[rollei_list] Re: OT: Contax II
- From: Marc James Small <msmall@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: rollei_list@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 20 Apr 2006 13:18:01 -0400
At 11:34 AM 4/20/06 -0400, Jan Decher wrote:
>Finally. Classic Contaxes are fairly large, especially the prewar
>versions. I briefly had a postwar IIIa and was surprised how bulky it
>was compared to a Leica IIIf. The 1950s collapsible Zeiss Sonnars (2.0
>and 1.5) are also not as compact as the collapsible Elmars and
>Summicrons of the Leica - though arguably better. Contax Viewfinders
>are not as bright and clearly framed as modern Leica M, Cosina Bessa,
>or Cosina/Zeiss Ikon ZM viewfinders but the rangefinder is very
>accurate, IF well adjusted.
Jan
A couple of words of dissent. First, neither Carl Zeiss Jena nor
Zeiss-Opton/Carl Zeiss ever produced a collapsible 1.5/50 Sonnar and the
Postwar 2/50's are rigid though CZJ did produce the 2/50 in a collapsible
mount until late in the war. All Postwar CZ production was of rigid
lenses. Second, some late Prewar lenses are coated -- I have a coated
1.5/5cm CZJ Sonnar which was purchased new in Roanoke, Virginia, in 1937.
Third, the Contax II and III combined VF/RF is every bit as crisp and
bright as that on the latest Leica M if not better. Finally, the Contax RF
does not really allow "adjustments" as does the LTM and M RF; it really
requires a rather complete rebuild. Of the several hundred Contaxes I have
examined over the years, I have yet to find one with an out-of-true RF.
These things are built like tanks, which is why the Contax II was the
accepted rough-country expedition camera through the War and for a decade
afterwards.
Marc
msmall@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Cha robh bàs fir gun ghràs fir!
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