I have had one of these for about two years. I received only the camera, and the viewfinder was fogged. Henry Scherer wanted $75 to clean the viewfinder. I did it myself in about an hour -- although it requires a semi-extensive disassembly of the camera.
I've since picked up the grip ($100) and the owner's guide (for $3), and I'd really like to find the graduated center-spot filter.
Optically, it's a very interesting camera. There is no focusing involved, as depth of field at f/8 on a 15mm lens is extensive. The photos are very sharp with plenty of contrast.
This camera, more than any other -- including the XPan, is very sensitive to the camera being at a proper angle to get the shot you want. Slightly tilting the camera on the X, Y or Z axes radically alters the perspective. Gives you some wild perspectives, if you're seeking that.
I have a short writeup on this camera on my own site:
http://elekm.net/pages/cameras.html
"Contarex Hologon" under "Zeiss Ikon"
After the demise of Zeiss Ikon, left over lenses were refitted to the Leica M mount. The Distagon is a much more useful lens, as is the Cosina Voigtlander Heliar. Both have variable apertures and the ability to focus, although the need to focus with a 15mm lens probably isn't necessary once you've hit f/5.6.
The Hologon is a fixed f/8 aperture, and you adjust exposure by changing the shutter speed. The Contarex Hologon's shutter maxes out at 1/500, so it is slightly restrictive in what film you can use, especially if you're shooting in daylight or in very low light.
