Contax iia serial numbers

Although sales figures are unknown, apparently sales were not sufficient for Zeiss to invest in updating the Contax, as Zeiss allowed their star Rangefinder to be killed by the new improved features of its competition.

The simplification of the shutter also resulted in fewer parts, and some believe great reliability -- although this is often a point of dispute. Flash Sync added: Black Dial Contax require special Zeiss flash cords for either flash bulbs or electronic flash.

Shutter speed dial moved from the advance knob to a separate and much easier to use shutter dial, concentric to the advance knob. You lift the dial and rotate it to the desired shutter speed, whether the film is advanced or not.

Manually set film counter moved from back of top plate to top of film advance. Magnification reduced to about. Notable improvements on the same basic design were a new smaller body, flash sync, much improved chrome and machining, and some say a more reliable shutter. The IIIa selenium cell is usually dead and the uncoupled to either the shutter or the lenses makes for awkward time consuming use.

Worse, a working IIIa meter is probably not going to be accurate because the selenium cell is slowing losing its response to light. Finding anyone with replacement selenium cells is not easy. Contax had the longest rangefinder base of any of the classic Big Four rangefinder systems Leica, Contax, Nikon, Canon -- translation: the most accurate.

Zeiss also used an expensive optical rangefinder arrangement which could not go out of alignment. Unfortunately, it was not particularly bright and had no built in brightline frames or parallax correction.

Notice the shutter speed dial. The IIa and IIIa separated the shutter speed dial from the advance knob, so it was easier and faster than previous Contax to change shutter speeds. Also notice the red and yellow shutter speeds in the pic, on a "Color Dial" version introduced in Not only do you have to use a special Zeiss plug, you also have to use different connectors for flash bulbs or electronic flash !

They are recognizable by the PC, or by the red colored high speeds shown above. Look closely on the shutter speed dial.

See that little wheel near the shutter speed dial? That's the focusing wheel which allowed focusing of the normals and wide angles with the index finger. Behind the focusing wheel is the infinity lock -- push it down to release the lock. The focusing mount is quite interesting because the focusing helical for the 50mm lenses is built into the body rather than the lens. This design has the benefit of making very small 50mm lenses, but had the disadvantage of what some say is an overly complicated mount.

The inside mount is for 50mm lenses, whiles the outside bayonet is for wides and Teles. In use I don't consider it any more trouble prone than the Leica system, since any focusing mount whether it is in the lens or the body can still tighten up and need re-lubrication. While the Contax shutters are much more complicated than Leica shutters, they about equal in service, with a tradeoff of features.

The post war Contax continued their pre-war shutter tradition, with vertically traveling metal shutter curtains.

On both, slow and inoperative slow speeds are usually the first thing to give trouble. Both shutter designs show the need of a cleaning by inoperative slow speeds. It is not unusual to replace the Leica's cloth shutter curtains -- something that is practically never done with the Contax metal shutter. Professional Quality System 35mm Rangefinder with large system of lenses and accessories.

Superb Mechanical fit and finish, many believe better than even the legendary Leica M3. Body has built in helical for 50mm lenses, wides and Teles use their own focusing helicals. Zeiss aficionados usually insist that Zeiss makes the best lenses While the bodies may have lagged behind their competitors, Contax lenses were absolute world class. Zeiss and Leica lenses have a different look to the shots, the easiest way for you to understand it is to shoot with both yourself.

All post war Contax lenses are coated. The West German lenses have noticeably better workmanship and finish -- and sell for more. All West post war lenses from 21 to have nicely finished chrome barrels. The East German 25 to Jena lenses are typically mounted in not so well finished aluminum barrels. The more expensive black to Jena reflex housing lenses were noticeably better finished.

Early Contax lenses for the early 's Contax I have black trim. East German 50's were sometimes sold with West German bodies in order to lower the selling price. I would speculate that this indicates that a limited number of cameras were assembled just prior to the end of WWII. Log in. Cart 0.

Search the internet Search this site. It's amazing what turns up Repair service About me Cameras etc. Apparently, there were also changes made to to the shutter release mechanism, presumably to improve things. The film is advanced with the large knob at the right-hand side of the top cover, the shutter being automatically cocked at the same time. The knob must be wound clockwise, no arrow to help you remember which way, but it only turns one way, so it is difficult to forget.