Contax IIa prices? help please

[FrankS]

I'd really appreciate some help from those of you "in the know" about Contax IIa black dial and colour dial prices. Let's ay the camera is 100% functional and in excellent condition (but not perfect). What is a reasonable price for a colour dial body with no lens?

Brian Sweeney, Rover, Pherdinand, Honu-Hugger, and anyone else who has been looking at Contax prices lately?

 

[rover]

I have looked at and bid on some Contax IIa cameras in the past 8 months or so. Mostly pretty clean ones, but none which have had CLAs. Generally, my recollection is that the ones I have followed have closed at around $500 to $550 on average. Again, all very clean, with Sonnar lens, but not serviced. The high was $675 ish for a very nice one in Hartford, CT which I tried to see before the auction closed but could not work it out with the seller. Low was probably $450. I don't know about a price for body only. Some were black dial, others color, I don't remember which, though I think the one in Hartford actually was a black dial camera.

 

[wlewisiii]

Without lens, the price seems to be about $250 - 300 right now.

William

 

[JoeFriday]

Frank, I was finding the prices on the 'bay to be all over the place.. partially due to different combinations of lens/body.. whether it was the 50/2 or 50/1.5.. but even with identical offerings, the selling price might vary from just under $300 to $600... even the black dial version was selling on average for $250 to $400, again depending on the lens

there are many being offered as BIN for around $600, but they usually don't sell

I would say a "body only" color dial would probably fetch around $400 on average.. a black dial is more like $250.. but there's a variance of about $100 for each.. I have no idea why.. I guess the demand isn't as consistent as Leicas

 

[RichardS]

You might try this site http://www.ritzcam.com/ click on view catalog and then in the left column click on Contax. It shows what they are asking for various models of the Contax.

EBay has quite a number of Contax cameras listed for sale. I think the prices are higher than they have been which could be the reason.

Dick

 

[dexdog]

IIa prices

IIa prices

I think that the color dial IIa's sell for more because they have a standard PC flash sync. As you know, the black dials require a separate Contax-synch to PC-sync cord (callled a "Synchroschalter") to use a flash. I agree with Joe Friday that prices range all over the place, but that $300-$400 should capture most of the cameras sold w/o lens.

 

[FrankS]

Thanks everyone for your help. It has been very helpful to me in evaluating a possible deal on a Contax.

This site rocks!

(slowly)

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Prices for the IIa seem to command a premium over the IIIa, by at least $100. Must be the funny looking bump on the top plate. I think everyone has hit the IIa prices dead-on, the IIIa black-dials have been going for under $200.

 

[Honu-Hugger]

Hi Frank,
I think everyone has covered the prices quite well. The last Black Dial I bought was with a collabsible 50/2 Sonnar, case, and a few extras for $265.00; it went to Henry Scherer on Monday. I bought a very late (within the last 300 made) Color Dial earlier this year but it is difficult to establish a price for the body because it came with a 35/3.5 Planar (this camera also went to Henry's on Monday). Henry allowed me to reserve a spot for these cameras in advance so they will be returning soon. I'm most likely going to let a few Contaxes go -- I'm always a little uncomfortable with too many cameras so if your other deals do not work out I may be able to help with something (all cameras and lenses have been serviced by Henry). Good luck and keep us posted!!!

 

[Pherdinand]

Just to give you an idea baout prices on this side of the pond:
Last evening i was watching (yes father i have to confess i went to e-bay) a beautiful piece of contax IIa black dial; it went together with a sonnar 50/1.5 for 400+euro. Somewhere between 400 and 410. On the german e-bay.

(I was ready to give 250 for the combo...LOL!)

 

[FrankS]

Thanks, Doug2. I'm keeping my fingers crossed on this one. It's a colour dial with 50mm f2 lens. I have a 10 day inspection period. Were all 50mm f2 lenses Sonnars, and were they all collapsible?

 

[wlewisiii]

All f2 were Sonnar, not all (actually relativly few post-war) were collapsable. That would be a nice combination, Frank. Hope it works out well for you.

William

 

[Honu-Hugger]

All 50/2 lenses are Sonnar and available either rigid barrel or collapsible. I've seen more rigid barrels than I have collapsible. Collapsible is not as great of an advantage with the Sonnar as it is with the Tessar or as I seem to remember a Leica collapsible; retracted the collapsible Sonnar only recedes 12mm. As I recall the 50/2.8 Tessar was collapsible only and the 50/3.5 Tessar was available as collapsible and rigid barrel. Tessar's have their own special quality but for all-around use I really like the Sonnar. Good luck with your deal -- I hope it all works for the best. (I threw in a Sonnar shot in low light -- I'll apologize in advance 😀).

Cheers,

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Frank, you did not last long after reading Brett's post.

The later Sonnar's were coated; the two collapsible Sonnars that I have are pre-war uncoated lenses. They are fine performers, but -as with any uncoated lens- watch out for flare.

The later post-war lenses are marked Zeiss-Opton, as is my 5cm F1.5. I really like that lens, and reworked the Nikon S2 to use with it.

Can you say "Smooth Bokeh"...

Contax IIIa with Sonnar F2:
http://rangefinderforum.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=9381

Nikon S2 (calibrated) with Sonnar F1.5:

 

[JoeFriday]

and here's one from my F1.5 (from the only roll of film I've put thru the Contax so far)

 

[Wayne R. Scott]

Frank,

I bought a Contax IIa with f1.5 Sonnar last spring for $425 at a camera swap meet. My avatar was shot with this camera combo.

Wayne

P.S. It is a black dial, but I have both synch cords for it. For electronic flash and for flash bulbs.

 

[rover]

I don't know why, but I am getting itchy.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

I have got to get me one of those Contax's and Sonnar's! And I should have stopped at one... BUT WHAT THE HELL! Got a Sonnar on the Contax, Nikon S2, and Nikon M.

 

[FrankS]

Frank, you did not last long after reading Brett's post.

:

I'm a weak man.
can't pass up a good deal on something I want. (Only lately have I been able to say no to deals on things that I don't want.) I don't want to jinx it, but it's a contax IIa colour dial with 50 f2 Sonnar (I don't know coated or not) for $300 with a 10 day trial period. Shhh!

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Grab It!!!!!