Contax IIA with Tri-X and some thoughts

I took my sad, neglected IIA out to take some pictures in our local square. I appear to have picked up some trouble with my shutter (probably from not using the camera much) that results in the top of the frame dark at some shuttler speeds, 1/500 I think. Oh well, anyway, Thought I'd try to show some of the images. Also it kind of reminded me of the good and bad shooting film.

To the good, I do like using these old cameras, but I don't miss the processing, scanning, and dust removal (or the problems associated with any old camera (with the possible exception of old Leica Ms). I feel like it might be fun, but doesn't really help to give me the best images I can create. That said I'm going to try to use some of these cameras. All pictures the the 50/1.5 Zeiss Opton lens.

Ah, 'the dust, the dust' (to paraphrase Conrad's heart of darkness: 'the horror, the horror'). They are good, carbon_dragon; the zeiss opton shines. As does your framing: the fountain and railway tracks shots are good. From recollection, was the zeiss f1.5 a sonnar design?. Perhaps the shutter lag will resolve itself with exercise. I have never used the contax, but have a couple of kiev's stored away with a selection of clone lenses. Will have to try them someday (at the moment, still stored away). Regards, Arthur (apiarist1)

The f/1.5 Zeiss Opton he is referring to is the Sonnar design. As for exercise fixing the shutter capping that some Contax IIa and IIIa cameras are prone to, unfortunately that isn't likely to do it.

Chances are the shutter is starting to show the signs of needing a service. Some of the first symptoms will be it not opening at all at the 1/1250 second setting and/or tapering/uneven travel in the upper speeds.

It had a very good service, but that was years ago. The truth is that these kinds of cameras don't take lack of use well.

I took the other IIA out around the house to see what I could see. Here's a few shots using the 35mm f/2.8 biogon. I also took a shot of the camera with my iPhone 6sPlus. I think I am going to send the first one back to Henry. Now as a user camera, the IIA has some issues. First focusing with the wheel for the 50 and on the lens for every other lens is awkward. also, using the wheel means my finger is often blocking the rangefinder. Loading isn't too tough but the takeup spool in this camera requires a special leader for the film. And then taking lenses on and off the camera requires some care because everything has to be lined up just so or it won't work. Lastly, the viewfinder (not shown) required for non 50 lenses is beautifully made, but gives you a kind of tunnel vision and a very small sight picture. I wouldn't give up my Leica Ms for the IIAs but they're really well made, effective cameras. This IIA seems to be functioning normally.

I took the other IIA out around the house to see what I could see. Here's a few shots using the 35mm f/2.8 biogon. I also took a shot of the camera with my iPhone 6sPlus. I think I am going to send the first one back to Henry. Now as a user camera, the IIA has some issues. First focusing with the wheel for the 50 and on the lens for every other lens is awkward. also, using the wheel means my finger is often blocking the rangefinder. Loading isn't too tough but the takeup spool in this camera requires a special leader for the film. And then taking lenses on and off the camera requires some care because everything has to be lined up just so or it won't work. Lastly, the viewfinder (not shown) required for non 50 lenses is beautifully made, but gives you a kind of tunnel vision and a very small sight picture. I wouldn't give up my Leica Ms for the IIAs but they're really well made, effective cameras. This IIA seems to be functioning normally.

 

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A couple of points: you don't have to focus the 50 with the wheel on top of the camera--once you release the infinity lock you can turn the lens directly just like the other focal lengths. As for loading film, I have always used standard Kodak or Ilford film and have had no problems with loading it. In fact, I wish that the Pentax K 1000 rental cameras that my students use loaded as easily. I assume the viewfinder you're referring to is the post WWII Zeiss #440--it isn't that bad compared to other multifocal finders from the same period, and has the great virtue of having a diopter adjustment built in so that I can use it without glasses and see the full frame. None of this is to say that the Contax is the equal of a Leica M in convenience--it isn't, being the product of different engineering and design philosophies. But the unique lenses available at relatively reasonable prices make it worth it to put up with its foibles for some of us.

Well if I HAVE the 50 mounted, I might as well use the wheel. You just need to get used to an arch in the finger. The takeup film spool in THIS IIA is the one with the slot in the center for the film. I have to cut the other side of the leader or it won’t feed.

For the time, the lenses are excellent and I expect some of the modern Zeiss lenses are descended from these designs. I’m going to mount the 85 next. I have a 50, 35, 21, 85, and 135. They are all in good shape.

I have been using Leicas for 65 years, (and still prefer the little Barnack cameras to the large and heavy M series).

When the Contax II was designed, it was intended to "fix" every concern about the Leicas, from the screw-in lens mount, to the impossible subterranean loading, and had far better lenses. IMO the Contax was better on paper than the Leica in every respect -- until, that is, you pick them up and try to use them. My Leicas fit the hand perfectly and are a joy to use, while even after 50+ years my Contax IIA is by comparison a mechanical nightmare, from the focusing wheel to the square corners.

Both are capable of making superb pictures.

But no doubt about it, the Contax IIa has to be the most beautiful camera ever made -- nothing else even comes close (except, perhaps, the original Contax II!)

I was once told by someone that the Contaxes were designed to function as lab equipment where the Leicas were designed for people to walk around and use them as cameras. I've also heard that Leica took patents on a number of mechanisms that made designing the Contax difficult. I don't know if any of these things are true, but it certainly seems as though ergonomics wasn't a prominent branch of the Zeiss business in this era. Despite all that, they're fun to mess around with, and are capable of very good performance. And it has a sort of overengineered beauty only exceeded by the Contarex Bullseye IMHO. Here it is outfitted for the next use with the 85 along with a rival. Sadly, Zeiss shoes are non standard and I'm going to have to put a bit of tape on the double shoe to keep it from sliding backward.

Then there was Zeiss Kiev, whose technicians were willing to make up for deficiencies in the Dresden offerings.

Then there was Zeiss Kiev, whose technicians were willing to make up for deficiencies in the Dresden offerings.

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Gorgeous cameras! Don't know if I prefer the black or the standard chrome.

Wish I still had the 85mm I loaned to a friend, who then lost it in his divorce.

Interesting about your accessory shoes, my IIa fits perfectly with both Zeiss and Leitz accessory finders.

Robert Capa used a pair of Contax II's on D-Day, so I would argue that they were not confined to Lab use. Horace Bristol shot with a Contax. I seem to remember Bristol used a Nikkor telephoto on his Contax, the cam being custom cut for him before 'C' lenses were in regular production.

contax_jupiters by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

contax_lenses by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

I have a unique solution for the wide-angle lens for the Contax IIIa and IIa... Wollensak 35/2 Fastax optics mounted in a J-12 focus mount.

Here's a shot from the 85/2 short roll and another iPhone shot of the 21 Biogon mounted on the IIA for the next test. Not sure if there is a lens hood for the 21? Has anybody seen one that doesn't end up in the picture? I'm tempted to use the 21 brightline finder instead. I also have the Contax/Yashica 21mm lens, shown in the third picture. One would presume these two lenses are related, but you sure couldn't tell it by the size!

Zeiss had to work around two key Leica patens: the LTM lens mount rangefinder coupling, and their constant acceleration shutter design. The Contax transfers focus information through the rotation of the helical, rather than by a wheel on the lens cam. The Contax has a constant-velocity shutter.

The Contax also has German over-engineering in spades. The Leica screw mounts were simple and elegant, and "precise enough."

On the other hand, Zeiss had an iron-clad patent on the f/1.5 Sonnar design, which is why Leica had to license the Xenon/Summarit design, which wasn't as good. Zeiss also had an iron-clad patent on hard lens coatings. Thus Leica started with "soft" lens coatings.

I was once told by someone that the Contaxes were designed to function as lab equipment where the Leicas were designed for people to walk around and use them as cameras. I

 

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I'd say that the Contax was more designed to be used on a tripod, whereas the Leica was designed to be used hand-held.