Bought a Contax 11.

[Stu W]

Brian, I've owned quite a few Contaxes and the paint flaking off the shutter blinds is a common thing. I think they just used lacquer over brass with no real preparation. I just touched mine up with a brush and flat enamel. Enjoy the camera. Stu

 

[Xmas]

Brian

Stu is correct the contax blind paint is not like Kiev paint, the Ge paint disappears, the Ru paint lasts. I not try to paint them.

There are other characteristic differences.

Noel

 

[furcafe]

Really? Unlike the LTM Sonnars, the rigid CZJ 50/2 Sonnars were fairly common to begin with, & were often sold to accompany black dial Zeiss Ikon Contax IIa's exported to the U.S. as a cheaper alternative to the W. German Sonnars. I have 1 that came w/a black dial IIa (sadly w/a very scratched-up front element), serial #305**** & while the lens barrel, etc. is definitely a step down from a Zeiss-Opton 50/2 Sonnar from the same time period, the construction is still noticeably better than, or @ least different from, a Jupiter-8 from that era. Granted, mine is from a later period than Brian's, but it is possible that his lens was 1 originally sold with, or the same batch as others intended for, a IIa.

Can you post more photos of the lens? These rigid, post war 50/2 Sonnars are often faked.

 

[SCOTFORTHLAD]

Thanks Noel and Stu for the reassuring information on the paint/laquer finish on the Contax shutter blinds.
They certainly haven't been sanded or scratched ,so to hear that flaking off of the black finishing coat does occur,certainly sets my mind at rest,

Cheers,
Brian.

 

[Mike Kovacs]

Seeing as how its a Contax II (prewar), I'd at least be suspicious that it did not come with a rebadged Jupiter-8 lens.

 

[darkkavenger]

I think that Brian will soon be enjoying a pre-war collapsible Sonnar ;-)

 

[SCOTFORTHLAD]

Seeing as how its a Contax II (prewar), I'd at least be suspicious that it did not come with a rebadged Jupiter-8 lens.

Hello Mike,
Thanks for the interest.I was wondering what are the tell-tale signs of such a 'forgery'.How can this be determined?I have handled a couple of Kiev mount j8's,and this lens is noticeably different.

Brian.

 

[darkkavenger]

Hey Brian, according to the photo of your 50mm f/2 CZJ Sonnar postwar model, I think it is an original Carl Zeiss Jena (East-Germany) aluminium barrel postwar lens. It looks exactly like the one I didn't buy from member FrankS when I bought his Contax III. See the photos for comparison.

All the best,
Max

 

[SCOTFORTHLAD]

Hey Brian, according to the photo of your 50mm f/2 CZJ Sonnar postwar model, I think it is an original Carl Zeiss Jena (East-Germany) aluminium barrel postwar lens. It looks exactly like the one I didn't buy from member FrankS when I bought his Contax III. See the photos for comparison.

All the best,
Max

Max,
Thanks for the pictures---my lens and Frank's could be two peas from the same pod !!
The barrel of the lens is aluminium as opposed to chrome.

I will scan and post a couple of recent pictures taken with it in the next day or so.

Cheers,🙂
Brian.

 

[FrankS]

I thought mainly post war zeiss 50's were forged from J8's.

 

[darkkavenger]

Most of the forged postwar "Sonnars" I've seen were sold with black-painted Kievs, and the forging was poorly done 🙂

Was referring to this kind of model (generally meterless) http://www.zeisscamera.com/ContaxRepair/Blackiii.jpg

lens is J8M 🙂

 

[SCOTFORTHLAD]

For my sins,I unfortunately have listed this fine camera and lens for sale in the Classified Section,

Apologies to the Moderators if this self advertisement goes too far from the spirit of the Forum.

Brian.

 

[SCOTFORTHLAD]

For my sins,I unfortunately have listed this fine camera and lens for sale in the Classified Section,

Apologies to the Moderators if this self advertisement goes too far from the spirit of the Forum.

Brian.

The Sonnar is still available in Classifieds---any reasonable offer?🙂

Brian.