Contax IIa 'Zeiss Ikon'

[hilltime]

They must have realized before production the gold embossing would not
wear well, as most of these "Commemorative" model IIA's show today. I do feel very lucky I found one after seeing the photo in the Zeiss Compendium,
and thinking I'd never come across one of these in my lifetime.
I will have to say the Contax IIA was my first "collectible" I ever purchased after doing a lot of research and looking at that time period. I wanted a camera that was as old as I was (Nov 1951) and it appeared to me to be a better choice than the Leica IIIF, notwithstanding the 50mm/F1.5 Sonnar which most thought to be one of the best lenses of all time.

 

[Elmar Lang]

My "Zeiss Ikon" logo Contax-IIa has the focus impressed in feet: is the same with the other ones in this discussion?

If so, they could belong to a batch sent to the US...

 

[David Hughes]

I've just noticed that in the May 1938 catalogue the Contax II shown and the III have no logo on the front. FWIW, I date these from the printer's code and this has 538, which I make May 1938, and mentions cameras becoming availbl in June 1938 and at the end of May 1938. So for once I feel safe dating the catalogue.

FWIW, the Contax II and f/2 Sonnar are priced at GBP 50 and 10 shilling (£50.50 in decimal format) or US $ 252 at pre-war exchange rates...

Regards, David

 

[hilltime]

Just got another of these "Zeiss Ikon" front gold embossed Contax IIA BD.
I don't know why I'm drawn to these as it is no different than any of the other BD's except this front treatment. It is Ser.# U19XX which is confirming my thought these, supposed 500 commemorative models are interspersed throughout the U serial # range at least for the IIA series. Have never seen a IIIA model for sale and hopefully never do!