Show Off Your Contax

[FrankS]

Hi Robert, I can't remember exactly, but I'm thinking it was about 1 year, perhaps a few months more. Why ask about #7? I got the Contaxes back from HS a few weeks ago. One of them is in the background of this shot of my new Contax II that Mike Elek is going to cla for me.

 

[David Murphy]

Contax IIa with 2.8cm F8 Tessar

Contax IIa with 2.8cm F8 Tessar

This is my Contax IIa with a somewhat rare 2.8cm F8 Tessar and an Olympus linear polarizing filter. The finder is an Accura Universal Zoom Finder. I think this is what they call a "Black Dial" Contax IIa. It's loaded up with slide film and ready for action!

 

[darkkavenger]

About HS, I'm #55 actually. That will allow me to get a Luigi half case for my pentacon six while i'm waiting 😉

 

[darkkavenger]

OK, while am here, gotta show my user..

Wartime II, aftermarket flash synch on top, Kontur 50mm 1:1 viewfinder, americaneagle hood on Helios-103, Accu-Rapid winder, Luigi soft release, Aki Asahi leather and strap lug attachments 🙂

Eugene, could you indicate me what kind of softrelease model it is ? I've wanted one for some time now, but I didn't knew they'd also mount on the Kiev/Contax cameras!

Cheers, Max

 

[varjag]

Eugene, could you indicate me what kind of softrelease model it is ? I've wanted one for some time now, but I didn't knew they'd also mount on the Kiev/Contax cameras!

Max, the softrelease came from Luigi of leicatime.com. He has concave (the one I ordered) and convex versions, in black and in polished steel finish. The things are made of steel and feel substantial. It does make release softer, although this particular Contax was fairly smooth to begin with.

 

[David Murphy]

This is my Contax IIa with a somewhat rare 2.8cm F8 Tessar and an Olympus linear polarizing filter. The finder is an Accura Universal Zoom Finder. I think this is what they call a "Black Dial" Contax IIa. It's loaded up with slide film and ready for action!

In another thread I promised to post some pictures take with this 2.8cm F8 Tessar from the 1930's. Here they are. The film is Kodachrome 64 (expired). The place is Pasadena. The body the Contax IIa.

The attached photos are all unprocessed except for cropping and compressing to jpegs. The scanner was a Minolta Dimage IV.

From left to right, we have a new Electrical Engineering building at Cal Tech, sunset over Arroyo Canyon, St. Elizabeth's Parish Church, fall colors on the Cal Tech Campus, and more Fall Colors at Caltech. These are all landmarks in Pasadena.

Keep in mind that this is an uncoated 4 element lens from the 1930's. When contrast filters are used in image processing programs these start to look like more modern results. I've noticed that uncoated lenses often seem to have that "metallic" look when shooting color -- not sure why. It can be interesting in a retro sort of way. It might be an artifact of chromatic aberration.

 

[David Murphy]

By point of reference, here is the same camera body at Carlsblad Palomar beach with a post-war coated Sonnar 5cm F2. K64 as well. Not surprisingly this is a helluva lot sharper. The coated Sonnar is hard not to adore.

 

[David Murphy]

And finally (hope I am not boring you too much) one of the 2.8cm F8 photos midly sharped and contrast adjusted. I thnk this shows it can actually be a "practical lens" when coupled with modern digital technology! Considering the rarity of wide lenses for Contax mount I think this is an important result.

 

[zuikologist]

By point of reference, here is the same camera body at Carlsblad Palomar beach with a post-war coated Sonnar 5cm F2. K64 as well. Not surprisingly this is a helluva lot sharper. The coated Sonnar is hard not to adore.

Nice combination of lens and film - great result.

 

[Rico]

Thank you, David, for a fascinating presentation. After getting comfortable with the Tessar qualities, I find the Sonnar to be jarringly oversharp!

 

[back alley]

i forgot about this thread, i'll have to shoot some more contax porn.

 

[numnuts]

I put these in the coffee thread yesterday...

 

[Socke]

i forgot about this thread, i'll have to shoot some more contax porn.

Contax Porn? I better get a prophylactic for my baby

 

[Robert Price]

Contax Porn? I better get a prophylactic for my baby

Thats just .....I have no words......

 

[numnuts]

I prefer a protective filter.

 

[Doug]

New and old... but the old "Contax" is phony, truly a Kiev 4a with similarly phony Sonnar.

Shot with a Canon G3

 

[Ash]

Leitz bumps? Does that mean you have vulcanite not leather?

 

[darkkavenger]

After Camera & Coffee™ I humbly propose a Whisky & Contax™ thread. Here I go! 😀

Just kidding... meanwhile, two photos, nothing grand... It's midnight and I've had no time before to compose. I'm not really good at taking gear photos... :angel: 😛

Cheers,
Max (sipping on a few drops of Ballantines)

P.S. : I bought this bottle to celebrate the arrival of the pre-war Contax-III a few months ago. It's the first time I'm drinking from it. And in a low quantity, just to make sweet dreams in a few minutes. :angel:

 

[Doug]

Interesting shots of your Contaxes, Max! Remarkable how much larger the III is than the IIIa...

 

[darkkavenger]

Yes it's interesting, and I just noticed that my IIIa is just slightly taller as my meterless Kiev-2A! That makes the Contax III look like a behemoth... but oh what a lovely behemoth! 😉