Carl Zeiss contarex bulls eye w/Planar 1:2 f=50mm

<p>Hello,<br>

I live in Mexico and would like to ask a question, my father inherited me a Zeiss Ikon camera Contarex Bulls Eye with a Planar lens 1:2 f = 50mm.<br /><br />I would like to know the market value of this camera and lens. I'm not very familiar with this equipment. The equipment is in excellent condition.<br /><br />Thanks.</p>

<p>Mauricio</p>

<p>As a rule, film cameras are worth relatively little these days for obvious reasons. In its day, the Contarex was a fairly expensive camera, and while that makes little difference in current value, the collectability of the camera can still be fairly high. But as always, there has to be someone willing to pay the price.</p>

<p>The only recent sale of a Contarex bulls-eye with the same lens as you have went for US $360 on eBay. Someone is asking (but you can <em>ASK</em> anything) over $200 for a broken one. A complete camera with a full range of highly-collectable-in-their-own-right lenses went for US $1800. However, these are just three listings and hardly establish a "market" in them.</p>

<p>Your best bet for a good collector market is eBay, you could start out by listing a minimum bid of, say, over $200 and see what you get. If you are in Mexico DF, there might be some dealers in old cameras, but of course they have to pay "wholesale" prices or they can't stay in business.</p>

<p>I'm presuming the camera works? If not, there will be a substantial loss of value. Test it. People will rightly interpret a "I don't know anything about cameras so this is sold AS IS" as meaning, "this turkey is deader than a doornail."</p>

<p>Mauricio, Why not just keep it and use it. A few hundred dollars can be spent in no time but this German made camera will last for ever. The lenses for the Contarex are some of the sharpest ever made. You lucky man.</p>

I think Jerry hit the nail on the head... If you're really interested to see what is behind this camera I think you ought to (just for fun) read the comments of a well-known repairman http://www.zeisscamera.com/services_bullseye.shtml

<p>First, condolences regarding your father.<br>

Contarex Bullseye is a desirable, high-quality collectors item. It should cost more than your ordinary, no-longer very desirable film camera. Your best way of finding the "going price" is to check the completed sales on Ebay. Much depends on the quality of the particular camera. Does it still work fine? Is the lens clean?</p>