West German version has nicely finished chrome barrel, East German version has OK finish aluminum barrel. The lens 50/2 Sonnar, produced in West and East Germany, has excellent reputation.Īlso made in uncoated pre-war Jena version, black or chrome,
Contax serial numbers Pc#
The earlier black dial Conrtax IIa and IIIa have a peculiar flash sync connection then they have standard PC socket.Ĭontax IIa and IIIa is a professional quality system 35mm Rangefinder with large system of lenses and accessories, that some considered the best 35mm lenses during the 1950's.Ĭontax IIa and IIIa has a superb mechanical fit and finish, many believe better than even the legendary Leica M3. The Color Dials were in production longer than the Black Dials, 1954-62 vs. Compared to the prewar Contax II and III, the IIa and IIIa used the same lens mount with a completely re-engineered shutter mechanism, new body, and much improved chrome finish.Įarlier version IIa and IIIa cameras, all the shutter speeds on the dial in were black, and called, Black Dial. It was one of the first cameras with a built-in exposure meter.Īfter the war, the Soviet Union captured the tooling and drawings of the Contax as war booty, and transfered them to Kiev, where they began the production of the Kiev rangefinder camera, as such a continuation of the Contax.Īt the same time, the Western part of the Zeiss Ikon company, based in Stuttgart, completely redesigned the Contax and launched the Contax IIa in 1950 and Contax IIIa in 1951.Ĭontax IIIa is the same camera with Contax II with a light meter. It was the first camera with a rangefinder and viewfinder combined in a single window.Ĭontax III, also released in 1936, was a Contax II with an exposure meter. It was released in 1932.Ĭontax II was released in 1936 and was the successor of the Contax I. L 76078 (Stamped inside of the camera also)Ĭontax I was a high end 35mm rangefinder camera made by Zeiss Ikon to compete with Leica models. Relief on the back cover leatherette : Zeiss Ikon logo Self-timer: possible three delay times settingīack cover: removable with the bottom plate, open by two folding lever on the bottom plate
Re-wind release: a knob on the bottom plate, film rewinds by pressing the button and simultaneously turning winding knobįlash PC socket: on the back side of the camera, synch 1/50 (orange on the speed dial) for electronic flash and 1/100 and over (red) for bulb flashesĮngravings in the cold shoe: Zeiss Ikon, Stuttgart, Germany and serial no.
Re-adjustment of exposure meter is possible by a screw on the back side, close the meter lid, turn the meter dial counter-clockwise as far as go, the meter needle must point the black dot in the window, if not, adjust it by turning the screwįor easy handling it can be lifted about 1cm, turns when winding W/ a lid on its light taking window, working accurately !įilm speed range: 9-30 DIN (6-800 ASA), setting: by inner thumb ring on the meter settings dial knob Exposure setting: matching needle and black diamond mark in the window on the top plate, adjusts by turning a big, complex dial knob on the left of the top plate, shows DIN scale, aperture and speed scales, speed setting possible from 60 sec.
Contax serial numbers manual#
Shutter release: on top of the cocking knob, w/ cable release socketĬocking knob: also winds the film, on the left of the top plateįrame counter: on the cocking knob, advance type, manual settingĮxposure meter: Photo-electric Selenium cell exposure meter (no battery), uncoupled, Setting : ring and dial beneath the winding/cocking knob, lift and turn to desired settingįor T: the shutter closes by turning the speed dial to B wo/ lifting Shutter: all metal focal plane shutter, vertical traveling, speeds: 1-1/1250 +T & B Scale and DOF scale on the focusing helicoid on the body The yellow rangefinder images must be match in the viewfinder, Setting: ring and dial on front of the lens w/ two small handles for easy turningįocusing: by a thumb ring on the left-front of the camera via helical built in the body, Lens release: pressing spring catch with the red dot on the lens flange and simultaneously turn the lens clockwise There is a second outside bayonet mount on the focusing helicoid of the body for other than 50mm lenses and some other features, this lens must be a prewar production (c.1936) of original Dresden factoryĭating as to Frank Mechelhoff, and Contax rangefinder lenses Serial no.1984874, Surprise: according to this serial no.
This type lenses have not their own focusing ring, Mount: special built-in type Contax rangefinder bayonet mount of 50 mm lenses, Lens: Carl Zeiss Jena Sonnar 50mm f/2, collapseable, uncoated, L 76078,Īll Color Dials produced between 1953-62,Īll Contax IIIa produced between 1950-62,ĭating as to PhotoForum and Contax IIa-IIIa serials Manufactured by Zeiss Ikon AG., Stuttgart, West Germany
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