Need info on a Contax IIIa

C

ch1

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I found what I'm told is a Contax IIIa at an antiques store. Nameplate says it was made in Stugartt, Germany. Leatherette is still okay although you can feel the backplate rivets - but they haven't "popped through".

The RF seems realtively bright and it has a ZI Sonnar 50mm (5.0cm?), 1.5 lens attached.

I removed the lens and it does appear to have some oil on the blades but the glass is clean. I do not detect any indents when I move through the aperture settings (i.e. it moves very smoothly rather than distinct "clicks") is this normal? The lens may be coated, I couldn't tell for sure.

I opened it up and pressure plate seems clean - I had a "sales guy" hovering over me and no countertop to rest things on so I did "fiddle" with it much. I did note that the take-up spool was not "attached" to the winder so it came off in my hand - is this "normal"?

Obviously, I know next to nothing about Contaxes so any info is appreciated.

Oh, the asking price, with leather case (broken strap) is $150. Does that sound "reasonable" figuring it will at least need a full CLA.?
 
Sounds like the real thing. The COntax IIIa is easy to tell from the Kiev's as the RF window is closer in, and is in general, smaller. $150 is a steal. The lens goes for more.

The lens "should be" a Zeiss Opton Sonnar. A Jena lens may be on it, if so is still more than worth $150.

Check the meter. If the needle does not responde, give it a little "massage". sometimes wiggling it a little cleans the contacts. It did on my IIIa.

My IIIa next to a Nikon S. The IIIa has a new Zeiss-Opton 5cm/1.5, thanks to a trade with Oscar.

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1760
 
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George,
That's a steal; the lens alone is worth more than $150. The smooth aperture operation is normal, they do not use an indent system.
 
The price is a steal. You should get it.

The lens is either Carl Zeiss Jena, Carl Zeiss or Zeiss-Opton Sonnar (rather than Zeiss Ikon). Zeiss Ikon made only cameras -- not lenses. Carl Zeiss made lenses but not cameras.

If the lens is marked in millimeters (50mm), then it's most likely postwar and coated. If it's marked in centimeters (5 cm), then it's likely prewar and uncoated.

And like the others have said, no click stops for apertures.

The film spools aren't permanently set in the body, although some later models had pressure springs to hold the film spool in place. But the film spool is always removable, and when changing film you always have to be careful not to let the film spool fall out of the camera and then bounce down a drain or something like that.

Sounds like typical corrosion buildup under the leather.
 
Okay. By this time I was expecting to see your new Contax IIIa on the camera and coffee thread.

Where is it????
 
Thanks all,

I figured it was a deal (steal?) but thought I consult the experts here first! ;)

I do understand (kinda) the difference b/w Zeiss (lenses) and Contax cameras - forgive my "loose" nomenclature. If it works out, I guess I'll have to get "saavy". I'm almost certain the lens is post-war coated - but the place wasn't well lit. Which was actually a plus because I still saw a nice bright RF patch when I pointed the camera at a florescent light fixture on the ceiling! Oh, and I did see "deflection" on the meter.

Now I have to go back and act "nonchalant" even while I'm drooling over it!
 
Brian Sweeney said:
Okay. By this time I was expecting to see your new Contax IIIa on the camera and coffee thread.

Where is it????
Click to expand...

Brian,

Just saw it at 4PM this afternoon.

The place re-opens at 10AM tomorrow (I asked) - guess where I'll be at that time! :D
 
buy it!

you can sell it after the cla if you decide you don't like it.

contax has a very different feel than leica/canon etc.

they are beautiful machines though.
joe
 
Saw it at 4pm. Posted RFI at 5:03pm. Got confirmation to buy at 5:06pm.

It will still be there. You did not give the address out... And the odds of an RFF'r running across that antique shop are pretty low. After all, Kiu never found the shop that I picked up the two Nikon M's in...
 
Brian Sweeney said:
Saw it at 4pm. Posted RFI at 5:03pm. Got confirmation to buy at 5:06pm.

It will still be there. You did not give the address out... And the odds of an RFF'r running across that antique shop are pretty low. After all, Kiu never found the shop that I picked up the two Nikon M's in...
Click to expand...

Brian,

While not exactly "paranoid" there was a REASON why I didn't mention where I saw it! :D

Oh, I did stop by a few places and shot a couple of pics on my way home before I posted the original query. But just a few!
 
I think I'd be sweating and shivering, unable to sleep and high on caffeine right now... gosh... the pleasure of rubbing the sweet little contax against my cheek!

oh sorry i get emotional!!!
 
Small correction/clarification. In the U.S. after WWII, Contax RFs were often sold w/Carl Zeiss Jena 5cm Sonnars (usually the f/2 version) from what was then E. Germany. I believe the reason for this was that the E. German lenses were easier to obtain, cheaper, enabled camera stores to get around Zeiss Ikon's price maintenance practices (such practices were common among camera manufacturers back then but were later ruled illegal under antitrust law) & sell camera-lens combos for less than the normal minimum price (same reason why some Peerless sold Leicas w/Cooke Amotal 2"/2 Anastigmat lenses originally from Bell & Howell Fotons rather than w/Leitz lenses), & U.S. retailers were less beholden to the W. German Zeiss Foundation's trademark policies in its dispute w/E. German Carl Zeiss Jena company (the W. Germans would eventually triumph in court). These lenses are always coated (marked w/the red "T") & perform just as well as the W. German lenses made in Oberkochen (marked "Zeiss-Opton" or "Carl Zeiss"), but are less mechanically well-made (dull aluminum alloy barrels rather than shiny chromed brass).

ZeissFan said:
If the lens is marked in millimeters (50mm), then it's most likely postwar and coated. If it's marked in centimeters (5 cm), then it's likely prewar and uncoated.
Click to expand...
 
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I got it!

I got it!

Just to follow-up I bought the Contax IIIa this morning. Just shot a few (mainly OOF) digipics.

It's definitely the "real thing". Interestingly, there are a couple of old magazine ads of it on eBay - they were helpful in identifying it as the real McCoy. There is also a e-tailer on eBay trying to flog a "pristine" one for $850! Doubt he'll get it - but makes me feel good that mine only cost $150!
 
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