Zeiss Ikon Contax III camera 1930s vintage Rangefinder Authentic Film

Product ID:

81

Product Description Title:

Zeiss Ikon Contax III camera 1930s vintage Rangefinder Authentic Film

Product description:

This superb Sonnar lens is in exceptionally fine condition. There is no fungus, separated elements or other problems. There are no scratches, and name engraved on the bottom, just a few light cleaning marks (but you’ll need a magnifier to see them.) As with all Contax lenses from this era, there a bit of oil on the aperture blades but this has no effect on performance (apertures on rangefinder don’t need to open and close rapidly like those of an SLR). It’s a lovely lens and it’s capable of producing very lovely photos with modern color & B&W film.

All in all this is a well maintained, freshly serviced camera and a joy to photograph with if you are so inclined. If you’ve been looking for an exceptionally fine, useable Contax III, you’ve just found it. This is the world famous Contax III produced in Germany prior to WWII. It was one of the cameras that truly demonstrated what a quality 35mm camera was capable of and helped launch the 35mm format to a preeminent role among serious photojournalists.

The camera in this listing an excellent example of the camera that started it all. This is the top of the line Contax III, the serial number indicates that it was originally built in Germany in 1937 when the world looked incredible different than it does today. It was a testament of genius, of pride and faith in precision mechanics. It was the cutting edge of photography at that time and it was very very expensive. The high purchase price reflected the time, money and effort that went into the design, production and patient hand assembly of each camera. And now holding this Contax 80 years after it was produced, I see that the effort did not fade into the darkness of all the passing years… it is still a thing of beauty.

Overall Condition

8/10 Excellent

Cosmetic Condition
8/10
Excellent:
Has some minor scuff marks, but in excellent condition given its age

Functional Condition
- Aperture, ISO, shutter speeds all working fine
- No haze, fungus, shoots well and tested (without film), no green, white powder or rust or corrosion, recently cleaned and serviced, excellent condition given its age. Shutter: Works
Exposure meter: Works. No fungus in the finder. # Optics = A, Normal condition, No fungus. No haze. No scratches. No balsam separation

Product Line
Audio & Visual

Product Category
Film Cameras

Product Manufacturer / Brand
Zeiss

Product Model Number
Contax III

Country of Manufacturer
Germany

Vintage Year
1930s

Product Rarity
4/5 Very Rare

Scale from 1 to 5:
1 = VERY COMMON for sale or avalable on the market not very rare
5 = VERY RARE you should buy it there are not many on the market

Product Specification URL
http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Contax_rangefinder

Dimensions (mm)
TBC

Weight (kgs)
2kgs approx