Kontax IV imminent ?

[dee]

Mike Haley [ napchop@gmail.com ] from Kiev who arranges restoration of USSR cameras is sending my Contax IV through a friend visiting UK .

It's a Contax III body with eary 1958 Kiev 4 meter and controls , one of the rare models with a meter cover without strengthening ridges .

I never wanted a Contax IIIa , but this is my version LOL .

It was to have charcoal leather covering but Mike found some 1950s Kiev black leather which is semi-matt with great texture which will match my Kontax II .
[ see avatar ]

This will complete my ' set ' of Contax style profiles - but all with the original body shape etc .

 

[Doug]

Dee, congratulations on the forthcoming hybrid Contax! In addition to being visually attractive, the Contax (and Nikon) RF cameras seem to ascribe to an older mechanical design aesthetic. One in which the mechanical workings and moving parts are more exposed on the outside. The focus wheel, for instance, and the fully rotating lens, etc.

This harks back to the late 1800's and early 1900's, seems to me. Consider a Luger P.08 pistol with lots of mechanical bits exposed vs a modern pistol like Glock. The Eiffel Tower exposes all its structure, and I'm recalling an old UK exhibition hall too, vs modern buildings with exterior non-structural curtain walls. And steam locomotives, where the moving parts are all on the outside. Possibly done to ease frequent service like lubing, adjustment and repair?

Dee, do you like steam locomotives too? 🙂