Zeiss Contax Rangefinders by Jim Lager

[CameraQuest]

Contax I with 5cm f/1.5 Sonnar

Contax I with 13.5 cm f/4 Sonnar and folding Albada viewfinder

Contax I with 2.8cm Tessar and Universal Viewfinder 28 to 1.5

Contax I case with 5cm 1.5 Sonnar

 

[CameraQuest]

Contax II / III Rangefinder

Transition Contax I and Contax II brochure
Even then the Contax I had a reputation for unreliability. It took some time to sell out of the Contax I.

For its time the Contax III was a technological wonder with its built in exposure meter.
Long past its time, today the meterless Contax II is preferred.

Zeiss Contax II has much better lenses than it smaller Leica III competitor, especially the super fast 50/1.5, 50/2, 85/2 Sonnars and the 35/2.8 Biogon. All were uncoated.

The chrome 18cm f/4 Tessar for the Contax II / III. An earlier black version was made for the Contax I.

40mm viewfinder for the rare chrome 4cm f/2 Biotar

Contax II / III 2.8cm to 18cm universal finder

3.5m f/4.5 Orthometer lens

waistlevel and standard 3.5cm viewfinder

multiple brightline viewfinder

85 and 135 viewfinder mask for Contax II

unusual multiple viewfinder for 50, 85, 135 and 180 lenses

Contameter 1343 for closeups.

 

[CameraQuest]

Contax IIa IIIA Rangefinder

 

[Doug]

Contax IIIa with maroon Contax SLR strap and Heavystar vented hood on 1,5/50mm Zeiss-Opton Sonnar
In 2006 Camera had a CLA with repairs by Steve Serota / Camera Care including new selenium meter cell.

 

[CameraQuest]

bump for those who did not notice this thread

 

[Erik van Straten]

I did not know that Jim was interested in ... Contaxes??!!?? Does he like this one too?


Erik.

 

[Erik van Straten]

This one I bought from Ives Mascence, former director of Leica France. My only Contax I that works for 100%.


Erik.

 

[Erik van Straten]

Shot with a Contax I and a Nikkor 50mm f/2 lens.


Erik.

 

[charjohncarter]

Wow, what great technology for the time. They were way ahead of everybody, maybe even Leica.

 

[Mr_Flibble]

Contax I , Version 5 and Version 4 respectively (according to Kuc's definitions)

With the Contax II, they definitely gave Leica a run for their money in the late 30s and early 40s.

 

[Erik van Straten]

Nowadays the Contax I is above all a feast for the hobby-repairman.


Erik.

 

[Jim Lager]

Greetings Erik, yes, the Contaxes have always been interesting to me. The Zeiss glass is
very fine. As a researcher I have most interest in the reflex housings Panflex, Flektoskop, and Flecktometer. Who is the current specialist on these elusive devices? The long Zeiss optics are so rare that it is an event when one comes into the market. 180,300,and 500mm for the reflex housings. Thanks, Jim Lager.

 

[Erik van Straten]

Thank you, Jim.


Yes, apart from the optics the prewar Zeiss camera technology was also the springboard for the Nikon and Kiev designers, so of great interest anyway.


Erik.

 

[Mr_Flibble]

Too many?

 

[Erik van Straten]

Too many?

I've never seen a Contax I type A in the flesh, did you, Rick?


Erik.

 

[Dralowid]

I've never seen a Contax I type A in the flesh, did you, Rick?


Erik.

Erik,

Do you mean the one with no slow speeds and the black ring on the speed dial (see bottom left) or something before it?

IMG_2881 by dralowid, on Flickr

 

[Mr_Flibble]

I don't recall I've ever seen a dimpled contax I ever.

 

[Erik van Straten]

Do you have the book by Kuc? "Auf den Spuren der Contax" band 1?

The dimple camera is version 2 in this book. Before that one there was a model 1.


Erik.

 

[Mr_Flibble]

I do have the book (since earlier this month) I don't think I've ever seen anything older than a version 4 in real life.

 

[Erik van Straten]

I do have the book (since earlier this month) I don't think I've ever seen anything older than a version 4 in real life.

Yes, I have a 4 too, my best Contax I in fact. All times work. It even has a flash synch.


Erik.