Thinking about real Contax...(kinda long post)

I just got an Argus C-3 Brick and it's really scary how much it looks like a fixed lens Contax I... 😱

William
 
Probably. It's a heavy enough sucker. And that shutter lever is a royal pain in the patootie...

William
 
Contaxes

Contaxes

I have to say that I prefer the prewar Contax to the postwar. My first RF, which I still have, was a 1936 Contax II. It handles well, feels terrific in your hand and is Leica quiet. It has a great Sonnar 1.5. I used to shoot "available light" before they called it that using ASA 10 Kodachrome! Thought I was home free if the shutter speed was 1/10 or faster. I got a Contax IIIa from the PX in Korea after the truce and it was OK, but noisier and not so "handy". My M3 is due back from DAG this week, where is the best place to send a Contax?
 
clarkmac said:
I have to say that I prefer the prewar Contax to the postwar. My first RF, which I still have, was a 1936 Contax II. It handles well, feels terrific in your hand and is Leica quiet. It has a great Sonnar 1.5. I used to shoot "available light" before they called it that using ASA 10 Kodachrome! Thought I was home free if the shutter speed was 1/10 or faster. I got a Contax IIIa from the PX in Korea after the truce and it was OK, but noisier and not so "handy". My M3 is due back from DAG this week, where is the best place to send a Contax?
Click to expand...
Henry Scherer, zeiss-camera.com or something like that (thought I had it marked 😱).
 
What is a good price for 35/2.8 opton, 50/2, 50/1.5? I have seen Kiven's webpage sell for $250-300 for 50/1.5. Is 50/1.5 much better than 50/2? how about 85/2 Nikon for Contax? thanks
BTW anyone have 50/1.5 to part off?
 
I have bought a coated CZ 50/1.5 (brass) for 99 bucks. But it was heavily busted, the lens retaining ring suffered serious damage. Yhe glass itself is in very good shape and everything seems to work perfectly, so it's a "user" lens. Alas, have no contax anymore so i use it on a kiev.
 
I paid $350 for a mint condition chrome 85/2 with the two-part shade, caps, and case. That was at a photo-rama show. The deal you were offered for the Black version is very good; it is much more rare than mine. Both, however take the same picture and the chrome one "feels" more substantial.

I think 250~300 is high for the 5cm F1.5 Zeiss-Opton, but it is the one to get. $200 would be a better price. The out-of-focus (Bokeh) is smoother than the Nikkor 5cm F1.4. I am not parting with mine.
 
The 35/2.8 postwar lens prices have risen steeply in the last year. Often, they are getting nearly as high as the 21/4.5 prices, which have seemed to come down recently.
 
Biogon For sale

Biogon For sale

Dan Chang said:
What is a good price for 35/2.8 opton, 50/2, 50/1.5? I have seen Kiven's webpage sell for $250-300 for 50/1.5. Is 50/1.5 much better than 50/2? how about 85/2 Nikon for Contax? thanks
BTW anyone have 50/1.5 to part off?
Click to expand...

Dan,

I have a 35/2.8 post-war coated Biogon for sale. It was servoced by Henry last year and is in stunningly good condition. Take a look in the classified section for 35mm if you are interested.

Robert
 
rbiemer said:
Background and then some questions:
I am a big FSU camera fan. I own, umm, 7(and one more on the way) of 'em.
Last week I considered buying a fake black "contax" from the bay but several things about the auction--and some good advice from fellow RFF folks--helped me to resist.
BUT
I'm hoping some of you fine people can help me narrow the field abit.
My questions:
1st- Can anybody suggest a web site with some history and pictures of the different iterations of the Contax?
:
Click to expand...

This site has information and pictures
http://www.cameraquest.com/zconrf2.htm

Dick
 
I've seen two 21/4.5 Biogons going for about $500 on ebay this month, one of them with a IIIA CD AND A SONNAR 50/1.5 attached. Unbelievable deals if the price goes back up.

I have a 35/2.8 Biogon on loan right now, and while its nice, I just don't see myself spending that kind of cash on one, though I would love to buy this lens and make it part of my permanent collection. Anyone ever try the new CV 35 lens in Contax mount? (or Leica as I presume its the same)
 
Here's my homage to the Contax

I probably should update the prices on the lens page. As Mike noted, the 35mm Biogon has risen, while the 21mm Biogon has dropped.

The 85mm Triotar and the 135mm Sonnar are both excellent lenses and probably represent the bargains in the postwar lenses. The postwar f/2.0 Sonnar also is quite good.

The only downside of the prewar collapsible Sonnar is in finding one whose front element isn't scratched to hell and back.
 
I see no reason to believe this perceived "drop" in 21mm f/4.5 Biogon prices is nothing more than a brief anomaly, not a trend. Nothing in the market has changed except more buyers have entered which will continue to move prices up. I would look at the recent increase in 35mm Biogon prices more as a sure sign that 21mm prices will continue to hold their value and most likely increase. Many users will want to find a 21mm after they have become accustomed to their 35mm. If I would have seen the $500 21mm Biogon's they would have had my name on them (or at least would have sold for a higher price). 😀
 
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