does Zeiss Ikon IIa or IIIa a good Rangefinder camera?

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

Steven Woody - 29 Jul 2006 12:51 GMT

i like to heard your opinion about the camera. and, it was said that
the camera only has a scale meter, i don't know what that means. is
the scale meter easy to use?

-
woody

Reply to this Message

Chris Loffredo - 29 Jul 2006 14:34 GMT

> i like to heard your opinion about the camera. and, it was said that
> the camera only has a scale meter, i don't know what that means. is
> the scale meter easy to use?

On the good side:
- Nice, wide rangefinder base (accurate focussing).
- Good lenses.

On the bad side:
- Zeiss-Ikon ergonomics; love them or hate them - most hate them (which
is why Leica was so successful.
- Viewfinder covers 50mm only, you need other external viewfinders if
you use other lenses.
- Changing lenses is a PITA (I suppose with *lots* of practice it gets
better). These last two shortcomings aren't important if you are planing
to use it only with the 50mm.

The lightmeter (I assume that's what you mean by "scale meter"): It is
uncoupled, meaning you have to center the needle, read & choose a
speed/f-stop combination from a dial and apply them respectively to the
shutter speed dial and the f-stop dial. Easy to use? Yes. Fast? No!
Also the selenium meter cell may (or may not - Contax cells seem to
survive better than most) be inaccurate because of time & exposure to light.

Executive summary (IMHO):
A basically nice camera with great lenses (much better than contemporary
Leica lenses), but a pain to use, especially if you change lenses often.

Reply to this Message

Steven Woody - 29 Jul 2006 16:10 GMT

> > i like to heard your opinion about the camera. and, it was said that
> > the camera only has a scale meter, i don't know what that means. is
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> - Nice, wide rangefinder base (accurate focussing).
> - Good lenses.

did you mean the carmera get real rangefinder not distance scale ?

> On the bad side:
> - Zeiss-Ikon ergonomics; love them or hate them - most hate them (which
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> Also the selenium meter cell may (or may not - Contax cells seem to
> survive better than most) be inaccurate because of time & exposure to light.

ok, i understand that kind of meter, just like what on old rolleiflex
TLR.

> Executive summary (IMHO):
> A basically nice camera with great lenses (much better than contemporary
> Leica lenses), but a pain to use, especially if you change lenses often.

thanks for your knowledge.

-
woody

Reply to this Message

Jim - 29 Jul 2006 16:54 GMT

>> > i like to heard your opinion about the camera. and, it was said that
>> > the camera only has a scale meter, i don't know what that means. is
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
> did you mean the carmera get real rangefinder not distance scale ?

Yes, that is exactly what he meant.

>> On the bad side:
>> - Zeiss-Ikon ergonomics; love them or hate them - most hate them (which
[quoted text clipped - 24 lines]
> -
> woody

These two guys are discussing the Contax IIa and IIIa. They were
discontinued sometime in the early 1960s.
One other less than ideal situation is that the shutter is quite fragile and
hard (nearly impossible) to repair.
Jim

Reply to this Message

Chris Loffredo - 29 Jul 2006 16:58 GMT

> did you mean the carmera get real rangefinder not distance scale ?

Yes, and a good one too.

> ok, i understand that kind of meter, just like what on old rolleiflex
> TLR.

Yes, same principle. IIRC, only the IIIa has a meter.

> thanks for your knowledge.

My pleasure...

Also, the Contax IIa & IIIa won't mount all the lenses made for the
Contax - notably the Biogon 35mm f/2.8, commonly found as its Soviet
clone, the Jupiter 12. If you like 35mm lenses, you'll have to find one
of the rare 35mm Planars.

Reply to this Message