Near Mint! 1937 Zeiss Ikon Contax II Body with 50mm Zeiss Sonnar lens & Original case, CLA'd, Freshly Serviced!

35mm Coupled rangefinder, Cleaned, Lubricated & Adjusted. Ready for immediate use!

This is a 35mm prewar Contax rangefinder camera produced by Zeiss-Ikon in Dresden Germany. If you’re familiar with the Contax and the legendary performance of its lenses, you’ll know that it’s considered a cult classic by many fans all over the world. It uses normal 35mm film and was used by professionals throughout the 1930’s, 40’s and 50’s and was often seen in use until the middle of the 1960’s. Today the Contax camera is still recognized for its excellence and is considered a design classic. These cameras and their superb Zeiss lenses have inspired countless designers. A few years ago, Zeiss produced a new 35mm Contax rangefinder camera with a very similar look as a homage to the design philosophy and unique styling of the Contax II.

 The Contax rangefinder camera was the 1930’s display of genius, of pride and faith in precision mechanics. It was at the cutting edge of photography at that time and it was always very expensive and always in high demand. The high purchase price reflected the time, money and effort that went into the design, production and patient hand assembly of each camera. Now holding this Contax some 86 years after it was produced, I see that the effort did not fade into the darkness of all the passing years… it is still a thing of beauty.

Understandably a Contax II is a desirable and significant camera. But what makes this camera extra desirable is the fact that it’s been carefully serviced and it’s fully functional. Additionally, the serial numbers match. The serial number on the body is identical to the number on the removable back. (This indicates that it still has the original back supplied with this camera.) This serial number also indicates that this camera was produced in Germany in 1937.

This Contax is in exceptionally fine condition, fully functional and I believe you’d be hard pressed t find a finer example. It’s also been carefully cleaned, lubricated and adjusted. The original Zeiss shutter has received special attention, new shutter ribbons have been installed and it’s been thoroughly and carefully cleaned, lubricated and adjusted. All speeds (B & 1/2 sec – 1/1250^th) are appropriate. The self-timer has been cleaned and works correctly. The coupled rangefinder optical array has also been carefully serviced. The image is clean, easy to see and focusing is smooth and accurate and it’s a real pleasure to use. (Not hazy like the average Contax.) In case you wondered, this camera uses normal 35mm film. 

 The interchangeable lens is a 2.0/50mm Carl Zeiss Sonnar. The serial number 2016849 indicates that it was also produced in 1937 and it’s likely that it’s the original lens to this camera. As usual there is some oil on the aperture blades but this has no effect on its performance. (That’s of course because the aperture on rangefinder cameras doesn’t need to move instantly as they do on a SLR camera.)

The glass in this Zeiss lens is clean and clear. There are no scratches, just the usual cleaning marks on the front lens element and it’s capable of producing lovely photos with modern color and B&W films.

It comes complete with lens, film spool and a lovely original Zeiss-Ikon leather case.

All in all, a wonderful 87 year old Contax camera! Perfect for photographers with a historical interest and WWII reenactors. So, if you’ve been looking for a fully functional Contax, then you’ve just found it… Load it with your favorite film and you’re good to go.

Please feel free to visit Petrakla.com for more information about these cameras. Or google “Robert Capa” (Many famous WWII images were recorded by him with a Contax II, including the D Day invasion of Normandy.)

A user’s perspective

These classic, top of the line 1930’s 35mm cameras don’t really need an introduction. Most collectors are familiar with them and many modern photographers still enjoy their delightful characteristics, their relatively quiet shutters and their ability to capture striking images. Combine this camera with some wonderful Zeiss glass that may be lurking in your display case (or easily available on eBay) and you have a real winning combination. The Contax is top quality camera sporting a precision die cast chassis wrapped in fine Moroccan leather, topped with satin chrome covers, and equipped with the widest, most accurate, 90mm rangefinder to have ever been fitted to a 35mm camera. It was an expensive camera that only top photographers or affluent individuals could afford. It’s a classic delivers fine results even by today’s standards. In case you’re wondering, Contax mount lenses in various focal lengths are still very easy to find on eBay.

If you’ve ever collected or used screw mount Leica, then you’ll also appreciate the fact that the Contax uses a sophisticated arrangement of prisms rather than surface coated mirrors which tend to oxidize and degrade, so that are no problems with weak, faded, inaccurate or misaligned rangefinder images. Focusing is also noticeably more accurate when you’re in close for portraits or using longer lenses. There’s also no problem with pin-holed shutters since the Contax’s shutter curtains are made of metal rather than fabric.