FINALLY! An intelligently done Contax II copy!

Hi there! I'm not a camera expert, but have in my hands a lot of russians rangefinder cameras. I can tell you what that lens is a regular Jupiter 8, relabeled. Main body is also a fake, not even making from Contax parts. Good news? It can be a really fun copy of Kiev-2 or 3 from 50s with Contax label on front.
 
The Contax logo is almost acceptable, but the Zeiss Ikon one is ugly.

The logos are made after the "Jena Contax" style (smaller letters, tilted) :

Pic_6_CZJ_Contax_II_Na_pamjat.JPG


(1947 Contax II produced at the Saalfeld factory - Photo courtesy of Peter Hennig)

So they copied the rare 1946-47 logos, not the common early ones (1936-38).

The lens is of course a rebadged J-8. All in all... meh.
 
Not a bad price for a working camera!
Heck, it's not the worst fake we've ever seen...
 
The accessory shoe pin is missing, so external VFs will fall off. The black paint trims are well worn. The leather isn't nice.

The seller doesn't seem to know the difference between a Contax II and a Contax IIa.

This is a Kiev 2a with a J-8, and the correct price for this thing is around $50.

Meh again.
 
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Actually I'm not really sure what it is. It falls into the serial number range of the 'no name' Contaxes, but I don't think it's that. But, folks on the forum here believe that the front plate is from a Contax. Not sure about the lens. But it works beautifully and the photos from it are equally as nice.
 
Vince Lupo said:
Actually I'm not really sure what it is.
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It's a Kiev 2a with a genuine Contax II (1936-1938, first logo font) front plate.

The lens is probably a collapsible Sonnar fitted with a J-8 front element, to replace the original scratched one. The coating has the typical FSU purpleish color. The front elements swap is very easy to perform without collimation issues to deal with, and this often makes it for a very fine lens.
 
Very interesting! Thanks for the info. I am really happy with it, and you're right - the lens does produce fine images.
 
Honestly, I don't like it.

It is neither a Contax, nor a Jena-Contax, nor a Kiev.

It's just an ex-Kiev-IIA, with a horribly engraved Zeiss Logo.

For that price, it would be better to find a fine, working Kiev-4A; for a few bucks more, a fine, working Contax-II.

Best wishes,

E.L.
 
Highway 61 said:
It's a Kiev 2a with a genuine Contax II (1936-1938, first logo font) front plate.

The lens is probably a collapsible Sonnar fitted with a J-8 front element, to replace the original scratched one. The coating has the typical FSU purpleish color. The front elements swap is very easy to perform without collimation issues to deal with, and this often makes it for a very fine lens.
Click to expand...

Isn't that an early Kiev 4 body? it seems to have the 4's flat base and rounded bump under the lens mount, rather than the IIA's folding support.
 
ruby.monkey said:
Isn't that an early Kiev 4 body? it seems to have the 4's flat base and rounded bump under the lens mount, rather than the IIA's folding support.
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Yes, of course. You're right. Vince Lupo's camera is a Kiev 4a, not a Kiev 2a, with a genuine Contax II front plate on it.
 
Since I bought my real, live, none-genuine-without-this-signature Contax IIa about a month ago, my search is over. I love the camera. Next stop, Leica M 3, 4, 5. (One or the other, not all three!) Then I'll be set for life. I can play at being Robert Capa, or Gary Winogrand!

With best regards,

Pfreddee(Stephen)
 
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