Strengths: Build quality. Feels like a precision instrument.
Lenses.
Good camera for low light.
Weaknesses: Squinty little viewfinder.
Overly complex German design.
Cost of wide angle lenses.
Film area - miniature formats can't match the quality of medium or large format.
Difficult to use with glasses - scratched the coatings on my eyeglasses.
Fragile compare to modern gear.
Slow to use compared to a modern SLR.
Bottom Line:
I really enjoyed my IIIA, but I ultimately sold it. The build quality was nice, and the lenses were excellent. But I ultimately could not justify the expense for the system and the difficulty in finding lenses.
Strengths: - Advanced design,
- Optically near perfect lenses,
- Excellent craftsmanship,
- Fun to use,
- A joy to hold and admire,
- Numerous accessories to extend the capabilities of the camera,
- Relatively cheap compared to a Nikon or Leica rangefinder of the same vintage,
- Contax is like a good wine, it is a camera that gets better as it ages ...
Weaknesses: - You have to own and use one to really understand what I am talking about,
- It may be difficult (and / or expensive) to repair a Contax that has been mishandled or abused. It is a precision tool that deserves respect and must be treated with care,
- Some accessories are difficult to find,
- Yes, I'll admitt, the viewfinder is a bit narrow compared to the more modern rangefinders with built-in bright-line finder frames
Bottom Line:
The Contax is a gem. It is THE best camera, RERIOD. Contax is a work of art, a product of ingenuity, precision craftsmanship and perfection both mechanically and optically. In summary classic Contax rangefinder camera is not just a tool to take great photos, it is a masterpiece of engineering which is a delight to use, a pleasure just to hold and a pride to own.
I have purchased my first Contax (a pre-war Contax II) about 20 years ago. Until then I've been using Nikon and Canon gear mostly (both the rangefinders and SLRs). My purpose was just to compare the Contax (which was the source of inspiration for the Nikon rangefinder series) against the other cameras I've been using. After the first test roll I was sold. The lens on my first Contax was also a pre-war (un-coated) Sonnar 5cm f/2. Despite the fact and the age of the lens the sharpness, bokeh and contrast was simply far superior than I expected. Thus, I felt the urge to try the newer and "T" coated optics and the newer Stuttgart Contax cameras (both IIa and IIIa). I can show you literally hundreds of transparencies taken with classic Contax gear with stunning sharpness, contrast and color.
In my experience, I particularly like the 50 mm f/1.5 Sonnar and the 50 mm f/3.5 Tessar (East German "T" coated post-war version) among the normal lenses, the West German 135 mm f/4 coated Sonnar and of course the 21mm f/4.5 Biogon the best. Having said this, I must also add that any of the Zeiss lenses for the Contax, even the really old 28mm f/8 Tessar I tried proved to be better than I expected. Therefore, even if one can find a Nikon SP rangefinder with a lever wind easier to use or a Leica cloth shutter to be more silent and use these arguments to criticize the Contax body, no one can claim that a Nikkor or an Elmar can outperform the matching Zeiss lens of the same period. In my opinion, this reason alone is sufficient to salute the Contax as the BEST classic rangefinder and a camera (and lens) design far ahead of its time.
The Contax (especially the IIa and IIIa CD -color dial- versions) fits perfectly in your hands. The camera is small enough to fit in your palm yet it is as solid as a rock. The camera is so well balanced that with the standard 50mm Sonnar lens the center of gravity sits directly at the center of your supporting hand and doesn't shift while focusing. The shutter release is smooth as silk yet feels as positive and as precise as the trigger of a delicate hand gun. The shutter speed adjustment is also silky smooth and as precise. Winding action is equally smooth yet one needs to practice a bit to get used to the dual-hands winding motion. (You need to wind the knob with your right hand clockwise while twisting the camera in your left palm counter-clockwise.)
Since the begining of my fascination with the classic Contax, I have accumulated a collection of about 30 cameras (from Contax I-a to the 25th Anniversary Gold Label Contax IIIa) and a collection of more than 45 lenses including the twin lens 35mm f/3.5 Stereotar-C and the 115mm f/3.5 Panflex-Tessar. Yes, it can be difficult to locate some lenses and Contax accessories however, it pays to remain determined. Because, all Contax accessories and supplementary lenses match the engineering quality and optical ingenuity of a Contax.
However, I do not agree with the reviewers who claim that the Kiev variants (the Russian clones of Contax) are equal to the original. Yes, I think Kiev is a very nice camera too (if you can find a better built examples of it) however they simply don't feel the same as the original Contax. The satin chrome finish is rough, the camera is less solid, the enamel paint is uneven and usually there are glue marks on the leather. Yet, the Kiev cameras are much more cheaper than the real Contax and they are fun to use (especially the Kiev 5 if you can find a decent one).
Similar Products Used: Nikon Rangefinder line (S, S2, SP, S3)
Kiev Rangefinder line (3A, 4AM, 5)
Voigtlander Prominent Rangefinder
Leica IIIg and M3 Rangefinder
Canon rangefinder (IVSB, 7), etc.
Type of photography: Other
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Daniel E.
a Intermediate
Date Reviewed: June 11, 2007
Bottom Line:
I find it difficult to be objective about my CONTAX IIIA. I was born in 1947. My father must have bought this camera around 1955. When he trusted it to me in 1970, I switched from a KODAK STARFLASH to the CONTAX IIIA. Imagine going from a plastic revolver toy to a real laser sabre straight from Star Wars... Such was my striking impression.
In 1977, many shots and dias later, I bought a NIKON FM and the CONTAX was forgotten. Digital camera days came, and I fell for a used MINOLTA 7Hi belonging to an office colleague. A month ago, I bought a brand new NIKON D80 on which I plan to mount my 30 years old AI lenses of my old FM.
Quite a journey !
From time to time, I take the CONTAX IIIA out and triggers a few dummy shots in order to keep it from oblivion. Always the same impression of having a precious and luxury thing in my hands.
I still find the telemetric range finder very precise, the use simple, and the feel very soft. The 1/1250 speed was a revelation to me.
I suspected I was the happy owner of a collection item. A few review readings convinced me this is indeed true.
Daniel E.
Paris, France
June 11, 2007
Strengths: Nice, efficient and lovable old machines.
Kiev are cheap and mostly reliable.
Contaxes are the best.
Weaknesses: Contaxes in good condition are expensive.
Kiev are cheap but sometimes less reliable (choose a good russian Ebay provider..).
Bottom Line:
I have been using Contax vintage cameras and their Kiev Russian clones for many years and I got the best pictures from them.
The lenses are great (Russian Jupiters as as well as German Sonnars) although the germans are generally sharper and the russians softer.
I love handling these old mechanical masterpieces.
Engineering quality is incredible and the meters I have on my favourite cameras are accurate enough to get nicely exposed pictures sixty years after they were built.
Anyway, Henry Scherrer takes care of inaccurate meters for my cameras and all's well.
If you are fed up with modern electronic gizmos, get a nice Contax ($350 is an average rpice) (or a good Kiev IV for $75-100)on Ebay, study how they work and start making pictures. Normally you have both a camera and a hobby you will enjoy using for years.
I suggest you use Contaxes and Kievs together.
They are fully compatible you can swap lenses.
The handling is the same.
