Contax russian copy?

Contax never engraved cameras in the manner shown in the auction, especially the two extra ZI logos. Also, the letters spelling Contax are in a different style than the Zeiss product. The location of the flash sync on the front of the camera is also typical of Kievs (Zeiss Ikon did not make Contax III with flash sync). The seller is a well-known Russian camera shop on eBay. Seller is being honest, and not trying to misrepresent the camera as a real Contax.
 
I half recall that just after the Soviet invasion, some 'pre-Kievs' were sold as Contaxes -- but as dexdog says, that engraving looks as though someone was over-egging a rather later pudding.

Cheers,

R.
 
Roger Hicks said:
I half recall that just after the Soviet invasion, some 'pre-Kievs' were sold as Contaxes -- but as dexdog says, that engraving looks as though someone was over-egging a rather later pudding.
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The first batch of the Contax/Kiev II/III made in Kiev (under German supervision) still had Contax name plates, as they presumably had not yet figured out a new brand name - the next batch had Kiev stamped over the Contax front (so that the old name is visible from the rear).

This one is neither, but a much later Kiev 4 with some III top bits and ficititious engravings. There are fake camera collectors, so this one is higher priced than a Kiev 4 even though the seller clearly identifies it as a fake.

Sevo
 
sevo said:
The first batch of the Contax/Kiev II/III made in Kiev (under German supervision) still had Contax name plates, as they presumably had not yet figured out a new brand name - the next batch had Kiev stamped over the Contax front (so that the old name is visible from the rear).

This one is neither, but a much later Kiev 4 with some III top bits and ficititious engravings. There are fake camera collectors, so this one is higher priced than a Kiev 4 even though the seller clearly identifies it as a fake.

Sevo
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Thanks for filling in the detail.

I love the idea of a fake camera collector. Not a collector of fake cameras (which is clearly what you meant, and where the ambiguity is inherent in the normal English construction you used) but a fake collector of cameras. Someone who buys them and throws them away, perhaps.

Cheers,

R.
 
Roger Hicks said:
I love the idea of a fake camera collector. Not a collector of fake cameras (which is clearly what you meant, and where the ambiguity is inherent in the normal English construction you used) but a fake collector of cameras. Someone who buys them and throws them away, perhaps.
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Priceless quote! Made my day, still laughing... thanks and have a great weekend!
 
"but a fake collector of cameras. Someone who buys them and throws them away, perhaps."

These people can never get enough cameras. GAS at its highest point.:)
 
Roger Hicks said:
I love the idea of a fake camera collector. Not a collector of fake cameras (which is clearly what you meant, and where the ambiguity is inherent in the normal English construction you used) but a fake collector of cameras. Someone who buys them and throws them away, perhaps.
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Or perhaps only pretends to collect cameras. I tried to figure out a way to work "bespoke" into this reply, but failed:D
 
Well, they could not even get the model number of the Contax correct that it was a fake of.

It is counterfeit Contax III, not a Contax II.
 
Highway 61 said:
This is a casual Kiev 4 with fake Zeiss Ikon & Contax engravings and no Kiev III bits.
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You are of course right, no Kiev-3 in there, it is a pastiche of Kiev-4 versions, with Kiev-4m front and Kiev-4 version 2 or 3 knobs and meter lid. Body presumably the former, or why else would anyone use a front plate that is less Contax like...
 
ZI Contaxes never had any ZI logo but in the removable back of the camera.
This is definitely a Kiev4 in disguise, dressed to show like a Contax , but is neither a Contax III or a IIIa.
Hope there would be a day when a Kiev is offered like a Kiev, and a Contax offered as it is.
Wonder what would happen if a Contax would be used to fake a Kiev.
Cheers
Ernesto
 
ErnestoJL said:
Wonder what would happen if a Contax would be used to fake a Kiev.
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That is not entirely impossible - genuine early Kievs and Kiev made Contaxes are rare and collectible enough that modifying the serial numbers or replacing the logo on a beater Contax would add to its value.
 
ErnestoJL said:
ZI Contaxes never had any ZI logo but in the removable back of the camera.
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Once and again (same link as above) :

http://www3.telus.net/public/rpnchbck/zconrfKiev.htm

YES some actual ZI Contaxes had some engraved ZI logo, and those are the most expensive ones now on the collector market, and this is probably why the faked Kievs are made after them and not after the casual prewar production bodies, which don't have that logo.
 
You´re right, I forget those few exemplars (very rare) of which, none of them had reached this shore. Right too on the reasons why those ZI logos are engraved in decent Kiev bodies.
Cheers
Ernesto


Highway 61 said:
Once and again (same link as above) :

http://www3.telus.net/public/rpnchbck/zconrfKiev.htm

YES some actual ZI Contaxes had some engraved ZI logo, and those are the most expensive ones now on the collector market, and this is probably why the faked Kievs are made after them and not after the casual prewar production bodies, which don't have that logo.
Click to expand...
 
I bought a fake Contax (Kiev) with a Jupiter 8 lens from a used camera shop. I found the camera in a "junk" bin, priced at only $40. I had never had a Contax-type camera before, and the camera was in nice enough condition that I thought it might make a good paperweight.

I got it home and checked it out, and it seemed to function normally enough, so I ran a roll of film through it. To my surprise, I ended up with some very nice photographs. I've paid a lot more money for other old cameras which did not work as well.

I'm halfway through another roll of film now, and I'm looking forward to seeing the results.
 
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