New to the Contax IIa

[farlymac]

I have had this camera for some time now, and am just getting around to using it. I had some misconceptions about the operation of the camera, and that put me off. And I thought it was broken, so that delayed my using it. Then the first roll of film I ran through it, I used a meter that was not accurate at all, and lost half the shots. The rest I had to Photoshop the heck out of them to salvage what I could.

So the other day I loaded up some 100TMX, mounted a better meter, and off I went to have some quality time with my IIa. It is somewhat messed up, as the film counter spins and stops where it wants to, but that is a minor aggravation to put up with for now. It would be better if I could remember what the frame count is. I picked a great day for sky detail, only it was about twenty degrees F cooler than I would have liked, but with a yellow filter, and some pockets to warm my fingers every once in a while, I was able to get some decent pictures.


00170037_2 by br1078phot, on Flickr


00170017_2 by br1078phot, on Flickr


00170028_1 by br1078phot, on Flickr

Did I do good?

PF

 

[David Charlwood]

Well done! What lens did you use?😀

 

[skymay1314]

Good pic//// is 35 biogon ?
^^

 

[farlymac]

Thanks guys. Lens used is the 2/50 Sonnar Opton. Would love to have the Biogon, but looks like my next purchase will be a Jupiter-12. And even that is low on the list of priorities. But I'm starting to like this camera.

PF

 

[tic]

Sorry, but the jupiter-12 only fits the pre-war contax models without the "a". If you want 35mm you needthe expensive post-war carl zeiss or zeiss-opton redesigned biogon 35/2.8. All the other jupiters are ok though....

 

[furcafe]

Yes, this is correct. The rear element on the Jupiter-12 is so large that it would push against the shutter curtains on a IIa or IIIa.

You might be able to get Nikon's excellent 3.5cm/2.5 W-Nikkor in Nikon RF mount for cheaper than the CZ or Z-O Biogon (or the relatively rare CZJ 35/2.8 Biometar).

Sorry, but the jupiter-12 only fits the pre-war contax models without the "a". If you want 35mm you needthe expensive post-war carl zeiss or zeiss-opton redesigned biogon 35/2.8. All the other jupiters are ok though....

 

[farlymac]

Yes, this is correct. The rear element on the Jupiter-12 is so large that it would push against the shutter curtains on a IIa or IIIa.

You might be able to get Nikon's excellent 3.5cm/2.5 W-Nikkor in Nikon RF mount for cheaper than the CZ or Z-O Biogon (or the relatively rare CZJ 35/2.8 Biometar).

Relative being a subjective term here. Glad you guys warned me off the Jup-12. Seems like everytime something goes right with this camera, something goes wrong. I purchased an 85/135 finder a while back that was in really good shape, and it was a deal. Then I got the 440 turret finder next, and it has turned into a turkey. The prism is getting clouded up due to the glue getting old, and this morning I was looking at it to see if I could use it anyway, and it came apart. I must not have locked down the set screw in the head of the main screw. Then after getting three push-on filters in a box of stuff (basically free), I bought a push-on hood and a Series VI adapter. After using a couple other cameras with push-on filters, I've decided that was not the route to go, and wound up getting two sets of screw-ons to make one complete set. So the adapter and push-ons are just sitting around now gathering dust.

Thanks again for the info, and I'll keep looking.

PF

 

[Vics]

Wonderful pictures. I was going to say that you should shoot closer distances, on the grounds that 35mm film just doesn't resolve distant details very well, but the 3rd picture proved me at least superficially wrong. Stay with the Sonnar lens for a while. Learn the camera as it is. Start moving in closer, and try some pictures of friends and family. This is a great camera/lens for portraits. I love my Dad's old IIIa and 50 Sonnar 1.5. Good work!
I agree with furcafe that the w-Nikkor 35/2.5 is a good lens on the contax, and I have and use that lens on mine, but it's VERY contrasty, and as such, you might find the Biogon a good choice. But I still caution- wait til you've lived with the IIa for awhile.

 

[bobby_novatron]

Good that you kept persevering with your IIa -- they're great cameras. I really love mine.

Keep posting your results! 🙂

 

[ZeissFan]

The IIa is well made, and it's a camera that I really like. If you're patient, you will eventually find a postwar Biogon for a good price.

The postwar f/2 50mm Sonnar is an excellent all-purpose lens.

The f/4.0 135mm Sonnar is underrated and very sharp. I've used it for portraits and have been very pleased with the results.

 

[Highway 61]

The rear element on the Jupiter-12 is so large that it would push against the shutter curtains on a IIa or IIIa.

This is something commonly read on the Internet but actually the shutter curtains wouldn't be touched by the rear element of the Jupiter-12 or the prewar Biogon.

That lens just doesn't mount on the Contax IIa and IIIa cameras because of the camera casting shoulder (for the second curtain to have room enough to enroll when the shutter is cocked) just above the lens chamber.

So the culprit for the Jupiter-12 or prewar Biogon not to mount on the postwar Contaxes isn't the shutter curtains enhanced thickness, but the general downsizing of the camera body.

 

[furcafe]

I stand corrected. Darn lying internet! 😉

This is something commonly read on the Internet but actually the shutter curtains wouldn't be touched by the rear element of the Jupiter-12 or the prewar Biogon.

That lens just doesn't mount on the Contax IIa and IIIa cameras because of the camera casting shoulder (for the second curtain to have room enough to enroll when the shutter is cocked) just above the lens chamber.

So the culprit for the Jupiter-12 or prewar Biogon not to mount on the postwar Contaxes isn't the shutter curtains enhanced thickness, but the general downsizing of the camera body.

 

[farlymac]

Well, I'll keep at it, and get some more practice with the IIa. I remember when I first saw the photo that the seller displayed, that is was the most beautiful camera I had ever seen, and I've seen a lot of them. So it's the post-war (coated) Biogon I'll be after (please don't deluge me with "I've got one for sale" PM's, as I have a budget to live by). Then to get my 440 finder fixed. This has been a great set of informative posts, and I really appreciate the support.

PF

 

[farlymac]

Wonderful pictures. I was going to say that you should shoot closer distances, on the grounds that 35mm film just doesn't resolve distant details very well, but the 3rd picture proved me at least superficially wrong.

It's what I am liking about 100TMX, the detail one can get with a proper exposure, and light filtering.

PF

 

[gdmcclintock]

The CV SC Skopar 35/2.5 is a nice modern lens for the IIa. Voigtlander made other focal lengths as well. They are discontinued but CameraQuest and Photo Village probably still have some in stock.

 

[David Murphy]

The CV SC Skopar 35/2.5 is a nice modern lens for the IIa. Voigtlander made other focal lengths as well. They are discontinued but CameraQuest and Photo Village probably still have some in stock.

The Skopar is a good option for a wide on the Contax. The used price seems to be $250-$350 when they are found on eBay or here, which is reasonable for a modern rangefinder lens of this quality. It's a superior lens optically to the J12, although the J12 is a real bargain for the money.

 

[David Murphy]

farlymac those are nice shots - I like the composition and contast in them. Your Sonnar is really excllent.

 

[farlymac]

Thanks Dave, I like that lens too. I have found that you can get a simulated wide-angle look by using the native size ratio of the negative, instead of the usual 8x10 crop. And some of the lens connoisseurs around here would cringe if they had a look at my Sonnar up close. Let's just say it's not the most pristine example out there. Like me, since we are both about the same age.

PF

 

[MISH]

The CV SC Skopar 35/2.5 is a nice modern lens for the IIa. Voigtlander made other focal lengths as well. They are discontinued but CameraQuest and Photo Village probably still have some in stock.

check out the 28 and 35 I have in the classifieds 😱

 

[farlymac]

As an update, I received yesterday a copy of 'The Contax Way', 1956 Second Edition by H. Freytag, translated into English, printed by Focal Press. It came all the way from the UK via Royal Air Mail, and I highly recommend that you get a copy if you can find one. I have many photography books, but this is the best camera book I have ever gotten. It covers all the models from the Contax 1, through the IIIa, and all the lenses and accessories too. Very concise, clear, and informative, and small enough to carry in a camera bag, even though it is hard bound. But I think I will keep mine in the library at home, so it doesn't get ruined. Read about a quarter of it last night when I went to bed, and hope to finish it by the end of the week.

PF