Miles.
Beamsplitter
Hello everyone,
It saddens me to share that I believe Henry Scherer, longtime Contax and Zeiss Ikon camera specialist, has passed away.
Henry first mentioned to me in November 2023 that he wasn't feeling well, and would be winding down his services. Soonafter, Henry received a stage 4 lung cancer diagnosis and fully retired sometime in early 2024.
I was in regular contact with him through December 2024, and since then, haven't received any replies from him. After some initial hesitation, I went searching for an obituary, and only found a court record regarding the administering of his estate.
In the past few weeks I've made several attempts to contact his brother, confirm my suspicions, and offer my condolences, but I've been unable to.
I really wanted to wait for an official obituary before posting this but I worry that day might not come.
I am forever grateful for Henry's expertise, candor, and patience with my meandering questions.
In one of my last email exchanges with him, Henry mentioned that he had "found our association to be very pleasant." I couldn't agree more.
Wishing Henry, and all who knew him, a forever-aligned rangefinder patch.
Photo: Henry Scherer, 1963
It saddens me to share that I believe Henry Scherer, longtime Contax and Zeiss Ikon camera specialist, has passed away.
Henry first mentioned to me in November 2023 that he wasn't feeling well, and would be winding down his services. Soonafter, Henry received a stage 4 lung cancer diagnosis and fully retired sometime in early 2024.
I was in regular contact with him through December 2024, and since then, haven't received any replies from him. After some initial hesitation, I went searching for an obituary, and only found a court record regarding the administering of his estate.
In the past few weeks I've made several attempts to contact his brother, confirm my suspicions, and offer my condolences, but I've been unable to.
I really wanted to wait for an official obituary before posting this but I worry that day might not come.
I am forever grateful for Henry's expertise, candor, and patience with my meandering questions.
In one of my last email exchanges with him, Henry mentioned that he had "found our association to be very pleasant." I couldn't agree more.
Wishing Henry, and all who knew him, a forever-aligned rangefinder patch.
Photo: Henry Scherer, 1963
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Freakscene
Obscure member
RIP.
That photo must have been taken shortly after, or around the time my father met Henry at Zeiss. Such a long time.
Thinking of Henry’s family.
That photo must have been taken shortly after, or around the time my father met Henry at Zeiss. Such a long time.
Thinking of Henry’s family.
Joerg
Dilettant
RIP Henry.
All my Contac stuff got serviced by him and he was always pleasant to interact with.
Best
All my Contac stuff got serviced by him and he was always pleasant to interact with.
Best
Duofold RF
Well-known
RIP
After 16 years, my Contax is still at the mid-bottom of the waiting list. Hope someone will pick up his business.
After 16 years, my Contax is still at the mid-bottom of the waiting list. Hope someone will pick up his business.
raid
Dad Photographer
RIP.
KoNickon
Nick Merritt
First off, that's very sad. Never dealt with him but he was The Guy for Contaxes. His website (opinionated, to be sure) was a wealth of information.
Second, though, I don't envy his next of kin sorting out all the unfinished cameras -- though I guess the good news is that he didn't want anyone sending him their equipment until their number came up on the waiting list.
Not sure who's out there to take over his business, though -- not many Zeiss experts out there.
Miles.
Beamsplitter
I'd be surprised if any customer cameras were hanging around when he passed. Henry was very fastidious and had time to prepare.
farlymac
PF McFarland
I would have liked to have met Henry. He inspired me to do my own CLA on a Contaflex II because he made it very clear no one else would. It took me four tries to get it right, but that's because of some hack who got inside it before I did and over torqued a lever spring which I didn't discover until the fourth teardown. His site was a wealth of information about Zeiss in general, which I always enjoy learning about the histories of the great camera companies. I never had to send a camera to him which is too bad because interacting with him would have been interesting, judging by his website (which is still in operation). Peace to you, Henry.
PF
PF
stephen_lumsden
Well-known
Still have the Contax ii I bought from him in 2008. RIP Henry.
dexdog
Veteran
Henry overhauled 5 of my pre-WW2 contax cameras in the 2005 to 2006 timeframe, they still work just fine. I recall his note on my contax 3 where he opined that my camera was likely on display at the 1950 Photokina. He showed me how one of the parts of the meter had been deliberately damaged, and that the shutter ribbons had been cut cleanly, ostensibly to make it less attractive to thieves. Pic is of the part of the meter.
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davidswiss
Established
Sad news. His was the first Contax website that I found when I first became interested in them.
If any of his family see this, my condolences.
If any of his family see this, my condolences.
SSN584
Newbie
This is actually Henry at his fathers’ camera store. I know this because I am his brother. Henry never worked at Zeiss.
SSN584
Newbie
Yes. It is true that Henry died. He had lung cancer. He died on February 10, 2025. I know this because I am his brother.
SSN584
Newbie
Henry had made a referral recommendation to a family owned camera repair business. It is Sendean Cameras. It is located in England. I have spoken to them so I know that they are still in business. I know this because a customer of Henry’s named Tom put me in contact with them. FYI, I am Henry’s brother.
Valkir1987
Well-known
That's sad news. My condolences to his family. He was a very dedicated and fanatic Contax enthusiast and one of the very few who could entirely rebuild it from scratch with new made silk ribbons like the original. I hope someone else continues the trade.
He had some typical opinions (he refused to work on Kiev for example) but he had a clear message about the fact that a Contax works in a different way and can not be serviced without special knowledge and skill. In other words, they need a very different approach than most cameras. and from that I learned a lot of things for which I am grateful.
He had some typical opinions (he refused to work on Kiev for example) but he had a clear message about the fact that a Contax works in a different way and can not be serviced without special knowledge and skill. In other words, they need a very different approach than most cameras. and from that I learned a lot of things for which I am grateful.
Miles.
Beamsplitter
KoNickon
Nick Merritt
Thank you. And my condolences. (And I had to look up SSN584 -- Seadragon? My late father in law was a submariner -- diesel boats -- before going to work building them at Electric Boat. His son, my brother in law, worked at EB his whole career.)
Freakscene
Obscure member
My father told me that Henry did several courses at Zeiss on servicing their cameras. Is this not correct? My father and your brother corresponded over a long period.
I am sorry for your loss and please accept my condolences. Your brother was very important for the community of users of older Zeiss cameras.
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