Far beyond any screw mount Leica, easy to load, combined range/view finder, nicer shutter sound, perfect size and balance.

Lack of brightline finder, lack of integral finder for anything other than 50mm lens, find the focus wheel to be a nuisance - especially the infinti lock.

The 'feel' of a Contax can only be compared to the feeling one gets behind the wheel of a Rolls Royce, wearing a Vacheron watch, and using an other mechanical item that deserves the use of superlatives in its description.

Customer Service

Have found a few excellent repair sources on line

Similar Products Used:

All model Leicas from II through M6, Nikon S2, Canon IIF through 7, Nikon FE2, Konica IIIA, Kievs, Nikon N2000.

Small size, superb optics wonderful craftsmanship. My whole set up: camera body, 35mm, 50mm 85mm & 135mm weighs less than my F3 with a zoom lens! (and the lens quality is comparable if not better. Cheap russian lenses are available and can be superb (but a lot of luck is involved)

Small viewfinder, lens availability & cost (nothing compared to leica!) not for action photography

Wonderful rangefinder with superb quality. Purchased as a collectable user it has become my primary 35mm camera. More about feel than rational photgraphy.

Customer Service

None needed!

Similar Products Used:

Contax II, Kiev III.

Many, specially the curtain and the shutter, very good in the Kiev too.

Operations to adjust speed a little slow. Be carefull with the window to focus,¡finger out!.Tipical bubles.

Well balanced, smooth operations in all the mecanisms. A little more sofisticated than Leica M3, may be not too hard.The finder is very good but the Kiev is better(bigger). The shutter´s sound is like music.The Sonnar 50mm f2 is like silk.

Customer Service

I repaired the RF system by myself. It´s pretty inside.

Similar Products Used:

Leica M3, Kiev, Yashica electro, and many others reflex and 6x6 format.

sturdy camera

slow shutter speed, etc.

dont like it... compared to leica etc...

What can I say? It's a (comparatively) lightweight but rugged rangefinder with integral metering, a decent shutter speed range and top class optics. Dirt cheap compared to a Leica, and it takes me back to my childhood!

Availability of new lenses, question mark over reliability.

My grandfather had a Contax III. It was the first decent camera I ever used. I loved the odd look of the meter, the old-fashioned controls - the general weirdness of it. Over the years, I've wished that I had it, but the closest I had come was a Kiev (which is very close, of course!). But I had mostly used AF SLRs for the last 10 years, when I was given the chance to buy a very decent IIIa. So here I am! What do I think? Well, the meter works (within half a stop or so, good enough for B&W), and it's generally much easier to use than the III (or the Kiev) - the shutter speed dial is loads better, and it's just smoother and nicer in every way (not knocking the Kiev, though, it's a fine camera). Oh, and the finish is splendid.

Customer Service

N/A

Similar Products Used:

Kiev 4, Leica M6, FED 2 & $, Contax III

Enfoque bueno y preciso, si bien es superior al de la Leica M3 es todavía mejor el de la Kiev (el mejor). Fina y suave no tan pesada como Leica aunque más delicada.Rapidez en el cambio de objetivos. Silenciosa, sobre todo a velocidades bajas.

Tendencia a crearse burbujas en su tapa ("bubbles") características.

Bien hecha, siendo de tamaño similar a la Leica M3 parece mas pequeña. Suave de manejo, equilibrada, objetivos ligeros y de gran calidad.

Customer Service

Telémetro reparado por mí mismo. ¡Qué satisfacción!.

Similar Products Used:

Leica M3, Leica II, Yashicas, Kiev.

Incredibly well made camera. I wonder if the level of german craftsmanship exists today in comparison to the 1950's and 60's.

RF is a different photo experience from SLR's; maybe not a weakness, just different. Using a lens other than the 50mm requires the use of an accessory viewfinder. Loading is a bit more involved using the takeup spool. Aside from these, which don't bother me at all, I can't really think of anything that would really be a weakness, other than the difficulty with locating accessory lenses

Very solidly made, although doesn't feel quite as 'bulletproof' as the earlier contaxes, in my opinion. Optics are excellent. Inexpensive (and nearly as well-built) russian alternatives in the Kiev's and associated lenses

Customer Service

What's that?

Similar Products Used:

Contax II,III; Kiev III,IV; Voigtlander Vitessa L,N

Build quality whispy shutter Lovely babance - photos sharp down to 1/8 etc Looks cross between a F2 and a Rolls royce! reliable mechanical shutter. Sleep with it under pillow! rangefinder always more accurate than a Leica

Focussing can be slow at first No parallax correction U fear dropping it! Erm...

Oh what a sublime piece of craftmanship!! I own Kiev IIIa and i have to say that the build quality is tremendous and cannot be more than a whisker from the original Contax models. In fact i probably benefit from the pre-war shutter design and classic styling being made by ambitious russkies in 1957! (also the pre-war rangefinder was more robust as well) By the way i paid £79 for a highquality crafted product that cost eqivilant £4000 in its day,,, and it helps me take nearly every type of pic i need! The rangefinder is a blessing and is more acurate and reliable than any manual camera focussing system FULLSTOP! You will also notice that the contax/kiev is sooooo well balanced No probs - surroptitious lowlight street shooting is it''s natural arena! the Russian kiev lens i have on this version is remember built with all the germans machinery whisked away with Yank compliance (body is copied same way)in 1945. oh yea -- The back loading is dead easy and very secure! I put this camera on one of those hitek stretchy straps ... weightless! The shutter is so quiet and unobtrusive u aint got no worries in public etc. In fact i get positive encouragment .. This is what photography needs! Why on earth does any one need another camera? motordrives help but r u in the rat-race? this superb lastcentury design also seems very trustworthy as i have taken it out in pouring rain and snow.. What about thee lightmeter? What about handheld? My mates got a Weston Ranger 9 meter ... If only he would let me have it>>> the perrfect compliment to the kiev. Actually the coupled meter on mine still works albeit 2 stps under. I think it is the about the nicest thing about he camera... For drokks sake surely Nikon has leeched just about every period in zeiss history.. It titanum AF compacts have a very similar swish needle meter. Wheel focusing? a brilliant and lept upon innovation. MY only gripe is lens availablilty-- i wish i had monies for those superb voitlander SC lenses! Russian ones a cracking bargain!

Customer Service

Will someone please build these again or at least revive the mount?

Similar Products Used:

olympus Pen D Minolta X700 mmm Nikon F70 and F80 Contax RX etc

Extraordinarily built. Certainly rivals the Leica''s of its day. But the lens! Oh, the lens!

Small, dim viewfinder.

My father purchased this Contax IIa black dial camera with a Zeis Sonnar f2 lens in 1952, while serving in the United States Army Infantry in Korea. Once he returned to the States, he rarely used the camera. It is in pristine condition. In fact, it looks like it has never been used. I sent it to a camera repair shop in New York for a cla, recently, in order to be sure the shutter was working properly. I also bought a Voightlander VC Speedmeter to attach to the accessory shoe. In holding this camera and lens, I am struck by its heft and balance. The controls are so well placed and function flawlessly. The rangefinder focuses easily, although the viewfinder is very small and it is difficult to see the entire frame when one wears glasses as I do. I was prompted to post this review when I saw the results of the photographs I made with this lovely instrument. I was surprised by the clarity and sharpness of them. I shot both indoors without a flash as well as outdoors. The colour and contrast were remarkable, I thought, for lens nearly 50 years old. In fact, I would say that the quality of the lens when used properly can produce results that are outstanding by anyone''s measure. Indeed, I wonder if all the time that is spent discussing technical wizardry ( of which I am more than happy to take advantage ), would be better spent working on one''s own photography. After having used this antique setup, my Nikon gear seems a little excessive. By the way, if you have a need for an accessory lightmeter, the Voightlander would be a superb choice. easy to use and accurate.

Similar Products Used:

Leicas.

Makes you slow down and think about technique. Extremely quiet operation. Accessory multi finder is outstanding with wide to telephoto lenses because it allows you to see a wider area than the highlighter actual area: you can see what is entering the frame.

None. It does everything that it is designed to do extremely well.

I actually have 2 Kiev 4am''s which are Soviet copies of the Contax rangefinder. The cameras are a delight to focus in dim light with their extremely wide rangefinder. The Soviet copies of Zeiss lenses that I have are sharp and contrasty.

Similar Products Used:

Fed 5, Fed 5b Leica lens mount Soviet rangefinders.