My dad wants a zeiss. Which one?

[68degrees]

My dad got his tax return back and has always wanted a zeiss camera. Is there any zeiss that he should NOT get, ones to avoid? Also he doesnt want a bellows kind. Other than that, not too specific and Im not familiar with zeiss. Please advise. It will be a shooter and should make nice pictures. He is used to shooting a kodak retinaIIc which is amazingly sharp and right on. Thanks

 

[kbg32]

Something like a Zeiss Contina?

 

[68degrees]

that one is scale focus , he wants one that he can manually focus. are their slrs any good? 1950s maybe since thats his era

 

[Vics]

Zeiss Ikon Contax IIa, if you can find one that works properly is a great camera. I have a IIIa, but the meter is big, heavy and useless.
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl...IYzBiwK-moHwCg&sqi=2&ved=0CDYQ9QEwAQ&dur=3288
Also, the Sonnar 50/1.5 is amazing!

 

[jimcon11]

I would strongly recommend a Contax IIa and 50mm sonnar unless he needs especially precise framing. I sold mine and kept my Leica M2 (mainly because of the better viewfinder) but often regret it as the IIa was such a fun camera.

 

[jimcon11]

Vics beat me to it!

 

[Bingley]

Is he specifically looking for a vintage Zeiss camera? What about a Zeiss Ikon ZM (made by Cosina in Japan)?

 

[raid]

A very clean Contax IIa with a very clean Sonnar 50/1.5 would be a super set.

 

[68degrees]

what do you think of the Contaflex SLR? All my reading says the lens is very sharp better than the schneider componon on the retina. Can anyone confirm? Are there some contaflexes to avoid?

 

[ZeissFan]

The camera maker was Zeiss Ikon, while the lens maker is Carl Zeiss. Not the same thing.

Among SLRs, there were several choices. Nearly all of them should be serviced to some degree:

- Contaflex: These were for amateurs. None have rapid-return mirrors. The earliest models have fixed Tessar lenses, while later models offered interchangeable front elements for wide-angle and telephoto. These run from $10 to $150.

- Contarex: A costly SLR that often will cost $500 or more for a body plus lens - usually the f/2.0 50mm Planar. There was a full range of Carl Zeiss lenses and accessories available. The bodies tend to be large and heavy. The most popular and least-expensive model is the so-called Bullseye or Cyclops model with a selenium meter cell above the lens. All Contarex cameras had open-aperture metering and rapid-return mirrors, although it's not unusual for the meters not to work in the Bullseye models.

- Zeiss Ikon SL 706: This is based on the Voigtlander Icarex and was the only camera from Zeiss Ikon to not have a name but its internal product number, if you believe what you read on the Internet. This has an M42 mount and is very sturdy and identical to the Icarex 35 TM. The viewfinder is not interchangeable. The lens you usually see is the f/2.8 50mm Tessar, and it's an excellent lens. This camera returned one last time as the Rolleiflex SL35 M/Voigtlander VSL-1. The Zeiss Ikon SL 706 is somewhat uncommon (not rare) and will cost you about $200-$400.

Each of the three cameras above are very different from each other.

Because your dad wants a camera to use, you should factor in the cost of service. The SL 706 will be the one that should need the least service. The Contarex will cost the most to service. The Contaflex is the smallest of all of these. All are heavy and very sturdy.

There also are very early Contax/Pentacon cameras from East German Zeiss Ikon, but that in itself is a story. They are M42 mount. Some work. Some don't.

As always, when viewing eBay auctions and Craigslist items, a camera is not "mint" if it doesn't work correctly.

 

[68degrees]

Ok thanks for that. what are magazine backs?

 

[thegman]

Depends on the desire for modernity or something more classic. The Zeiss Ikon ZM is a great camera, highly usable and pleasant to behold. The only other Zeiss I've used in the Super Ikonta III, which I think is great, but if you don't want bellows, it's not the right choice.

 

[Vince Lupo]

I also would vote for the Contax IIa -- really easy to focus, nice build quality, relatively inexpensive. Like others have mentioned, however, you may need to get it serviced to make sure that everything is freshly lubed and adjusted.

You asked a question about 'magazine backs'. The Contarex offered interchangeable film backs with dark slides, so theoretically you could have one magazine back loaded with black and white film, and then have a spare magazine back with colour film. Push the dark slide in, remove one back, attach the other back, pull the dark slide, away you go. I say 'theoretically' because I'm sure most of them have light leaks along the bottom slot where the dark slide fits, so I personally wouldn't bother with them. I learned from experience.

 

[KoNickon]

If he wants the feel of a true classic, and an all-time great lens, definitely the IIa "color dial" (faster shutter speeds are marked in red and yellow paint; features a modern flash connection) with the Sonnar 50/1.5. Need to be sure it's in good working shape, though.

I'd stay away from ZI SLRs. Nice cameras, but as Mike (ZeissFan) points out, they have their issues. By the way, click the link to his website at the bottom of his post; a lot of great info about Zeiss Ikon camera models there.

 

[68degrees]

He got a Contaflex II and the meter works perfect, everything perfect. What a gem. Hes delighted. Thanks for all the input fellas.

 

[Contarama]

Every Contaflex I have owned has been a first rate camera...excellent sharp photos...extremely easy to use.

 

[David Hughes]

The Contax II is a nice camera but when the shutter tapes go you'll find it will be a pita to get repaired. A lot of people hate working on them...

If he started photography at (say) 18 years old, I'd go search for something of that period. It may be what he was after then and now it can be afforded.

Regards, David

 

[BW400CN]

Ok it isn´t a rangefinder but a very nice shooter and can be found very cheap


Contaflex von BW400CN auf Flickr

a Zeiss Ikon Contaflex Super

Or a Contina III with a uncoupled RF and changeable lenses?


Zeiss Ikon Contina von BW400CN auf Flickr

I woudn´t recommend a Contarex.
It´s a great camera for sure - but there are very few good ones out there and the repir will cost a furtune!

 

[68degrees]

The Contax II is a nice camera but when the shutter tapes go you'll find it will be a pita to get repaired. A lot of people hate working on them...

If he started photography at (say) 18 years old, I'd go search for something of that period. It may be what he was after then and now it can be afforded.

Regards, David

I think he was 16 in 1953 which I believe is when that Camera came out. He loves it. What are these shutter tapes you speak of? I thought it was a leaf type shutter.

 

[BW400CN]

I think he was 16 in 1953 which I believe is when that Camera came out. He loves it. What are these shutter tapes you speak of? I thought it was a leaf type shutter.

the Contaflex you bought is a leafshutter, but the contax has a vertical metal segment curtain shutter. These segments are conected with the shutter stripes and over the years they wear out and break.

I have a Kiev @ home which is a Contax copy with this problem.