Lenes for Contax IIIa

[flashover]

I am looking for lenes for my Contax IIIa. I have been told the FSU won't fit. What versions will fit? Are there differances in the Contax lenes also (pre war to post war)? I also posted a WTB ad in the classifed but no response as of yet. Thanks John

 

[FrankS]

John, the Jupiter 12 35mm lens won't fit on the psot war Contaxes. That means you're stuck with buying an expensive Zeiss Biogon or an expensive Nikkor 35 for Contax or Nikon. They are slightly different, (nikkor for Contax and Nikkor for Nikon) but the wide angle will provide enough DOF to eat up the focusing difference. The only other thing you can do, and this would be cheaper, is to buy a Kiev camera to use a J12 on.

The FSU J9, an 85 f2 lens, will fit and focus on your Contax so you won't have to buy the esxpensive Zeiss 85, or you can at least wait until you find a good deal on one.

 

[ErnestoJL]

Both pre war Biogon 35/2.8 and J 12 won´t fit on your Contax IIIa, as the rear lens touches the curtains.
Post war Contaxes are smaller than the prewar types (and/or Kiev) by at least 15%.
Unfortunately, as Frank said, you have to buy the ZI post war Biogon if you want a 35. All other lenses will fit, be it either russian or ZI originals.

Ernesto

 

[wlewisiii]

V/C 35/2.5 SC mount. See if Mr. Gandy still has any. Excellent lens that will fit your IIIa just fine at a fraction of the cost of the alternatives.

William

 

[FrankS]

Yes, I forgot about the new CV offering.

 

[Wayne R. Scott]

John,

There is also a 135mm f4.0 Sonnar both coated and uncoated.

If you have a lot of money there is the Zeiss Biogon 21mm f4.0. Or really a lot of money the Zeiss Topogon 25 f4.0 or the Canon 28mm f3.5 in Contax mount.

Also Cameraquest had some close outs on Voigtlander SC lenses :

http://www.cameraquest.com/nrfVClens.htm

Wayne

 

[flashover]

so the way i understand it is. The J12 will not fit but the others like J8 and J3 will? Also cameraquest has a CV 35 that will fir the IIIa? Thanks John

 

[FrankS]

so the way i understand it is. The J12 will not fit but the others like J8 and J3 will? Also cameraquest has a CV 35 that will fir the IIIa? Thanks John

Yes, in Kiev/Contax mount of course. These lenses are also available in LTM.

There is also a 53mm f1.8 Helios 103 lens (also FSU)

 

[JohnM]

I actually bought a couple of brand-new Helios 103's last month - sharp as heck and good contrast at about $12 brand-spanking new. The build quality and the haptics of the lens are suspect, but again, it cost $12.

I also have a Menopta 1.8/53 that essentially looks like a Helios clone, but with a few small visual differences and a seemingly half-step up in feel and quality. I've never seen another for sale, though.