Contax IIa 'Zeiss Ikon'

[MISH]

I have seen threads on here before about the Contax IIA's with Zeiss Ikon stamped on the front of the camera body, which was done to commemerate some anniversary of the Zeiss Co. but i have never seen one for sale untill this listing at the Leica Shop in Germany
https://www.leicashop.com/vintage/contax-iia-39zeiss-ikon39-p-3657.html

is it possible that they are that rare and worth that much money, or is there something else about that camera that makes it rare.
If not we can move the count to eleven as I own one. who else has one?
(not really a digital person but maybe when my son is home for Christmas I will be able to post a picture of it)

 

[monochromejrnl]

If this is true then mine is no. 12. I have a Contax IIA with 50/1.5 Opton T* with the Zeiss Ikon stamped in the leather on the back door (but no stamp on the front leather on the shutter side)

 

[MISH]

just to make clear, i think every IIA camera has the logo on the back, the rare part would be the logo on the front

 

[ernesto]

this is the first time I see the ZI logo on the front of a IIa IIIa II or III

 

[furcafe]

I have 1, purchased from a former RFF member, but had no idea how rare they were (I have the English version of Kuc's book, but don't recall this particular camera being mentioned). IIRC, they were made for the 25th anniversary of the founding of the Zeiss Ikon conglomerate, but aside from the front insignia are functionally identical to regular "black dial" IIas. The gold leaf on mine had already completely worn off, though you can still make out the embossed logo.

Even if they are rare, the market will obviously determine whether the LeicaShop's price is reasonable, so we'll have to see if they manage to sell theirs. I certainly did not pay anything close to 1200 Euros & wouldn't if I were looking for 1 today.

FYI, the current link is:

https://www.leicashop.com/vintage/contax-iia-39zeiss-ikon39-p-3527.html

I have seen threads on here before about the Contax IIA's with Zeiss Ikon stamped on the front of the camera body, which was done to commemerate some anniversary of the Zeiss Co. but i have never seen one for sale untill this listing at the Leica Shop in Germany
https://www.leicashop.com/vintage/contax-iia-39zeiss-ikon39-p-3657.html

is it possible that they are that rare and worth that much money, or is there something else about that camera that makes it rare.
If not we can move the count to eleven as I own one. who else has one?
(not really a digital person but maybe when my son is home for Christmas I will be able to post a picture of it)

 

[rgpadron]

According to Charles M. Barringer on the Zeiss Compendium, some Contax IIa and IIIa models were produced as commemorative models, showing the Zeiss Ikon logo over the self timer, released in 1951 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the founding of Zeiss Ikon.
Greetings

 

[MISH]

I can not belive there was so few of these made. I told my wife that if someone would pay 1200 EUR I would sell it in a heartbeat. She got so mad
I had to quickly change the subject. (when i am able to post some pictures I will have to tell the story about how I aquired My contax collection and my wife) Not at home right now but will post the serial # to see if the number is close to the one FURCAFE owns (I do remember it startes with a U)
anyway been waiting for two years on the list to send it to Henry Scherer for him to work his magic on it ......looks like I might have to wait 2 more
one note : I do know one of my IIA's was purchased from Montgomery Wards but not sure if it was this one

 

[burninfilm]

While they may be rare, this seems to me like the type of camera people wouldn't notice, and therefore never get reported. I'm willing to bet there are a few more out there than a dozen examples.

 

[hilltime]

Even though this post is very dated, I'm wondering if there has been any more recent information about this Zeiss Ikon stamped logo. The reason is I just recently acquired a IIA, Serial # U24XX, which seems to be in the range of #'s for these cameras. I'm sure no one will ever know the exact quantities ever produced of the IIA and IIIA models with this embossed gold logo, but is there anyone else who may have found one recently? Also it has been said they were produced in a limited amount to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of Zeiss, which I assume is 1936-1951.
Looking at the serial# range of these bodies from the sticky thread, the U# Contax IIA bodies appear to start in the beginning of 1952, if this is correct.

At one time, I did own a Contax IIA BD body Serial # U304, and it did not have this embossed front logo.

Any comments?

Gary Hill

 

[steveyork]

I had one pass through the house years ago. An ebay find. Black dial as I recall. I don't think they're so rare.

 

[MISH]

here is a picture of what we were talking about. I still have the camera and after a very long wait Mr Scherer did overhaul it for me. a very pretty design and a joy to use. The serial # on mine is U2149

 

[hilltime]

All three or four I have seen reference to seem to be in that U2000- U2500 range. I'm wondering if they made a run of 500 or so. I have very casually been looking for one for about 20yrs, after seeing the photo in The Zeiss Compendium/ Baringer-Small and just recently found this one. Same Black Dial body, but I still think rather cool. Mine came with a 50/2 Zeiss Opton.

Gary Hill

 

[Elmar Lang]

I've seen this thread only now and I would like to add that I have one of those IIa with Zeiss Ikon logo embossed above the self-timer lever. It was bought at a dealer in Milan, back in 2011. It sports a Zeiss Opton Sonnar 50/2 and if I'm not wrong, it's of the "U" series.

It can be possible, that due to the laws of market, the same camera, could be counted twice or more, because of their passage from a collector/photographer to another. A list of serial nos. would be useful, then.

I'm abroad now, but on my return back home in Italy, I will check the camera and communicate its number (I'm in Lausanne, Switzerland, with an Alpa outfit...).

Best,

Enzo (E.L.)

 

[Highway 61]

I had one pass through the house years ago. An ebay find. Black dial as I recall. I don't think they're so rare.

The very same story here. Mine was the U2119. Arrived extremely rusty and not working in 2006. Went out as a clean working camera one year later. I hope it's still put at good use now. 😉

 

[Elmar Lang]

Being finally back home, I can update with the serial no. of my front-embossed-logo "Zeiss Ikon" Contax IIa: U 2088 with Zeiss Opton 1:2 Sonnar 50mm. s/n 686757.

E.L.

 

[hilltime]

Kind of confirms my thoughts of a "Limited " release of 500.
Yours, U2088 and mine of U249x. Haven't heard of anything before or after.

Wonder about the IIIA? Haven't seen any #'s for them.

Gary Hill

 

[Jacques M.]

Mine is U 1157... So, ?
Just to know: it will be for sale on eBay...

Amitiés. Jacques.

 

[shawn]

U1169 (beat up) is on eBay with the logo mostly worn away.

Shawn

 

[hilltime]

Just discovered an update on this thread, as there is now a Zeiss Ikon Contax IIA on Ebay right now with serial # U836. This kinda blows the theory that they made a limited run of 500 or so of these as it seems now the range is from here to the one I have which is U24XX, unless they were interspersed throughout the early U serial # range.

 

[David Hughes]

That logo...

That logo...

Hi,

I've the 1930's books; meaning catalogues, manuals etc, etc and all of them show the logo on a model II but I've never seen a model II for sale with the logo. I guess that the prototype or a pre-production one was used but the logo was dropped once production started.

Regards, David