Introduce Myself

[Honu-Hugger]

Hello Listmembers,
Fortunately, I came across this list from a referral on the Nikon MF site. I have a small collection of Contax cameras (I, II, and IIa) that I consider my main rangefinders. I also shoot with a Super Ikonta and a Rollei 35SE, although technically not a rangefinder.

I bought my first Contax about five years ago and had the good fortune to stumble upon the fine technical work of Henry Scherer to overhaul the camera. Since that first pleasant experience everything I buy goes to Henry first and I have yet to be anything but extremely pleased with his service, it is a business relationship that I treasure as much as a friendship.

A turning point for me occurred a few years back when I was preparing to leave on vacation and was packing the usual three Pelican cases with Nikon SLR and Rollei MF gear. The night before we left I just thought it through and decided it was crazy to lug all this gear around. At that point I actually had to look for a small camera bag and threw together a Contax IIa with a 21mm, another with a 50/1.5, took a lightmeter, a monopod, and a few filter, etc. and off I went. That vacation really cemented the worth of the Contax cameras into my consciousness -- I never felt that I missed a shot and in fact I may have taken some that I wouldn't have, just because it was so easy to travel with. I've been very committed to really using the cameras a lot since that experience.

I look forward to being a member on this list and hope to have worthwhile contributions from time to time. Thank you for having me as a member (I also think of Groucho Marx's comment when I write that).

Cheers,


Doug

 

[back alley]

...cause i wouldn't want to be a member of a club that would have me as a member...

welcome to the forum doug.

we have some contax users here so you are not alone.

joe

 

[peter_n]

Welcome Doug from another newbie. One of the great things about this forum is that the members are not fanatics about a particular brand of camera or lens. Really refreshing!!

You will like it here. 🙂

 

[jdos2]

Welcome!

What Joe and Peter said.

This has to be one of the most respectful forums with which I've had the pleasure to be a part.

Here, it is very much, the more you offer or ask, the more there is for everyone.

JD

 

[rover]

Welcome Doug from another newbie. One of the great things about this forum is that the members are not fanatics about a particular brand of camera or lens. Really refreshing!!

You will like it here. 🙂

I am a fanatic, I want a Contax IIa something baaaaad.

Welcome Doug.😎

 

[peter_n]

Yeah but do you think (and truly believe) that the Contax body is totally superior to every other camera body that has ever been made, and that Zeiss glass has the sharpest resolution, the best bokeh, the smoothest focusing, and the least flare of any other brand lens in creation?

And if someone has the temerity to disagree, do you then deliver a stream of invective to that unfortunate individual?

I have to say I haven't seen that kind of behavior on this forum in the (short) time I've been here, TG. 🙂

 

[rover]

Well ummm, I don't know.

But it is really really pretty.

 

[back alley]

yes rover it is very pretty and as soon as i win the lotto i'm gonna buy one too!

and peter, i hope we never see that kind of situation here and i hope i never have to deal with it either.
this is a great place with damn nice people!

joe

 

[Biber]

Welcome. 🙂

Rover: 😀

 

[peter_n]

Well ummm, I don't know.

But it is really really pretty.

🙂

yes rover it is very pretty and as soon as i win the lotto i'm gonna buy one too!

and peter, i hope we never see that kind of situation here and i hope i never have to deal with it either.
this is a great place with damn nice people!

joe

Agreed, Joe. But as I'm sure you know it does happen on one or two forums that are brand specific. This is a great place to hang out, as I'm sure Doug will find out for himself! 😀

 

[Sonnar Brian]

"Zeiss glass has the sharpest resolution, the best bokeh, the smoothest focusing, and the least flare of any other brand lens in creation?"

I have a Contax IIIa; even the meter is accurate. With my glasses I have a hard time with the "smallish" finder. The Nikon RF's with the 1x and Leica M3 with the 0.91x are easier for me to focus.

So I modified one of my Nikon S2's by changing out the helical Shims to accommodate the 52.3mm Focal Length.That Zeiss Sonnar Opton 5cm f1.5 of mine does pretty good.

Sonnar 5cm F1.5 on Nikon S2.

 

[Peter]

Hello Doug and welcome to the RF family! 🙂

 

[Honu-Hugger]

Thank you everyone for extending such a warm welcome. It seems very nice to be in the company of other RF users without a lot of empahasis being place on what is being used.

I mentioned using the old Contax cameras by way of introduction, but I would never proclaim them to be better than this or that -- I bought them for the very worst reason: my entire family (grandfather, father, and brothers) shoots with Leica! Remember the old Janis Joplin song? "Oh Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz? My friends all drive Porsches, I must make amends..." There was no way I was going to buy a Leica -- I haven't matured that much yet!

Seriously, I just like to pick something and get to know it well. I'm grateful that the Contax's feel very intuitive now and that's a nice feeling to have with any peice of equipment. Within this short time I have already seen some very beautiful shots on this site: Brian's above, the ones with the signatures to the side and others. Thank you once again to everyone!

Warm regards,

Doug

 

[peter_n]

I mentioned using the old Contax cameras by way of introduction, but I would never proclaim them to be better than this or that...

Doug, that's exactly the philosophy here, so you'll be right at home. 🙂

I was actually only using Contax as an example because that's the brand we were talking about. But since you mention it, the forums I was actually talking about are Leica forums... 😱

 

[Wayne R. Scott]

Welcome,

I'm glad to see another Contax user. I have some that must vistit Henry. I was feeling like a 2nd class citizen 'cause I don't own a Lecia. (Just kidding of course)

Wayne

 

[Wayne R. Scott]

Ok,

Here is a Contax photo that I was trying to add to my post.

Wayne

 

[Honu-Hugger]

Wayne,
What a beautiful little girl and a lovely picture! It is just so perfect, really nicely done. Hard to argue with the color, sharpness and contrast -- the lens seems to compare quite favorably with anything produced in this century, doesn't it?

I stepped away for about ten minutes and I just keep going back to your photo to have another look. It is such a nice shot -- okay, I'll leave it at that or otherwise you might begin to doubt my sincerity if I keep carrying on! Thank you for posting it.

Doug

 

[Pherdinand]

The Contax IS truly superior to everything else!
(I heard so! But i'm happy with my yashica GSN 😉 )

 

[Bubba]

Welcome Doug. I am an absolute newbee to the world of rangefinders and am loving it. The people on this forum are really super. I haven't read a single disparaging comment here. There is even proof that people can disagree and still be civil and cordial. I don't know anything about the Contax cameras, but my new Bessa R is a blast to use. My poor Canon SLR is collecting dust. I don't even have a roll of film in it. That has never happened before.

Bubba

 

[peter_n]

Bubba, same with my Nikon SLR. 🙂 When I got my first rangfinder a year ago I promised myself that I would never sell my F3hp. Now I am beginning to weaken, what's the point of the camera sitting there collecting dust?

The one good thing is that I've got my youngest kid started on photography with a Nikon FM2, so she can have my 3 Nikkors...