Amateur Photographer - UK (2020-12-05)

AT THE end of the Second World War,
Dresden fell into the Russian zone of East
Germany. According to the terms of the
peace agreement, Germany was required
to pay war reparation to the victors and,
among the German products that the
Russians wanted were the Contax II and III.
Following the destruction of most of Zeiss
Ikon’s records during the  rebombing of
Dresden in 1945, the Russians demanded
complete sets of drawings for the cameras
to be recreated. They also acquired the
machinery to make the cameras,
information on training and installation,
sample cameras and accessories. With
this, the Russians set up their own
production lines, renaming the cameras
Kiev, after the city where they were built.
They began by making copies of the Contax
II and then moved on to the Contax III. The
cameras continued to be modi ed and
improved upon right through to the 1970s.
Today, a Kiev, equipped with a Jupiter
lens, whose design was derived from the
Zeiss Sonnar found on Contax cameras,
can make a very useful buy for the 35mm
coupled range nder camera enthusiast.
They might not have the Zeiss
workmanship behind them, but they are
well crafted, reliable and capable of quality
results. With examples like the Contax II
lookalike Kiev 4a selling for £40-60, their
value for money cannot be disputed.

Testbench CLASSIC CONTAX RANGEFINDERS

The Russian Kiev 4A, a Contax II copy

new and improved versions on the old

theme. They appeared in 1950 under

the names Contax IIa and IIIa. While of

similar appearance and design to their

predecessors, these new cameras

incorporate several enhancements which

give them a slightly smaller size and more

reliability than the old pre-war models.

Which Contax is right for you?

The answer to that depends on whether

you are a collector or a user.

For the pre-war cameras, collectors

mainly go for variations of the  rst

model because of its landmark status.

Today’s users, however, will  nd the

second model more attractive, easier to

use and cheaper to buy, while the quality

from the Sonnar lenses usually found

with both cameras is superb. Beware,

however, of unreliable shutters which

are prone to sudden failure.

Collectors tend to shun the post-war

IIa and IIIa in favour of the pre-war

groundbreaking models. But for today’s

user, the later cameras are the better bet.

They are more reliable and, using post-war

bloomed lenses, less prone to  are than the

older cameras.

If you are looking for a classic range nder

camera to use, of all the cameras reviewed

here, the Contax IIa and IIIa are the best

in terms of spec, reliability and price.

Dueto collectors’interest,thepricesof

early Contax I cameras have gone through

the roof in recent years. The later cameras,

which will be of more interest to users,

however, are more reasonable. All prices

are with a 50mm standard lens.

Contax I £450-500

Contax II £200-250

Contax III £150-200

Contax IIa £250-300

Contax IIIa £200-250

The Kiev

connection

The post-war Contax IIa (left) and IIIa

Left: The new look

of the Contax II

Below left: Top

view of the Contax

II with the

collapsible Sonar

lens extended to

its shooting

position.

Below right: Plate

back on Contax II

with three plate

holders

GUIDE PRICES

Contax III with its added exposure meter