n5jrn
Well-known
Your budget is $400 to $800? I bought a CLA'ed screwmount Leica with lens last year from Youxin for I think $720. Unless LTM bodies have gone up a lot in the meantime, a Leica is still within your budget.
A few Contax Questions
- Thread starter chodgson45
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roboflick
Well-known
I've had excellent results from Henry Scherer. I have 2 cameras that he has overhauled, a contax iiia and a contax ii, that are both incredible smooth reliable cameras. I also have 3 sonnar 1.5's that he overhauled that are my favorite lenses. I bought the sonnar 1.5's from local camera stores and online for less than 150 dollars, he charged 125 to overhaul them, and they came back looking like new, one lens was full of fungus, no trace of it now. Less of these bargains now with the adapters for evil cameras. I wouldn't hesitate to send equipment to him, his work is meticulous and very thorough. his lens overhauls never took more than 2 weeks. There is something like a 4 year wait for him to service a camera however.
I would send him an email and see what he has, sometimes he has cameras or lenses on offer, expensive but more likely to work than an ebay purchase, and he stands behind his work.
I would send him an email and see what he has, sometimes he has cameras or lenses on offer, expensive but more likely to work than an ebay purchase, and he stands behind his work.
batterytypehah!
Lord of the Dings
Collapsible 50s were only made pre-war, i.e. uncoated, IIRC. Those are the 2.8 Tessar and the 2.0 Sonnar. You should be able to find one at a good price (I paid $50 for a user grade Sonnar, about two years ago).
Other focal lengths, you can economize with Jupiters, except the J-12 (35/2.8) will not mount on IIa/IIIa bodies. This means Zeiss and Nikon are your only options for wides. Nikon lenses 50mm and up will not focus correctly, except those specifically marked 'C' for Contax (85 and 135, I believe).
No such adapter exists, to my knowledge. The Contax mount is quite peculiar.
The Helios 103 (53/1.8) is well worth the $40 or so. Big (for a Contax 50), plasticky and ugly, but a great lens.
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sevo
Fokutorendaburando
Its register size is deeper than Leica and the turning inner bayonet puts an end to attempts at sunk adapters - so no, it would be impossible. But the other way around, Contax to LTM, is possible and has been done.
furcafe
Veteran
batterytypehah!
Lord of the Dings
^Thanks for filling in those details.
I forgot to mention that Cosina also made a line of Contax/Nikon mount lenses for their Bessa R2C and R2S of ten years ago. Once again, only wides can be freely interchanged between Contax and Nikon bodies (Nikon copied the physical mount, but not the focus standard). I haven't followed this for a while but I think those lenses never sold too well and aren't cheap or easy to find now.
I forgot to mention that Cosina also made a line of Contax/Nikon mount lenses for their Bessa R2C and R2S of ten years ago. Once again, only wides can be freely interchanged between Contax and Nikon bodies (Nikon copied the physical mount, but not the focus standard). I haven't followed this for a while but I think those lenses never sold too well and aren't cheap or easy to find now.
chodgson45
Grain is Good
Wow, thanks for the Info Guys!
I've decided on a Kiev II for now and will get a 50 (And depending on what I find, something with a bit more like an 103).
With the money I save I'll get a FED-2 or another SM Leica Copy to play with.
The nice thing about the Kiev II is that it is a "Perfect Copy" of the Prewar Contax II. I'm considering finding a Contax plate to stick on the front for events and such (Or not - just an idea I was playing with 🙂 ).
As my funds grow I'll get a Contax and a real Leica. Hell, if I find one for the right price....I'll get it instead of the FSU Copies!
I believe my questions are answered and I am walking into this much more prepared than I was before - with advice on people to see for repairs and CLA's, Stores to buy Gear at and lens info.
Thank You so very much for the info!
-Corey
I've decided on a Kiev II for now and will get a 50 (And depending on what I find, something with a bit more like an 103).
With the money I save I'll get a FED-2 or another SM Leica Copy to play with.
The nice thing about the Kiev II is that it is a "Perfect Copy" of the Prewar Contax II. I'm considering finding a Contax plate to stick on the front for events and such (Or not - just an idea I was playing with 🙂 ).
As my funds grow I'll get a Contax and a real Leica. Hell, if I find one for the right price....I'll get it instead of the FSU Copies!
I believe my questions are answered and I am walking into this much more prepared than I was before - with advice on people to see for repairs and CLA's, Stores to buy Gear at and lens info.
Thank You so very much for the info!
-Corey
S.H.
Picture taker
I did manage to get working example of two pre war contaxes (II and III) which are actually working , for less than 100€. One on ebay germany (with 35mm planar and matching viewfinder, pure luck) and one on a camera fair. My contax IIa was around 300€ with a sonnar 1.5 .
i also have a Kiev II (1953), as nice as a Contax II. But almost as costly...
My experience with lenses:
- my sample (from 1952) of the soviet copy of the 35mm biogon is OK, can be pleasing. Do not expect anything like a modern Leica look of course.
- I have a Zeiss-Opton 135mm, it is quite good, usually not really costly; the rangefinder can handle it.
- I also have a Zeiss-Opton 50mm 1.5, I like it very much and use it on leicas too
- Finally an east german Jena coated Sonnar 85mm : heavy beast, sharpness OK, nice for portraits / bokeh shots
Beware : a full service on a Contax (pre or post war) or a Kiev can be costly! I know a good repairman, but in France.
Happy hunting!
i also have a Kiev II (1953), as nice as a Contax II. But almost as costly...
My experience with lenses:
- my sample (from 1952) of the soviet copy of the 35mm biogon is OK, can be pleasing. Do not expect anything like a modern Leica look of course.
- I have a Zeiss-Opton 135mm, it is quite good, usually not really costly; the rangefinder can handle it.
- I also have a Zeiss-Opton 50mm 1.5, I like it very much and use it on leicas too
- Finally an east german Jena coated Sonnar 85mm : heavy beast, sharpness OK, nice for portraits / bokeh shots
Beware : a full service on a Contax (pre or post war) or a Kiev can be costly! I know a good repairman, but in France.
Happy hunting!
batterytypehah!
Lord of the Dings
Cool. I have no user experience with the pre-war bodies but this does give you the best and cheapest lens selection, because it will take the J-12.
Not sure if you maybe misread me above. Helios 103 is just a name, not the focal length. It's a standard lens with a nominal FL of 53mm (which is not significant because nominal 50 is actually 52.4 in the Contax standard).
