Leica and Zeiss Aftermarket

[Juancho]

Hi!
Leicas and Zeiss Contax RF cameras are excellent quality. But I would like to know your opinion about why used Leicas are more traded than used Zeiss? Are Zeiss users more happy whith their cameras, or maybe is a matter of produced Zeiss cameras compared to Leica?
Thanks,
Juancho.

[doubs43]

Originally Posted by Juancho

Hi! Leicas and Zeiss Contax RF cameras are excellent quality. But I would like to know your opinion about why used Leicas are more traded than used Zeiss? Are Zeiss users more happy whith their cameras, or maybe is a matter of produced Zeiss cameras compared to Leica? Thanks, Juancho.

IMO, your second reason is the likely answer. Far more Leicas have been made than Contax rangefinders. Both are quality products and will give years of service. People who show preference do so more on their own likes and dislikes than on performance as both will do first-class work.

There is one huge drawback to the older Contax cameras; repairs. They're complex and there are few qualified repairmen (or women) available. The Leica is a simpler camera and easier to work on. There are numerous good repair shops that are regularly talked about on RFF. For dedicated Contax lovers, that doesn't seem to bother them and they are loyal to their cameras.

Walker

[StuartR]

Well, this may be obvious but a large part of it is probably because Leica is alive and kicking. They have continued to produce cameras and lenses for the same mount since 1954, so that is a huge factor. That alone makes many people aware of the cameras and lenses. When most people, well most photographers, think of Contax they think of the more modern stuff -- the T series, RTS, N series, G series, 645 etc. Maybe I will get burned for this, but it seems like the Contax rangefinders are more of a collectors' camera than the Leica. While there is certainly a huge collectors' market for Leica, there are still lots of people using it as a daily working camera. It has a huge, bright viewfinder, a number of fast lenses and so on. The Contax RF stuff is great, but since no one is making things for them anymore and they are hard to repair, find accessories, lenses parts etc, there are not many people using them.

[Juancho]

Thanks for your answers.
Regards,
Juancho