Why Contax rangefinder cameras are so lovely...

[Philip Whiteman]

First, because they are so beautifully made. I got into them through Kievs - but once bitten by a proper Contax II, there was no going back.

Second, because the the lenses are so good.

Third, because there is so much ingenuity in the accessories - the close-up lenses and dedicated rangefinder, that brilliant 'revolver turret' finder (especially in post-war form).

Fourth, because the II and III are - especially with spares from Kievs etc - infinitely repairable. Yes; replacing those shutter ribbons is something of an amateur surgeon's job - but in my experience doing just that and cleaning and lubricating the rest of the formidably complicated internals results in a 100 per cent functional camera - not something it seems you can say about a IIA or IIIA

And fifth, because that wonderful long-base rangefinder never seems to go out of kilter.

Of course there are disadvantages - but I will save those to another posting...

 

[peterm1]

I love the historical connections too. Robert Capa etc. I had a prewar Contax and really enjoyed using it.

 

[Philip Whiteman]

Yes - and I would love to know where his cameras ended up. I visited the Cornell Capa-founded museum of photography in New York in May this year, where there was a slide-show of Robert's work but no physical artefact on display.

By all accounts he was very attached to his Contaxes and some sources say he used a Nikon rangefinder copy with some reluctance.

I must say that having tried hard to get respectable results from my own Contax II, my respect for the man's abilities has gone through the roof. For all their wonderful quality, they are not terribly quick to operate and boy, are they heavy. But this takes me on to a fresh posting...

 

[Bolo Kukus]

Let's not overlook the Contax G range. This may not sit well with the purists - I believe the Gs were made by Cosina (someone has kindly corrected me on this, by Kyocera, many thanks!) under license to Zeiss - but they are in every way but two as good as the older Contax cameras, and the Zeiss (again licensed) lenses in the 16-90 range are capable of as fine and sharp results as the old Zeisses.

The "but two" are the electronics (not an issue with the older mechanical models) and the limited range of lenses available. 16mm (which costs the earth, the moon and several planets to buy, plus the viewfinder which sells separately for about half the price of the lens) to 90mm (cheap and cheerful, but quirky to use). Sadly, the older Contax lenses cannot be used with the Gs.

So two limitations with the Gs. If one can live with these, Bob's your uncle and with a little care in shooting, your results will be no less than superb.

 

[Doug]

...Let us spare some kind thoughts for the Contax G range. This may not sit well with the purists - I believe the Gs were made by Cosina under license to Zeiss - but they are in every way, but one as good as the older Contax cameras, and the Zeiss (again licensed) lenses in the 16-90 range are capable of as fine and sharp results as the old Zeisses. ...

It was Kyocera (Yashica) that made the wide range of modern-day Contax branded cameras. I have two G2 bodies plus most lenses, and I have very much enjoyed using them. I also have a freshened-up Contax IIIa and f/1.5 Opton Sonnar... A nice kit but I prefer to use the G2!

 

[Mr_Flibble]

Hardest thing I had to do lately, sell one of my Contax II cameras to a friend
I didn't really want to, but he's given me cameras over the last couple of years. And I know he's going to use it way more than I ever do.

I'll just have to content myself with several Contax Is, Contax IIs, a III and a IIa I still have.