Contax I -- A Shelf Queen???

[Honu-Hugger]

My Contax I came back from service Saturday and my intention all along was to use the camera. After a day of thought this seemed selfish and yesterday I decided to lend it to a museum if I find one interested in taking it. I wrote Henry Scherer today to thank him for his work on the camera and I mentioned the idea to him; here is a portion of his reply:

It seems to me your thoughts about the Contax I are just about right. It is just too pristine to risk putting even a single mark on it. I have absolutely no doubt whatsoever that it is the one and only truly absolutely pure 100% MINT Contax I in existence. You do not own it, you are its temporary custodian and have a great responsibility to ensure that when it leaves your hands it is as pretty as when it came into them. This is the way I looked at it. It is a treasure.​

I suppose now I'm damned if I don't 🙂. Truth is while I'm not a total hack I've never been extremely careful with cameras -- I tend to pack them around wherever I go and inevitably they pick up some "signs of use." I have other cameras I can subject to my form of abuse...it doesn't feel right to punish this otherwise innocent machine.

 

[FrankS]

See, that's why I bought a used, non-pristene Canon 7! I have this beautiful cedar strip canoe in my garage that I worry about scratching up.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

I'm interested in opening a personal museum. Could you send it to me?

 

[dexdog]

See, that's why I bought a used, non-pristene Canon 7! I have this beautiful cedar strip canoe in my garage that I worry about scratching up.

Honu-Hugger, I think that it is admirable that you would give up the use of such a beautiful camera. Best of luck finding a museum to display it. However, if I were you, I'd run a roll of film through it first before retiring it.

Frank, I have a couple of cedar strip kayaks (built them myself) and use them all the time. Once it has been christened with the first scratch, you get accustomed to the scratching it up with every use. Also, you can always sand them down a bit and varnish to restore the gleam (good winter work).



dexdog

 

[wlewisiii]

It is a hard choice to make, especially in a case like this one. I'm a believer in the idea that cameras are supposed to be used and no matter how careful one is, it will be scuffed.

Have you considered finding a real museum that would be able to do it justice? I would presume that Zeiss' museum has at least one, but perhaps not. An aweful lot was lost in the war...

William

 

[Honu-Hugger]

So far I have sent a letter to the George Eastman House; my late uncle worked with them while he was with Kodak. I also sent an e-mail to Marc Small (co-author of the Zeiss Compendium). I'll pursue it and see what happens. One thing is certain: if I use it I will damage it -- too much is coming to bear, including the all-powerful "Murphy's Law." 😀

Why is it that we can toss around an old beater and it seems to never pick up a scratch? Something nice gets damaged because we are being too careful!!!

 

[captainslack]

My vote is for shelving it. If it's nice enough to impress Henry that much, you might be looking at your retirement there.

 

[Nikon Bob]

I can sympathize with your angst on using the Contax I and thoughts of donating it to a museum to preserve it for the future. Then I thought of the fact that the only two airworthy Lancaster bombers left in the world are still flown even though rather sparingly. The other option to use it sparingly is also a good idea as that is what a camera for. A very hard choice, but I would be more on the side of tender loving use. I am happy not to be in your shoes on this one.

Bob

 

[FrankS]

You could pass the burden to someone else and benefit yourself financially. Christie's auction house, perhaps.

 

[JoeFriday]

I'd loan it to a museum, rather than donate it.. you might want it back someday

otherwise, give it to me for a week and you won't have to waste any more time worrying about a pristine Contax

 

[Honu-Hugger]

It's not a difficult decision; the decision was all but made yesterday between my wife and I. Now it's a matter of finding someone that is interested. I know nothing of what museums have/want/ need but I guess I'm about to find out. It will be interesting to see how much effort has to go into donating something 🙂.

 

[the lobster]

So far I have sent a letter to the George Eastman House...

Let me know if this happens. I live a block away from the Eastman house and would love to check it out!

 

[Honu-Hugger]

Let me know if this happens. I live a block away from the Eastman house and would love to check it out!

We should plan to meet the next time I visit my aunt; she lives in Hilton. Maybe check out the Eastman House and snap a few Alpa pics (we'll use 7's or 8's so we can legally post to the RFF 🙂).

 

[the lobster]

We should plan to meet the next time I visit my aunt; she lives in Hilton. Maybe check out the Eastman House and snap a few Alpa pics (we'll use 7's or 8's so we can legally post to the RFF 🙂).

SOunds like a plan. But I don't have a 7 or 8. But I do know where to score a Contax 1....

 

[Honu-Hugger]

SOunds like a plan. But I don't have a 7 or 8. But I do know where to score a Contax 1....

Are you going to steal it from the Eastman House? I definitely want to be taking pictures of that!!! 😀

 

[the lobster]

Are you going to steal it from the Eastman House? I definitely want to be taking pictures of that!!! 😀

My $40/year membership fee entitles me to a day with any camera in the collection. But I'll probably use it on the Charlie the Tuna toy camera they have on display. (They really do have one.)


In all seriousness, Doug, I think that your desire to lend it to a museum is a fine idea. I may not have been so noble had I found it. Keep us all updated on what transpires.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

I'd loan it to a museum, rather than donate it.. you might want it back someday

otherwise, give it to me for a week and you won't have to waste any more time worrying about a pristine Contax

They are very "courteously" ignoring our stress-relief offers of help. :angel:

 

[wlewisiii]

Heck, give the body to the museum and let me... test, yeah that's it, long long long term test that 50/3.5 Tessar...


What?

William

 

[FrankS]

This out-pouring of offers to help is just heart-warming, isn't it!

 

[DougK]

Truly a selfless bunch 🙂