Contax I as a shooter?

[Martin Carone Santos]

I got a Contax I from 1935. My idea is to use it as a shooter. Is it a good idea?

My technician almost didn't get the job (hr said this câmera is too difficult to fix, and my camera is out of work since late 50's), telling too that these Contax I are too fragile. Is this true?

The mecanism is very different than a Contax II? Is the Contax I SO unreliable?

 

[Mudman]

From what I've heard the I is super finicky. The ii amd iia are completely redesigned.

 

[Martin Carone Santos]

I thought that the I would be very similar to the II (except, of course, the film advance and the separate rangefinder)!

 

[Jean]

Hi,
I just have replaced both ribbons on my recently purchased 1935 Contax I. Repair is similar to the II. The way shutter cap is weaker on the I IMHO.

It's time to remove such old ribbons 😀

 

[tyrone.s]

Well, if you've got it ... shoot with it!

Seriously, I've also heard that they're unreliable but I've heard of lots of things repeated on the internet. I guess you can only tell through use and your use might be more or less delicate than mine or anyone else's for that matter when it comes to handling a vintage camera. Are you going into a war zone or down to the local coffee shop? (Sadly, that could be both these days)

It's probably a bit of a gamble given that it's going to be circa 79 years old in any event. But it sounds like you're getting it serviced anyway so nothing to loose by giving it a go and finding out. Well, if it fails then you've lost the cost of the service / overhaul - but you might get some great photos in the meantime...

I'm currently shooting with a 1937 II and find that quick to use, reliable and no problems (3 rolls in a week). And a Contax II is much more complex (or fragile?) than my Leica IIIf, Fed's and Zorkis. But I only got it last week so who knows?

 

[Martin Carone Santos]

Fantastic, Jean!

Hi,
I just have replaced both ribbons on my recently purchased 1935 Contax I. Repair is similar to the II. The way shutter cap is weaker on the I IMHO.

It's time to remove such old ribbons 😀

 

[Martin Carone Santos]

I shoot a lot with old câmeras, Tyrone. A Leica IIIa or IIc are my constant companions, all the time... They are built like war tanks - work in any condition. As the Contax II (I hod one for years, before it was stolen... 🙁 ) A really great câmera, Always worked perfectly.

I really suspect that Zeiss never launch someting fragile. Maybe the trouble it's just too complex, like the Contarex. I don't know any technician who smile when see a Contarex to be serviced.

Well, if you've got it ... shoot with it!

Seriously, I've also heard that they're unreliable but I've heard of lots of things repeated on the internet. I guess you can only tell through use and your use might be more or less delicate than mine or anyone else's for that matter when it comes to handling a vintage camera. Are you going into a war zone or down to the local coffee shop? (Sadly, that could be both these days)

It's probably a bit of a gamble given that it's going to be circa 79 years old in any event. But it sounds like you're getting it serviced anyway so nothing to loose by giving it a go and finding out. Well, if it fails then you've lost the cost of the service / overhaul - but you might get some great photos in the meantime...

I'm currently shooting with a 1937 II and find that quick to use, reliable and no problems (3 rolls in a week). And a Contax II is much more complex (or fragile?) than my Leica IIIf, Fed's and Zorkis. But I only got it last week so who knows?

 

[Dralowid]

Martin,

If it is working have a go and use it. If it isn't working I'd think very hard before spending a lot of money getting it working. They are beautiful cameras but many have been messed around over the years making them hard to put right and I think this is part of what gives them a bad reputation.

I have two. One works reliably (fingers crossed) and the other doesn't. One is enough!

Curiously the one that works was originally owned by one of the managers of the Barrow in Furness shipyard (they specialised in submarines) for a big sales trip he made to South America in the '30s...I wonder what he sold and to whom???

Michael

 

[nhchen]

I've got two contax I's. Both had shutter ribbons which I had to replace. But now that's fixed, provided you use them properly I'm pretty confident not much else in them will brake (I only saw one other part that wasn't made of metal or glass inside, it was a cord linking the focusing mechanism). Everything else in it seemed pretty solid and well made I thought.

Nathan

 

[Grytpype]

I've been browsing the archive of the Zeiss Ikon Collectors Group (I'm up to 2004!) and I came across a similar question from someone thinking of buying a pair of them. There were only two replies, but both reckoned that the Contax I was an excellent user. The fellow that asked the question bought the cameras and repaired the best, and said that it was actually much nicer to work on than the Contax II/III.

 

[sevo]

It positively is no good idea - it is not that far off the notion of using a pre WWI car to commute. But in terms of expensive fun, it might be enjoyable.

 

[Dralowid]

It positively is no good idea - it is not that far off the notion of using a pre WWI car to commute. But in terms of expensive fun, it might be enjoyable.

I would agree with this 100%