip, as are the many Contax I finders and accessories. You need a glass exposure back? Not a problem for your Contax I !!

the black paint finish looks better than the later II and III to me, but the later shutters are more dependable. Even so, most II and III's I encounter now could use a CLA to get the shutter working right.

Stephen

 

[wlewisiii]

Ah, someday I'll have a I and a matching unmodified black collapsible 50/3.5 Tessar. Then I could take it and my Argus C-3 and see who notices... 😀

(It really does strike me that Argus had someone who loved the lines of the Contax I in it's shop...)

William

 

[Honu-Hugger]

Seems you are missing a IIIa 😀

Joerg

And I always will be 🙂 (with no offense to III and IIIa owners); metered cameras are not my cup of tea in any brand. I have a few metered Alpas but only because of their scarcity -- they are not my favorite cameras of that marque and see very little use (I should sell them). I've picked up a few more IIa's since these pictures were taken, the last one was one of the last 300 made by Zeiss in 1961 -- I'm not sure of that means anything to collectors but according to Henry Scherer all of the shutter speeds test out very accurately, so it is a camera I use a lot.

 

[dexdog]

I have both Contax III and IIIa cameras, but they don't get much use, even though the meters are very accuarate after being overhauled by Henry S. I prefer the unmetered versions such as the II and IIa, and the Contax 1. Handling is much better w/o the light meter.

 

[rolleistef]

hello,
thanks a lot for your quick replies, it's nice to see that, even at our digital-time people are still using such pieces of jewellery. Honu-Hugger, what a collection! 4 Contax1! And what I like on the first picture is that the curtains in the foreground look like... a contax shutter! =)
Stéphane

 

[bondo]

Hi dexdog,
What other lightmeter does Henry S. work on and do have his Email address?
Thanks

 

[Honu-Hugger]

Stéphane,
That's a great observation -- I'll never look at those blinds the same way again 🙂. Good luck if you decide to go with a Contax I; they are a neat piece of history, fun to use, and Zeiss glass!!!

Cheers,

 

[Honu-Hugger]

Hi dexdog,
What other lightmeter does Henry S. work on and do have his Email address?
Thanks

Bondo,
Forgive me for answering for Dexdog (and Henry Scherer 😀)but as far as I know he does not do light meter work except for the Contax III and IIIa. Henry's e-mail is <superwide@earthlink.net>, you can check with him to be sure.

For light meter work George Milton at Quality Light Metric is excellent (georgepmilton@worldnet.att.net or 323-467-2265). Hope this helps...