'Kontax' Kollection awaited

[dee]

I am anticipating a lovely Contax III and ' Rat ' Contax II from restoration by ex-Arsenal Techs in Ukraine .

In construction , I also have a parts Contax II with Kiev II shutter with silver paint and tan leather .
A C III body which donated it's top plate etc to the other C III , with Contax IIa style top from a very early Kiev IV .[ a few early Kiev 4s had no riges on the meter top , like the post war Contax IIa - but they proved prone to damage ]
I love the more compact meter and the early body .
A Kiev IIIa with KNeB fascia and another early K4 top and meter - this may get painted in metallic silver Blue with matching lens , but the situation in Ukraine may prevent this .

I am having a 1954 KNeB III refurbed and polished with tan leather as well .

It's completely irrational and indulgent , but just these cameras calm my Autistic Glitch in an out of phase world . Virtually nothing is real , in focus , for me , only Kontax , Leica II and USSR derivatives , Lambretta 1951 and derivatives ... and Sindy Dolls !

I shall have a set of profiles - II / III / IV in Contax and another in KNeB - with my unmolested 1951 and 1952 KNeB IIs .

Lenses are all 50s - my favourite focal length - Sonnars f2 rigid and collapsible / Helios / several J8 and J8m - one or which has had the engraving blacked out - and a
very special Jupiter 3 made for me bu Brian Sweeney with 1959 glass in an original Sonnar mount ,
this too , has the name blacked out so it looks OK on the Contax .

[Attila]

Nice to see you here!

[Pancolart]

[Farside]

Welcome, Dee.
I have seen you on the other forum - much appreciate your Kievs

[dee]

Thanks everyone -' ASdee ' is like being lost and confused in an out of phase world - think snapshots , never linking together like a film - no wonder I like still cameras !

The Contax III and a Contax II have arrived - with the gifted Leningrad 2 meter .

Contax III is fine , with some loss of definition , dullness and wear in the leather , OK chrome . Above all the meter is working perfectly . The chrome seems so much less grey than even a near new Kiev . Other that a spring and screws , it is authentic .
It is a little stiff to wind , but has a whisper quiet shutter . [ there is a limit to how good a Contax with wear can be expected to be ] Originally , I thought that this was fine , but the Contax II - sent directly from USA , unseen , is even better .

Contax II is amazing - the coarse chrome sparkles somehow - new paint and new slightly more textured leather to the front panels transforms this seemingly poor camera .
It's smooth and easy to wind , but the shutter snaps shut - nicely , but a touch noisily . This camera is also original .

The new , boxed , 1969 Leningrad 2 is quite simply a 50s styled gem - reacting instantly to light . I shall set it up for ASA 200 against my ref Jessops CDS meter - and use it !
It's reminiscent of guitar style somehow . Cool !

[cooltouch]

Sounds like a treat. Please post pics of your Contaxes once you have some.

I've always been intrigued by the Contax rangefinders, but have been somewhat leary about buying any because of horror stories I've been told about its rather complex shutter.

I'm content (for now) with my Canon IID.

[dee]

Mike Haley in Ukraine has been inundated with cameras , so made a mistake with the Contax II - it's a parts camera - literally in pieces - bought in a box - and entirely rebuilt with ' new ' Kiev II shutter !

It was intended to be silver paint and tan leather , but it seems a Rat Contax II bought as spares , has been made silky smooth and is destined for this treatment !

Not that I am complaining - I love my ' new ' Kontax II .

An early Kiev II / III , even late 50s K IIa / IIIa is the equal of a Contax - less expensive - and a lot younger - though my cla 1951 KNeB II is only a decade younger that the last of the Contax IIs .

A well serviced Kiev is a lovely camera - and will be reliable . Post 1960 Kievs are not only compromised in build and materials , but they can be an inexpensive introduction to this vintage experience .

[Carlsson]

Congratulations and welcome! I hope you take pictures with both cameras to show them