I like to play stupid, but ...

[pwnewport]

This is the second time that I have seen what looks to be a garden variety Kiev rebranded as some kind of Contax. My question is, f the Kiev works as advertized (mint, EXC+++, etc,) what difference does it make if the name plate has been fiddled with, and WHO's TO SAY if it has been fiddled with at all.

Not me.

And as to the lens. the one in these pics 7595211481 looks so much like the J-8M that it's hard to believe it's any kind of CZ lens. at all.

Then there's the oh, so marketable black finish - and all for $89.

What's with this?

As always, I'd love to hear your thoughts.


Peter

 

[darkkavenger]

I'm sure that's on the 'bay, right? How sad for a Kiev to end rebranded as a Contax. Contaxes are my dream, and Kievs are my reality. I love them both, and I would never want to do anything to my 1956 Kiev-2A so that it "looks" like a Contax. That has to be a thing for posers maybe.

I love my Kiev-2A, it feels solid and reliable, and reminiscent of the Contax... when I snap on my 50/2 collapsible pre-war Sonnar, it almost feels like heaven!

Maybe you should post a link for "ebay faked cams connoisseurs" 🙂

 

[RJBender]

This is the second time that I have seen what looks to be a garden variety Kiev rebranded as some kind of Contax. My question is, f the Kiev works as advertized (mint, EXC+++, etc,) what difference does it make if the name plate has been fiddled with, and WHO's TO SAY if it has been fiddled with at all.

Not me.

And as to the lens. the one in these pics 7595211481 looks so much like the J-8M that it's hard to believe it's any kind of CZ lens. at all.

Then there's the oh, so marketable black finish - and all for $89.

What's with this?

As always, I'd love to hear your thoughts.


Peter

This one?

source: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7595211481

I bought a fake III from Alex Photo last summer. It's ok, but it's not as smooth as my 1954 Kiev III or 1940 Contax III.

Sp's "Contax" doesn't look mint to me. The seller has been using the same photos for all his listings over 6 months. if you want it, you have to pay the seller with a money order.

R.J.

 

[Socke]

But it looks cool in black 🙂

 

[darkkavenger]

I don't find it special at all. The J8M doesn't fools me... and there's nothing like a cute and huggable Contax I 😉

 

[RJBender]

But it looks cool in black 🙂

I agree, Volker. That's why I bought one from Alexphoto last summer. It was $84 plus $15 for shipping from Ukraine.

This is the Black Chrome Contax III with Pre-War Coated 50 mm f2.0 Sonnar shown on Henry Scherer's website:

source:http://www.zeisscamera.com/First.html#cleanlubeadjust

This is a fake:

source: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7595767872

Close enough for a cigar?

R.J.

 

[Doug]

I got one too... Notice how all these fake Sonnars are 50sm focal length, not 50cm? Must all come from the same plant where they keep making the same mistake...

 

[Finder]

They did a great job faking the G1!

Fakes are fun, but the brass NAZI "Leicas" bother me.

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

Notice how all these fake Sonnars are 50sm focal length, not 50cm?

50cm! Wow that's a long lens for a rangefinder. I'd be looking for a 35 to 50mm or so...

 

[darkkavenger]

wow i'll sell my Sonnar 300/4 to get a Sonnar 500/2 😉 I hope it'll mount on my pentacon six!

 

[Finder]

Sonnar 500/2? Where are you going to pick up 252mm UV filters to protect that 10 inch front element?

 

[darkkavenger]

I think i'll have to cut those out of the ISS shuttle windows or something *giggles* 😉

 

[Doug]

50cm! Wow that's a long lens for a rangefinder. I'd be looking for a 35 to 50mm or so...

Geez, how'd I get that zero in there? Don't mind me, just look at the photos. 😀

On the G1, is it any more of a "real Contax" than the black beast behind it? Kind of a trollish question, but I thought it was interesting to show them together. Also a contrast of recent high-tech design vs much earlier.