peter_4711

Hello,

I'm astonished about how many wrong historical details flying in the net around.

the historical fact is:

The Schneider-Kreuznach company in Germany taked a British- and US patent with the Xenon 1,5/50mm lens.

The Xenon lenses are produced 1936-1950, and any or much have engraved the patent US and British for export lenses.

A small volume of Xenon round about 122 are produced post-war

1948-1950.

The post-war Summarit 1949-1960 Schneider-Kreuznach patent ended, but don't the Tayler Hobson patent, and so have any earlyer Summarit export lenses the engraving too.

The Tayler Hobson 2/50mm is an british lens for the Reid only.

The Leitz company produced for the screw mount Leica a 3,5/50mm and 90mm Velostigmat lenses only with engraved: "Leitz New York Company and "Made in USA."

a other historical fact is:

In beginning WW II the british goverment distraint all Leica cameras in privat owners hand,and given back in end of war.

But the are don't enough for the british military in war time, and so taked a special corp the Reid camera a Leica copy to used in the army.

The quantity of Reid in war-time are very small, and in the full scale the WW II war was finished 1945, with unconditionel surrender of Germany.

Any Reid cameras produced in post war, but the production stopped

with the foundation of West-Germany 1949 with Leitz patents don't with the Reid camera will Great Britan broken the Leitz patent.

In my opinnion is the Reid camera the best one Leica copy under the over round about 600 Leica copys.

peter

Hello Reed,

sorry I don't understand you. I give a exact historican answere about the question, with your posting in middle format and here in pre-1970 cameras, about your AGFA camera.

A result is you will ask juergen kraekel a repairman of folder cameras, don't expert.

Anyone can understand I'm don't.

peter

Hello Bob,

interest answere, you can descript soviet lenses without Zeiss formula ?

peter

Hello Jonathan,

sorry I don't a owner of a certosix,but this certo model have a lever winder, and is near to the russian ISKRA camera.

Is it possibel to pull out the rollfilmholder under the camera body like the ISKRA camera ?

peter

Hello Syuji,

yes indeed, the Orion-15 is an amazing lens like the

Zeiss Topogon 4/25mm,4 lens elements in 4 groups, and distorsion free.

The 4 special lenses are difficult to produced, and so is a Orion-15 a rare Soviet lens.

The Jupiter-3 is like the Carl Zeiss Jena Sonnar 1,5/5cm,

7 lens elements in 3 groups.

All Soviet lenses used a Zeiss lens formular.

peter

Hello,

I was shocked about the price again. Is a copy only of my Zeiss Contax rangefinder 4/25mm Topogon.

The Topogon is one of this 3 special lenses, I tell it, that Carl Zeiss Jena produced for the Contax IIa and IIIa only and with engravings in mm don't cm like the Nikon lens.

Don't murdered for the Nikon lens, but a littel bit for a Carl Zeiss Jena 4/25mm Topogon lens.

peter

Hello,

I think for a bid don't received the folder.

In the offer to sell is written "Anleitung" zur Kodak Kamera.

"Anleitung" translated from german is like instruction manual.

In the rules and regulation of bay you can't received more than the instruction manual only. But with camera included is an lausy or criminal deal too. The seller (Al Capone ?) will fishing a stupid guy.

peter

Hello Reed,

is the first post-war Isolette model to build in 1949 and later.

You can identified on the lausy chromed top.

The AGFA camera plant in Munich a big city in Germany was bombed of the allied aeroplanes in the end of WW II. So AGFA can't chromed big parts.

My first post-war AGFA- Isolette included the lausy top too, but with a uncoated 4,5/85 mm Solinar perhaps a pre-war lens.

In 1950 year AGFA coated the lenses, also is your Isolette a

1950 or 1951 camera.

The AGFA Apotar is a 3 element lens,and coated a touch better like pre-war Apotar.

My first post-war AGFA camera have the name Isolette in the leatherette yours too ?

peter

Hello Peter Volle,

sorry, I want not to say you are a maniac collector or other bad things.

I have read in your treath only you have fun with classic

rangefinder like my person too.

I'will agree with you and a Contax fan.

Example:

All my genuine Leica LTM lenses I have to sell, and buy the Zeiss lenses the are better lens performer.I hope don't beat me, but I liked my russian Contax/KIEV rangefinder and lenses too.Sorry

I have a big Zeiss equipment that come in to me in a long time.

In a time people don't want this old dump, and so all my Contax/KIEV equipment will work today for fun and I'm don't bankerupt.

I'm surpriced only about the price to sell today any classic Zeiss pieces.

peter

Hello Iulian,

is an russian "Etude" 120 rollfilm camera 4,5x6, (and possibel any in 6x9),with monocular lens 11/60mm No focusing,Sector shutter M and B,

Plastic body, removelbel back side.

1969-1984 produced of the belOMO plant in Minsk.

Sorry don't rare the quantity is over 1,5 million.

peter

Hello,

I will agree with Claudia, this case looks like my AGFA

Billy Record cases for the 6x9 folders.

Voigtlaender Bessa don't no this case looks different.

peter

Hello Peter Volle,

yes is possible the Opton-Biogon is a touch bettter like the

35mm Biogon without Opton engraving.

I have a Biogon with Zeiss engraved only, so is later since 1953 to

build.

Is a later Contax Biogon like the 35mm Planar that for me don't satisfied.

The contrast is ok in all apertures, but the sharp of the lens

don't sharp like a knife.I have the impression the Zeiss Biogon have a sickness of called chromatic aberration like my Canon LTM 1,8/35mm.

The Biogon lens mechanical quality is Zeiss like or untouchabel.

However is an fact the Carl Zeiss Jena Biometar beat all my 35mm lenses for Contax/KIEV called like Orthometar, Planar, Biogon or the russian Jupiter-12.

Don't wondering about the Biometar, the Carl Zeiss Jena company builded for the Contax IIa and IIIa 3 special lenses with mm engravings don't usual in cm, is the Topogon lens,the Biometar,and last not least the Biotar lens.

I hope you are satisfied with your Contax repair received.

The shutter of Contax IIa and IIIa taked Zeiss many problems.

This shutter is different to the pre-war Contax, and is a old West-Germany problem like the different prism for rangefinder and other details.

I hope too, you going not bankerupt totaly on the Contax West-Germany camera and lens system.I like your thread, and I was amuesed.Please give me the copyright. The background is real, here in Germany a Leitz collector have all Leica LTM collecting pieces in new conditition complete, but this boy goes bankerupt, and all this very fine Leitz items going under the value smash on the hammer.

I think collecting only is a mad sickness

peter

Hello,

yes what in the world of medicine the penecillin is the Zeiss Biogon 4,5/21mm in the world of photographic.

An amazing lens for Contax rangefindercameras.

My Biogon 4,5/21mm included damned a feet scala don't usefull in Europa or here in Germany. I think is an export model lens.

However the deep field of sharp in feet goes of continentel to the US-States.

With this amazing 4,5/21 mm goes my focals of Zeiss lenses on 21 to 180mm.

The 180mm or 18cm small body is a rare Carl Zeiss Jena Tele-Tessar will work with the Contax rangefinder too.

But for the Contax IIa and IIIa from Stuttgart Made in West-Germany

the question about 2,8/35mm Biogon or Planar 3,5/35mm lenses is a difficult story.

The prae-war Biogon 2,8/35mm with long last rear lens element don't used on the Contax IIa and IIIa with this small camera bodys.

So Zeiss build the new post-war 2,8/35mm and 3,5 35mm lenses with a short last lens element.

In my personal experience this West-Germany 35mm lenses not great lens performer, but in mechanical condition are excellent only.

My best 35mm lens performer is a Carl Zeiss Jena Biometar 2,8/35mm

T coated and will work with Contax IIa and IIIa rangefinder too.

The Biometar 2,8/35mm beat all other Zeiss 35mm lenses included the russian Jupiter- 12 for KIEV rangefinder.

But the Biometar lenses is to build of Carl Zeiss Jena in a small capacity of round about 900 pieces only.

You find a Biometar 2,8/35mm you have the best, but taked and run.

peter

Hello,

thank's for interest information details, but I'm don't wondering

in the year 1938 is this Contax II Made in Germany a anamy camera.

So have a very small Contax series french engravings like "Allemagne" and other too.

peter

Hello,

your FED-2 is build in the year 1961 with engraved ordinal numbers

over 1 100 000, and next cameras had cipher engravings.

peter

Hello Igor,

a check the rangefinder is out of adjustment is very easy.

The KIEV rangefinder cameras included a very presice prism rangefinder.

For check taked two needels with colored head in a littel distance

behind. When the rangefinder in smallest distance operation can resolution the two needelhead is the rangefinder ok.

The rangefinder window in the viewer don't included a vertical or horizontal adjustment that deteminated a shock on the rangefinder and needed a repair.

peter

Hello,

the genuine Voigtlaender 50mm Color-Skopar from the 50th years

in M 39 LTM are the rarest lenses I to know.

The 50mm Heliar Cosina/Voigtlaender are camouflage lenses the genuine Voigtlaender company in Germany don't produced a Heliar for 35mm rangefindercameras.

Best performer in 50mm for a 35mm LTM rangefindercamera are

The Rodenstock Heliogon 2/50mm, but is hard to find like the Color Skopar in LTM

The Canon 1,8/50mm lens with very harmony results in all values

The russian Industar 2,8/ 53mm 61 L/D with lanthan glass for extremly high contrast and very sharp like the Zeiss "Adlerauge" Tessar.

The post-war Summarit 1,5/50mm included lanthanum glass and throrium free

The russian Jupiter 8 2/50mm 6 lenses in 3 groups like the

Zeiss Sonnar 2/50mm

All this are post-war lenses with coating and new glasses, and any

are included lanthan glasses and thoriumfree.

peter

Hello Bonsignore,

I will don't agree with your opinion the wrong KIEV 4 lightmeter advise is an result of smaller lightmeterhouse or other wild storys.

The difference between Contax IIIa and KIEV 4 lightmeter are the

Contax IIIa selenium lightmeter is more sensitiv like the KIEV 4 an so additional mark for lowlight don't included in the Contax IIIa.

The KIEV 4 lightmeter advise included additional mark "2" and "4" for lowlight operation.

The lightmeter house of KIEV 4 included a screw for calibration the selenium lightmeter in time of 6 month or shorter interval times,like the instruction for the external Leningrad IV selenium lightmeter.

All selenium lighmeters needed in time to time a littel calibration.But the screw in the lightmeterhouse of KIEV 4 and other models included genuine Contax can calibrated in a difference round about 1 f- stop, and is an fine- calibration operating only.

For a bigger differenz like yours 3-4 f- stops taked unsscrew the lightmeter dial left side on KIEV 4 for a exact position.

Before unscrew the the KIEV 4 tested the selenium lightmeter don't tired.

Is the lightmeter ok go step for step

1.

unscrew the screw in the camera fork for the cartridge.

2.

unscrew the dial and open it.

3.

In this step to know the difference for accurate lightexposition, and

take the reel under the dial in a other gap for a right sensitive postion GHOST like ASA.

4.

reversal the steps and closed the operation, and received an

exact lightmeter advise.

Last notice this operation are impossible with an tired selenium cell in the KIEV -4,and later models neeeded a other instruction for step to step.

Good luck

peter

Hallo Gene,

a wonderfull example of earlyer KEB/KIEV rangfinder.

I can concratulated for your rar KIEV camera, and with an KMZ-logo on the Jupiter-8 lens that's very sharp like the genuine Zeiss Sonnar lens.

Thank you very much for the picture impression too.

I can see your KIEV have included the black metal mask in the viewer like the earlyer KIEV cameras, and any details tell me you have a genuine earlyer KIEV don't like the fakes go around in this time in the ...bay.

Your's is really an old ruskie

Hello Mark,

I like your two cameras, and I think you have the first robot model.

The viewer of the pre-war Tenax are typical, and your Tenax viewer is closed so is difficult to say is an pre-or post war model.

peter

Hello,

yes is true KIEV-2 rangefinder are near to the Zeiss Contax rangefinder cameras included like my KIEV- 2 export model with

3 engravings in the attachment shoe.

Please remember KIEV cameras and lenses are don't copys the are produced on genuine Zeiss machines in first time, a result of WW II repair cost that Germany destroyed the UdSSR.

So the pre-war Contax camera have a new birth with a name called KIEV a big city in the Ukraine.

Please remember too,KIEV rangefinder cameras are long time runner 1947-1987, against the genuine pre-war Contax with a low quantity and a high priced.

The Contax IIa and IIIa are produced 8 years in West-Germany only, and the are everyone hand made,and with an different shutter that maked Zeiss many problems. The lubrication problems of

Contax IIa and IIIa are with KIEV models unknown, but only for the russian lenses with the out bajonett fitting or helical that can to dry.

Is true the KIEV long time runner that included later a quality problem, but a overhauled KIEV is an hard photographic worker.

Today you can't buy a rangefinder with a extremly rangefinder base, like the KIEV and pre-war Contax, of nominal 11cm and real 9,5 cm.

The modern Leica M 7 and MP included a mirror rangefinder that value

are under the KIEV/Contax rangefinder base.

Kiev and all Contax rangefinder without Contax I will work with a precise prism rangefinder.

I liked all my KIEV rangefinder models.

peter

Hello,

I was shocked is a post- war Zeiss-Ikon toy, but in very good cosmetical condition.

The pre-war Tenax are rarer.

Good play

peter

Hello Jeff.

Voigtlaender Bessa 66 cameras are made in 1935 to WW II, and a small quantity in war times.

The Bessa 66 are fitted with different lenses like Voigtar, Vaskar= all 3 lenses, and any in small quantity with Skopar= 4 lenses like the Zeiss Tessar, and all included a Prontor II shutter.

The next generation Bessa 66 in 1938 with closed top and integrated viewer have fitted any a Voigtlaender high end Heliar lens=5 lenses with a Compur rapid shutter.

The Voigtlaender Skopar 4 lenses in 3 groups like the Zeiss Tessar

are the best of one Tessar typs. Is possibel any Bessa 66 with the Skopar lens included a Compur Rapid shutter like the Voigtlaender Perkeo II from post-war.

However the Voigtlaender Bessa 66 cameras are beautiful, excellent mechanical condition, and with a Skopar lens a great performer.

peter

Hello,

please friends of russian KIEV-and Contax rangefinder,

a genuine or faked Contax III can't identified on details like

an arrow on rewind knob, diffent lightmeter sensitive, foot on camera back and other details.

The pre- war Contax III camera have many changed details in the running short production time.

Example= The first KIEV III lightmeter included a sensitive like german DIN,and is engraved too, but you can not to say is a genuine Contax III. Is not a question too the frontshield holder of a

KIEV III is very easy to converted for a faked Contax III.

For determinated is a fake or not is importend to dissampled

the rangefinder camera.

The first step is to look on the frontshielder screws the are included genuine Zeiss own, or russian international metric screws.

And many many othe determinated steps.

peter

Hello,

Zeiss Contax IIa and IIIa cameras are hand made, and with many different problems for repair like shutter, lubrication, etc.

Look on Henry Scheerers webpage about this problems.

So I will 100% agree with you= a repair man open a Contax IIa and IIIa

to know absolutly to doe.

I will agree too in Germany Gima in Munich (before called Scheller GmbH) is an expert Nr.1, but the repair prices too.

I hope Henrys prices don't expansive too, but the included shipping cost in the United States.

So before you can ask first the american zeiss assoziation in US about a competition Zeiss repairman to know in Germany.

peter