W0WSER Contax If (1f) Looks Pretty Good Works Well Minor Problems

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PROGRAPHICSCORP2007 Good cosmetics as shown in the numerous photos. Camera body works well. Rangefinder/viewfinder are reasonably bright and clear, bright rangefinder patch, rangefinder is off a foot or two at close distances. That goofy roller blind actually shutter works, but the slow speeds are too fast, and the fast speeds are too slow. Film advance works fine with accurate spacing, and the counter works. The lens is "good enough" with the slightest of haze and cleaning marks, smooth focusing, and smooth and clean aperture. The Contax represents an entirely new design of camera. The very simple construction is quickly understood whereupon the numerous technical advantages will be found to allow of obtaining unexcelled results under all conditions. -- 1934 Contax Brochure For an article that extolls the virtues of the Contax I -- warts and all -- please see Stephen Gandy's nicely-written article . The following is from Wikipedia: The Contax I, or Original Contax, is a 35 mm rangefinder camera made between 1932 and 1936 by Contax. The Contax I had six identifiable variants, but fundamentally identical; every aspect was designed to outperform the Leica. For instance, the removable back was for faster loading and reloading, the bayonet lens mount was designed for rapid lens interchangeability, the long-base rangefinder was for more accurate focusing with large aperture lenses, and the vertical metal shutter not only gave a faster maximum speed but also banished the problem of shutter blinds burning. In 1932, Zeiss Ikon of Dresden decided to produce a competitor to the Leica II, designed to be superior in every way. The name Contax was chosen after a poll among its employees. Dr. Ing. Heinz Kuppenbender was its chief designer. Made between 1932 and 1936, the original Contax (later known as Contax I after later models were introduced) was markedly different from the corresponding Leica II. Using a die-cast alloy body it housed a vertically travelling metal focal-plane shutter reminiscent of the one used in Contessa-Nettel cameras, made out of interlocking black-finished brass slats. somewhat like a roll-up garage door.The interlocking slats were aligned by specially made silk ribbons, which were very strong but subject to wear. The coupled rangefinder had a very long baseline, with its own eyepiece next to that of the viewfinder. Other main differences included focusing drive built into the camera body for use with standard lens, removable back, shutter speed knob integral with film wind knob placed at the front of the camera body, and finished in black. The young lens designer Ludwig Bertele, formerly of Ernemann, was charged with the responsibility of designing the lenses. My opinion is that the Contax lenses went head-to-head with the Leitz lenses of the time, that the shutter was, charitably speaking, quirky , but that, unlike the Leica, you could actually dependably and repeatably load film in it. The Contax is the modern universal roll film miniature camera of unsurpassed efficiency and all-round versatility. -- Zeiss Sales Brochure We will ship this item in the United States by United States or United States by Priority Mail. Properly packaged, the item will have a shipping weight of 2 pounds 8 ounces. NOW GET OUT THERE AND TAKE SOME PICTURES! Steilacoom, Washington. Nikon D700 with Nikkor 28-105mm D lens. Mostly I was playing around with graduated filters. read more

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