Contax IIIa questions

[Rich Silfver]

Recently bought this camera, actully so recently that I'm still waiting to have it arrive. It just had a CLA and even the meter works - so if all turns out well it will be quite a nice camera:

http://www.pbase.com/rsilfverberg/image/59973621.jpg


I bought it somewhat on a whim and got some Contax-newbie questions;

1) Frame lines
I believe there is no framelines in the viewfinder. Is the FULL viewfinder approximately the outlines of a 50mm lens?

2) External finder
What, if any, external 50mm finders were there made for this camera?

3) Hood
Does the 50/1.5 Sonnar take screw-in hoods and if so what's the thread-size (anyone got an original hood to sell? :) )

[rover]

Yes, Yes and 40.5. ;)

Very Nice, my IIa is in line at Henry Scherer's Spa, likely not to arrive until early 2007. :(

I expect the finder (yes an approximate of 50mm without framelines) to be somewhat squinty, not at all like a Leica finder, so an external finder may be a benefit. If you use the finder of your LTM Leica though it may not be that much different.

Remember with the Meter on top of the IIIa you will experience more Parallax, the finder will be sitting quite high above the lens.

Oh, and no hood to sell, I do have a 40.5 vented ebay Heavystar hood, it is nice.

[Rich Silfver]

Thanks. Yeah, I've heard about the long wait to get a Contax serviced so I really wanted a fully serviced one (and I'm one of the few that likes the look of the IIIa better than the IIa so this may turn out real well). With the lens and leather case the whole kit set me back close to 400 dollars which was in line with what I had expected to pay.

Did Contax themself make and sell any external 50mm finders?

[Nikon Bob]

I have an unoperative Contax II (just sent to Henry for an overhaul) and would echo Rovers comments. The somewhat squinty VF has no framelines but I don't find either a problem after using a Kiev 4 which is similar. I am not sure of the filter thread size of the 50/1.5 but the 50/2 takes 40.5 mm size and the Heavystar vented hood fits both the Contax and Kiev 50/2s like a glove. The hoods appear well made. I think your whim has gotten you one smooth operating camera, congratulations.

Nikon Bob

[Stu W]

I sold my "backwards" FSU turret finder to someone here on the forum. They work quite well. Another forum member bought my Tewe zoom finder. That is a nice piece of optics that looks like it belongs on the Contax. Mostly all Contax lenses are 40.5mm filter thread. Watch out for some wide angle lenses as they won't fit the IIa or IIIa. Use it well. Stu

[rover]

Contax made everything, a full line of accessories, as large as if not larger than Leica's. I don't have any resources here with me at work, but all of the FSU turret finders and accessory products are Contax remakes. I am sure an internet search will turn up a lot of info.

[Rich Silfver]

Was this one (http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Zeiss-Ikon-Lens-Finder-Leather-Case_W0QQitemZ7616965535QQcategoryZ67376QQssPageNa meZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem) originally made for the Contax II/III line?

[FrankS]

Yes. With that on top of your IIIa's meter, it'll look like a periscope!

[rover]

Just a question, i was wondering where the pre war 35mm biogon and it's copy (J12) would not fit post war contax? i tried searching for information but nothing turned up.

Yes, the inside of the IIa/IIIa is narrower than the former II/III Contax's and the 35 Biogon was redesigned to fit the new body. So, the pre war Biogon and J12 will not fit the post war bodies.

[rover]

Was this one (http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Zeiss-Ikon-Lens-Finder-Leather-Case_W0QQitemZ7616965535QQcategoryZ67376QQssPageNa meZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem) originally made for the Contax II/III line?

OK, question for those who know or have resources at your finger tips, did Contax make different lines of finders for the IIa and IIIa cameras due to the different parallax issues caused by the IIIa meter? I see this one is model 427, I know there are several different models.

[Wayne R. Scott]

Yes, the inside of the IIa/IIIa is narrower than the former II/III Contax's and the 35 Biogon was redesigned to fit the new body. So, the pre war Biogon and J12 will not fit the post war bodies.

The 21mm Biogon will fit though.

There were a few Zeiss turrent finders (28mm to 135mm) and (35mm to 135mm) made that had 50mm viewfinders included, however they will probably cost 1/2 of what you paid for the IIIa.

Wayne

[Rich Silfver]

OK, question for those who know or have resources at your finger tips, did Contax make different lines of finders for the IIa and IIIa cameras due to the different parallax issues caused by the IIIa meter? I see this one is model 427, I know there are several different models.

Thanks, you phrased the question better than I would have :)

[Wayne R. Scott]

From the Dec. 1, 1957 catalog for Zeiss Contax and accessories they have listed a:

Universal view-finder for 21, 35, 50, 85 and 135 lenses. Catalog number 440
(has parallax correction)

Wide Angle for Biogon 21mm. Catalog number 435

Wide Angle for Biogon and Planar 35mm. Catalog number 432/5

Multiple viewfinder for 85mm and 135mm. Catalog number 438
(has parallax correction)

Attachment viewfinder for 85mm and 135mm (fits over existing viewfinder on body). Catalog number 563/03

I see no seperate viewfinder for 50mm. I also do not see a seperate viewfinder for IIa versus IIIa.


Wayne

[Rich Silfver]

Wayne, does it show what camera the 427 originally was made for?

Thanks for the write-up!

[Wayne R. Scott]

Unforunately my catalog is for Contax IIa and IIIa only.

It is possible that the 427 was made at a later date than my catalog and was made for the IIa and IIIA.

Original hood included both the screw in 40.5mm and the slip-on (slip-off) 42mm.

I would use a Heavystar vented hood for a shooter. The solid contax one obscures a small portion of the viewfinder. Walz also made a vented hood that used series VI Kodak adapter rings that will work well with the 50mm Sonnar. The 85mm Sonnar used a 49mm screw-on hood. The 135mm Sonnar and 85mm Triotar used 40.5mm screw-on hoods. Biogon's did not have hoods, neither 21mm nor 35mm.

Wayne

[rover]

Hey, that reminds me, I have a Walz filter and hood kit for "Sonnar" which is a 40.5 threaded ring.

[Wayne R. Scott]

Hey, that reminds me, I have a Walz filter and hood kit for "Sonnar" which is a 40.5 threaded ring.


Does this mean you have it for sale or that you just have it?

Wayne

[rover]

Not for sale, but I didn't recall that I had it. I have the Walz kit for Sonnar and another for Canon, 40mm threads. Very nice little kits if you can find them. Sometimes they get bid up quite a bit, but I was lucky on the Sonnar kit as I only paid $20 for it. The Canon kit came with my IVsb2.

[dexdog]

Wayne, does it show what camera the 427 originally was made for?

Thanks for the write-up!


Rich, volume II of "On the Trail of the Contax" says that the 427 finder was made for the Contax IIa and IIIa, rather late in the production run. I have one, and it is a very nice brightline finder, displaying nested 35, 50, 85 and 135 image areas simultaneously. Some might find it a bit cluttered, but I like it.

[Rich Silfver]

Mark, thanks for that piece of information. As Rover pointed out before having this finder ontop of a IIIa - and then ofcourse ontop of the meter - will give it quite the distance to the viewfinder. Have you had any experience using the 427 on a IIIa?

[darkkavenger]

I highly recommend the 432/5 finder, I managed to find a (little bit roughed up) one in eBaywatch for about 60 $ ... much more stylish and enjoyable than the turret finder :)

[Rich Silfver]

I highly recommend the 432/5 finder, I managed to find a (little bit roughed up) one in eBaywatch for about 60 $ ... much more stylish and enjoyable than the turret finder :)

The 432/5 is for a 35mm lens right?

[dexdog]

Mark, thanks for that piece of information. As Rover pointed out before having this finder ontop of a IIIa - and then ofcourse ontop of the meter - will give it quite the distance to the viewfinder. Have you had any experience using the 427 on a IIIa?


Yes, I have used it on a IIIa, and found that it the parallax is only an issue within 10 feet or less- pretty much what I would expect with any RFs w/o a parallax corrected RF eyepiece/finder. I typically use the 427 finder with the 85/2 Sonnar at portrait distances and have not had any problems getting good framing. There is a small sliding lever on the base of the thing for parallax correction, but it really doesn't move the finder up much at close distances, but moves it up significantly at infinity setting. BTW, the finder is about 2" tall and 1 1/8 inches wide, but wieghs next to nothing.

[Rich Silfver]

A friendly member of this forum just sold me a Zeiss Ikon 421 finder that can be adjusted for the higher viewpoint of the IIIa due to the built in meter. Very excited to try the whole kit out :)

[darkkavenger]

Yes, the 432/5 is for a 35mm lens.. I'm seeking a finder for 85mm lens (btw the 21mm finder looks absolutely fantastic)

[RObert Budding]

Yes, the 432/5 is for a 35mm lens.. I'm seeking a finder for 85mm lens (btw the 21mm finder looks absolutely fantastic)

The Zeiss torpedo finder that covers 85/135 is very nice - I have one and no longer own a Contax camera or the 85mm lens. Let me know if you're interested. I have a 135mm Sonnar, too, that was serviced by Henry Scherer. That, too, will go on the auction block soon.