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ludoo
Joined: 18 Sep 2009
Posts: 1397
Location: Milan, Italy
Expire: 2011-12-05
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 Posted: Fri May 18, 2012 8:03 pm Post subject: Just received a Contax IIa, shall I keep it? |
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ludoo wrote:
I've always been fascinated by the Contax bodies, I think they are the most beautiful cameras ever designed, but so far I only had a Kiev 4 which I did not like much in use.
Last week I found a Contax IIa body at a decent price (100€ shipped), and I got it today. It's a good user camera, not in collector condition but with no major cosmetical issues, and it seems to be ok functionally: the rf patch has a decent contrast and does not seem to be misaligned, the shutter fires with certainty at all speeds, self timer works. It's not super smooth mechanically (it had a few tens of years of use with no CLA I guess) but not rough either, perfectly usable.
But now I'm having second thoughts: I have a closet full of rangefinders I rarely use despite loving them, many with much better ergonomics than the Contax (larger viewfinder, parallax corrected framelines, focus knob on the lens, etc.). So, despite having just ordered a cheap Helios 103, I don't know if I'm going to keep it. I need advice. 
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My galleries
Digital: Samsung EX-1
Past Digital: Samsung NX10, Sigma SD9, Sigma SD10, SD14, DP2, Pentax *istD, Kx, Fuji S2 Pro, Canon 5D
Analog: packfilm Polaroids, 6x9 Kodak folders, Pentacon Taxona half-frame, Fujica ST605n, Walz Envoy, Olympus 35 S-II, Olympus Wide S
Past Analog: Polaroid 600se, Polaroid 110B, Canon IIF, various fixed-lens and Russian rangefinders, ...
Past Lenses: Nikkor 24/2.8, Nikkor SC 50/1.4, Nikkor 50/2, Nikkor H 85/1.8, Nikkor P 105/2.5, Nikkor Q 135/3.5, Fujinon 100/2.8, Fujinon EBC 100/2.8, Fujinon EBC 135/3.5, Fujinon EBC 200/4.5, Mamiya SX 135/2.8, CZJ Flektogon 35/2.4, CZJ Pancolar 50/1.8 zebra, CZJ Sonnar 135/3.5, ...
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Attila
Joined: 24 Feb 2007
Posts: 57865
Location: Hungary
Expire: 2025-11-18
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| Posted: Fri May 18, 2012 8:42 pm Post subject: |
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Attila wrote:
SURE!
I have numerous Russian clone basically all and Contax I , Contax IIa, Contax III. Contax IIa if you talk about 'Made in Stuttgart' camera can't take Juipter-12 or pre-war Biogon. All other lenses are works and to me like in cars a Ferrari. If you can afford it surely keep it. My favorite from all KIEV-II and Contax IIa.
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Items on sale on Ebay
Sony NEX-7 Carl Zeiss Planar 85mm f1.4, Minolta MD 35mm f1.8, Konica 135mm f2.5, Minolta MD 50mm f1.2, Minolta MD 250mm f5.6, Carl Zeiss Sonnar 180mm f2.8
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IANUS
Joined: 14 Oct 2008
Posts: 276
Location: Germany
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| Posted: Fri May 18, 2012 9:11 pm Post subject: |
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IANUS wrote:
| Quote: |
| I don't know if I'm going to keep it. I need advice. |
I had a IIa with lenses from 28mm to 135mm which I sold since I was using other cameras more often. By now I really regret it and every now and then I look on e...y for another one. |
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ludoo
Joined: 18 Sep 2009
Posts: 1397
Location: Milan, Italy
Expire: 2011-12-05
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| Posted: Sat May 19, 2012 8:55 am Post subject: |
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ludoo wrote:
Heh, it turns out I'll sell it, as I have just found a reasonably priced Nex 3 body which I'll use to "scan" mf and lf. So if anybody is interested, I'll resell it at the same price I paid for it.
_________________
My galleries
Digital: Samsung EX-1
Past Digital: Samsung NX10, Sigma SD9, Sigma SD10, SD14, DP2, Pentax *istD, Kx, Fuji S2 Pro, Canon 5D
Analog: packfilm Polaroids, 6x9 Kodak folders, Pentacon Taxona half-frame, Fujica ST605n, Walz Envoy, Olympus 35 S-II, Olympus Wide S
Past Analog: Polaroid 600se, Polaroid 110B, Canon IIF, various fixed-lens and Russian rangefinders, ...
Past Lenses: Nikkor 24/2.8, Nikkor SC 50/1.4, Nikkor 50/2, Nikkor H 85/1.8, Nikkor P 105/2.5, Nikkor Q 135/3.5, Fujinon 100/2.8, Fujinon EBC 100/2.8, Fujinon EBC 135/3.5, Fujinon EBC 200/4.5, Mamiya SX 135/2.8, CZJ Flektogon 35/2.4, CZJ Pancolar 50/1.8 zebra, CZJ Sonnar 135/3.5, ...
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Elmar Lang
Joined: 11 Apr 2012
Posts: 103
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| Posted: Wed May 23, 2012 10:36 am Post subject: |
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Elmar Lang wrote:
It's always a pity, when I read such thoughts...
The RF Contax is a camera that can give any satisfaction in photography. It's a historical piece, still perfectly usable.
Its lenses were the best any photographer could have in his time (if able to afford them!) and their Russian clones (except the Jupiter-12 that -as said- cannot be mounted on the IIa/IIIa) are extremely fine too.
I hope that the next owner of this technical jewel would enjoy it.
All the best,
Enzo |
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