Help me learn what I have here...

[nikon_sam]

I'm having a hard time finding much on this body & lens...
What I have found is that this is a re-branded Contax and the Hexacon plate was placed on it for US export, it would appear this plate was glued on and not screwed or riveted.
I'm pretty sure this is a "Biotar" lens from the "B" on it, it has Ten Aperture Blades and they are very hard to move, the focusing ring turns but gets a bit tighter on the extreme ends. The glass is in great condition and from what I can tell is very sharp...It's a M42 mount.
I figured out how to change shutter speeds and at the slower speeds the shutter doesn't seem to close completely, one curtain has wrinkles and that is probably the reason.
The Self-Timer works. The Pressure Plate looks real good.
It also came with the leather case and that is in pretty good shape considering it's age, there is some stitching missing.

It's also marked "Germany USSR Occupied" and it's evident that someone tried to rub the "USSR Occupied" or somehow it got rubbed in that area.

Other than that I haven't found too much on this body...

 

[nikon_sam]

 

[f16sunshine]

It's a re-badged Contax D with a Biotar f2 58mm.
Nice !

Not sure what else is to know.

 

[nikon_sam]

 

[johnf04]

Rick Oleson has a guide to replacing the shutter curtains.

http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-87.html

 

[nikon_sam]

Thanks...that helps...I'm find more things when looking for the Contax D and Pentacon ZI.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

The Contaxes from that line were the first 35mm SLRs with a pentaprism.

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

There were a lot labelled either Pentacon or Contax in that period and they morphed into the Praktica range, eventually. From memory, the maker's name varied and the model version (initials usually) stayed the same.

Have you looked here:- http://www.praktica-collector.de/096b_Hexacon.htm

Regards, David

 

[Vince Lupo]

I love these East German cameras of this era. One cool thing is that the Ernemann tower (on the pentaprism) still exists in Dresden!

 

[Sarcophilus Harrisii]

Well done. That is a later Carl Zeiss Jena Biotar 58mm but as it's not labelled as such, it was probably made after Zeiss Jena lost the rights to use the branding. It's a good performer. I have it in Praktina breech mount and Exakta bayonet and it's a pretty looking thing to boot.

The "Hexacon" badged version is actually quite collectible and normally fetches a premium. They're no better or worse than conventionally badged examples, it's a collector thing.

You should be guided by the instructions for using a Contax D as far as setting the shutter speeds is concerned. The Contax D was a lot more reliable than the original S from what I have read, but it is still important to keep the high/low speed switch in correct sync with the speed selected on the main shutter speed dial. In some cases a correct speed can be selected at either the low or high setting but from memory there are some dial settings that require only one or the other. They have a reputation for being a design that repays careful and sympathetic use.

I have an early type D that is in excellent condition cosmetically, it has only the small "D" on prism front and the original Contax type script (as used on Eg the pre-war rangefinders). There were many small changes over the years in external appearance and also some changes to the specification, meters being added, the appearance of the "Pentacon" models etc.

The late Peter Dechert's Contax monograph is well worth a read for details about some of these points, and there was a thread not too long ago about accessing his pdf publications now that his site has gone offline following his passing. But if you can't find the relevant document, let me know, and I'll arrange a retrieval link for you.
Cheers,
Brett

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

This might help:- http://www.songofsnow.com/Peter-Dechert-Articles-s/156.htm

but I've not got the time to explore more.

Regards, David

 

[Fixcinater]

You may find it has another name ring in front of the Biotar normal name ring, which would unscrew with a bit of pressure (normal thread).

I've run into two Biotars that had this re-labeling.

Nice camera, nice lens, impressive especially considering the age.

 

[peterm1]

The Contaxes from that line were the first 35mm SLRs with a pentaprism.

Yes and I seem to recall that they do not have an auto return mirror - like many early 35mm SLRs that followed.

 

[f16sunshine]

Beautiful looking Biotar BTW. ... Oh envy 😱

 

[nikon_sam]

You may find it has another name ring in front of the Biotar normal name ring, which would unscrew with a bit of pressure (normal thread).

I've run into two Biotars that had this re-labeling.

Nice camera, nice lens, impressive especially considering the age.

WOW...you guys are pretty good...I gave it a go as to removing the front name ring and sure enough there's another plate...
This one reads:
Carl Zeiss Jena Biotar 2/58 4231180

So with this new number it this older than the first number or just older stock...???
The difference is over 530,000

I have it mounted with a Pentax K adapter on my MX...I'm waiting for a M42 to Nikon adapter...
The aperture is stuck wide open for now and I'm looking forward to seeing what this will produce.

 

[nikon_sam]

Beautiful looking Biotar BTW. ... Oh envy 😱

Thanks...this was a Thrift store find a friend told me about...picked it up for $25 US.
I bought it mainly for the name on the lens...I've heard of Carl Zeiss Jena lenses...
The body is kind of cool too but unless it gets repaired it isn't in usable condition.

 

[ColSebastianMoran]

Looks a lot like my Praktina FX, and the lens matches my f/2 Biotar.

 

[f16sunshine]

That lens will be super on a Canon eos dslr or Mirrorless camera (or any M42 mount body with film).
Unfortunately it will not focus in the normal range on a Nikon DSLR.

 

[nikon_sam]

Yes and I seem to recall that they do not have an auto return mirror - like many early 35mm SLRs that followed.

You're right the mirror doesn't return automatically...only when you wind on the shutter.
I thought it wasn't working right at first...
It also appears to have shutter speeds in between marked shutter speed.

 

[nikon_sam]

That lens will be super on a Canon eos dslr or Mirrorless camera (or any M42 mount body with film).
Unfortunately it will not focus in the normal range on a Nikon DSLR.

It mounts perfectly flush on the MX and focuses to infinity...
I'm willing to see what it will do on the Nikon even if it doesn't focus to infinity...