For those who are looking for a sparkling Contax I

[Highway 61]

http://leica-opera.com/10971

Very nice cased Ic with the quite rare black and nickel Sonnar f/2 which looks unscratched.

Will probably fail before the end of the first film roll because it is very unlikely that it got overhauled recently, of course.

 

[Erik van Straten]

I have this model in a very good condition, it is model 4 (Kuc). Everything works as it should. It even has a flash synch, beautifully hidden behind the right strap lug connector.

All my other Contax I cameras only work partially, the fast speeds are the big problem on these cameras.

I think that the above camera is overhauled, at least it has the small nickel nobbysparrow screws.

Erik.

 

[CharlesDAMorgan]

What a beautiful thing.

 

[charjohncarter]

Beautiful camera, but check out some of the photographers highlighted on that site.

 

[Ste_S]

That’s great, and to my mind cheap. Crazy that the T2/T3 point and shoots go for nearly double that

 

[Dralowid]

Hmmm, I don't see how the nickel on knobs etc can be worn through to brass and the paint immaculate...

Nice though.

 

[retinax]

The best looking camera of all times.

 

[Erik van Straten]

The best looking camera of all times.

I prefer the Nikon S2 in black.


Erik.

 

[bayernfan]

beautiful design. would love to see a modern reincarnation of this (film or digital).

 

[Mr_Flibble]

Oh, Shiny!

A version 4 Contax I was the first model I've bought and reanimated.

 

[raid]

I once was about to get a Contax 1, but the posts on its lack of reliability scared me away from it. I find such a camera to be very beautiful.

 

[Philip Whiteman]

My first inclination was to refinish my own first Contax - a non-functioning II 'beater' - in shiny new black enamel. However, when I contemplated the thing's history I simply got rid of the green verdigris corrosion and cleaned it up - and left it as it was, worn-away chrome, scratches and scuffs and all.

Of course, not having a pristine finish to worry about, it is now one of the first cameras I pick up to use...

 

[markjwyatt]

It looks very nice.

...would love to see a modern reincarnation of this (film or digital).

That is called the Contax iia 😉

For a black Contax, this is the closest I have:


Kiev 4A Type2 (Black) by Mark Wyatt, on Flickr

 

[Erik van Straten]

After a few years intensive use, the camera will look like this:

Erik.

 

[raid]

Reminds me of an oven baked camera! Cool.

 

[Mr_Flibble]

My re-animated v5 and v4.

 

[Ste_S]

^^^^ They look great. What are they like to shoot with ?

 

[Mr_Flibble]

I personally find winding the shutter and setting the speed is somewhat more 'crunchy' than on the Contax II. It's certainly more work having to switch to the speeds group and then picking the speed you need.
Focus and shutter release feel the same as on the Contax II, where you fingers tend to get in front of the RF window if you don't practice the "contax grip".

The v7 I have feels the most refined of the Contax I models.

 

[Erik van Straten]

Contax 1, Nikkor H 50mm f/2, 400-2TMY/AdoxMCC110.

Erik.

 

[p.giannakis]

Nice one Erik.