IIa or IIIa

[flashover]

I found this one listed local to me but I basicly know nothing about contax other then the FSU is a copy:


Contax IIA or IIIA - I am not 100% sure... standard is the colour shutter speed dial, s/n T36748, selinium meter is working !, Tessar 3.5 rigid with hood, self timer, ranger finder all acurate and working, HAS film take up spool. Leather is amazingly good, almost No brassing showing.
Asking 400 or BO, downtown >>>>>>>> or trade for a Nikon flash SB800
located at >>>>>>

[rover]

$400 Canadian?

I would love the lens if someone is in for the body to put a Sonnar on.

With meter is is of course a IIIa.

[jlw]

If it has a selenium meter, it's a IIIa. The color speed dial means it's the later model with a standard PC fitting. If everything works and is in good condition (which you can check since it's a local camera) and if that "400" figure is dollars, then I'd think it would be a screamin' deal if it appeals to you and you've got the money. Very, very definitely worth a look! Put down the mouse and go call the guy now!!!

PS -- If you want to be a bit of a devil, print out Henry Scherer's pricing page (http://www.zeisscamera.com/ContaxIIa/Prices.html) and take it with you so you can show the guy how expensive these cameras are to service, and then see if he'll take $350...

[FrankS]

Sounds good to me. Wish I had a Nikon SB800 flash to trade for it! Is ther any way of knowing if it has had a cla lately?

Contax:
II - prewar, no meter
III - prewar, with meter
IIa - post war, no meter, earlier black dial, later colour dial
IIIa - postwar, with meter, earlier black dial, later colour dial

[FrankS]

I'd trade you an f2 Sonnar for the f3.5 Tessar.

[flashover]

ok I just sent the seller an email for more info. I will let you know what happens.

[JoeFriday]

the IIIa Color Dial is a great camera.. the build quality of Contax is up there with Leica (their main competitor of that era).. it's a very solid camera that works very smoothly, and has a certain feel to it

the big differences between the Contax and the Leica are actually things that are missing.. the Contax has no framelines.. the entire viewfinder approximates a 50mm view, the standard lens for that camera.. and it also doesn't have a frame advance lever.. instead, it has a knob on top that you twist.. I personally like the old school aspect of that, but some people find it annoying as it tends to slow you down a bit

the Contax lenses are definitely on par with Leica.. of all my lenses (3 summicrons, an elmarit, a couple FSU jupiters, and a sonnar) I love my sonnar the most

[rover]

I saw this this morning for those of us panting.....

Contax-IIA BD, Sonnar 50/2, just CLA, Ex+ $350.

http://www.igorcamera.com/zeissikon.htm

I have found Igor to be very legit.... I have bought two items just as described for screaming deals just like this one.

[Rich Silfver]

John, definetively worth a look. I got one some time ago.
Short write-up of what I thought here:
http://silfver.blogspot.com/2006/05/contax-iiia-its-pretty-but-does-it.html

[Wayne R. Scott]

John,

Any self-respecting RFF member would do the only logical thing in a case like this. Buy the IIIa and the IIa!!!

Wayne

[flashover]

I just made a deal for the camera and I am going tonight to pick it up if it's as good as it looks in the photos. I will post some shot later..

[flashover]

ok I just got back from Toronto with my new old Contax IIIa with a Tessar 3.5. It even came with a Zeiss Ikon Stuttgart marked rigid lens hood (don't know if it's for this lens or not but it fits) Made the seller an offer by email and he accepted so off I went to the big city to inspect and buy. Better condition then I hoped for no damage other then someone's SIN number beside the finder. Here are a couple of shots for tonight

[vrgard]

Looks like you got a great rig there John. Congrats (and way to go moving on it so quickly).

[back alley]

nice looking rig john, very shiny.

does the meter work?

[flashover]

It responds to light but I haven't checked it against another meter yet.

[triplefinger]

i enjoyed browsing your blog rich.

John, definetively worth a look. I got one some time ago.
Short write-up of what I thought here:
http://silfver.blogspot.com/2006/05/contax-iiia-its-pretty-but-does-it.html

[rover]

Great grab... I am panting over that lens.

[flashover]

ok the test roll is in the camera. Meter seams to be close. I will post some later today. Now I just have to find something to photograph or then the cat or my car.

[darkkavenger]

you know these tessar lenses are wonderful....

[harry01562]

Another great find.... congratulations on what certainly looks like a nice IIIa. That's also a very hard to find lens, as all the panting shows.

I have a couple, but none as nice as this one, (pant...)

Harry

[peterc]

Nice find, John. Congrats!

Peter

[drmatthes]

I've always been hooked on those pre-war Contaxes, but BOY that's a nice one, especially with this beautiful Tessar and hood. - Are the speeds o.k.?

Anyway, congrats and enjoy!

Jesko

______________

2006 AD
800 yrs Zei.. er
800 yrs Dresden
80 yrs Zeiss Ikon

[drmatthes]

Addition:

Frank, you were right. It's REALLY been a good idea to remove the G from the forum title, let's hope for many more classic Contax RF people showing up here.

Jesko

___________

next 8000 yrs Contax!!!

[flashover]

The shutter speeds all worked good except for 1/500. Previous owner shot at 1/250 all the time. Anyway first 1/500 shots were bad. But on the advice of the gurus of RFF I exercised the shutter at 1/500 and it's a working great now. Even the meter seams to be accurate.