IIIa dilema

[skeletron]

So my dad gave me his old IIIa he had during the Korean War w/ the Contax 50mm 1.5 (I believe) lens and a 85mm Nikkor lens. The body isn't functional and will need an overhaul. The 50mm lens has a bit of fungus on one of the elements and rust on some of the aperture blades, though the aperture ring turns smoothly. The 85mm Nikkor looks to be a lost cause as it has heavy fungus.

I will be sending it in to have it cleaned up and maybe have the selenium cell replaced and possibly have the 50mm lens refurbished, if possible.

But the problem is, I want a daily shooter. No doubt I will get this camera in full working order, but fidding with it and going through the manual, it doesn't look like a very user-friendly experience. On top of that, there's the heavy sentimental attachment to a camera my dad has had most of his life (though it spent most of its life in a box). Then there's the issue of finding additional lenses and it seems like it's shaping up to be more trouble than its worth.

Plan A would be to get it fixed up and see if Camera Quest still has any of the 25mm or 28mm Voigtlander SC lenses in stock. Use this as my main 35mm film camera. Pro: Cheaper, I get to use the camera Dad used to use. Con: PITA metering, existing 50mm lens might also be a lost cause, afraid of damaging a family heirloom.

Plan B would be to get a Voigtlander w/ whatever lenses I want and put off the IIIa until enough money frees itself up, who knows when that will be. Pro: Easier to use, way more lenses to chose from, no real sentimental attachment. Con: Considerably more expensive.

So what do you folks think? How many of you use this as a day-to-day camera? More importantly, how many shots have you missed due to the uncoupled meter? Or have you found that it's not even a problem?

Thanks.

 

[dexdog]

I never use the onboard meter of the Contax IIIa- I find it easier and faster to use a small meter like a Digisix to meter occasionally, guestimating most of the exposures. This process seems to work quite well for print film.

Day to day user; depends how you take photos. I find the Contax very easy to use, but some folks are put off by the lack of lever film wind (slower for action shots of course). Nice reliable cameras once CLAd, with great glass. Compact, but on the heavy side for their size, but many quality cameras are that way. I think that the biggest impediment to ease of use for these cameras is that you must use auxiliary finders for anything but a 50mm lens.

If you need lenses, replacement Zeiss 50s are pretty cheap, and readily available. If fungus is not too bad, I would have the 50 that you have cleaned. Too bad about the 85mm Nikkor, though- its a beauty.

Lastly, I think that the various Voigtlander SC lenses are very good, and a relative bargain for the quality, but only the wide angles are useful on the Contax because they are constructed to Nikon specifications, and while you could probably do OK with the 50, the 85 could not be focused reliably.

 

[Vics]

I'm just checking in here before I go out for an afternoon of street shooting with MY Dad's old IIIa. Once it's CLA'd (I'm a Henry Scherer fan) the camera will work Like the pro camera it is! I had mine overhauled in '03 and have shot hundreds of rolls with it since without a hitch. I use mine as my walk-around camera with a 35mm w-Nikkor F2.5. GREAT lens and a very compact package. Henry even made the meter work. I say your Dad would want you to use the camera for its designed purpose! Get if over-hauled and make some great pictures!
Vic

 

[BTMarcais]

I'm pretty sure we're talking about a Contax IIIa, not a Leica...

 

[xayraa33]

get the camera and lens refurbished and use it on weekends.
not using these classics is a good way to need a CLA more often.

once the camera is clean and fully operational, learning to use it is a cinch, as easy as driving a model T ;-))

 

[ZeissFan]

Have the camera serviced, and it might be the last time that will need to be serviced in your lifetime.

The Contax IIIa is a fine camera, although I've always felt the meter adds too much weight to the body.

If working, the meter can be surprisingly accurate. And the flip-up door prevents the sky from unduly influencing the meter, depending on the position of the sun, of course.

 

[johank]

I use my grandmothers IIIa as a prime street camera, mostly with 4,5/21 or 2,8/35, a bit heavy but solid and fast. It´s lightmeter don't differ from my Luna six when I compare them. I have however changed to a wider neckstrap than the orginal, yes mine is shorter too.
The winding goes fast, rewinding is another story, but there the double Zeiss Cassettes come in, skip it.
Now is a 60 year old camera operational, definitiv! When I took the camera out of it's almost 40 years sleep I cleaned it and loaded it. First roll was as good as a Zeiss can deliver.
I use mine with a Universal finder, 21-135, works great. The best part is no cells.

 

[shadowfox]

My Contax IIIa's meter is working (just found out recently when I finally figured out how to use it 🙂 ). It was serviced by Eddie Smolov (excellent service, very reasonably priced, no waiting in line).

 

[marcr1230]

This image was taken recently with a Contax IIa and a Nikon 8.5cm lens
They are usable for sure, take a little more time to use than more developed cameras. The Zeiss optics tend to be available and sharp. The cameras are cheap compared to Leica. My first real camera was my Dad's IIa so there is a sentimental attachment (although when I bought a refurbished one and showed him, he had no recollection that he had owned that specific camera)