RobertW Loc: Breezy Point, New York

I recently opened a box of my Father's "Treasures" and found a Contax Camera-Zeiss-Ikon with a Carl Zeiss f2 X 5cm lens mounted, Serial # 2139054- in absolutely mint condition-
Does anyone out there know where I can get information regarding the operation of, etc. My estimate is that it's just pre-war or early 40's/ West German because the lens is Stainless steel and all the lenses from East Germany then were aluminum...The Serial # is F42571..RobertW

diamondguy

Carl Zeiss and Ernst Leizt (makers of the Leica) were rival manufacturers in Germany before the WW II."Kiev" camera. The Contax was a highly respected camera, and Zeiss lenses were for many years the ultimate in lens design and quality - their Tessar and Sonnar lenses surviving many years at the top and copied by other manufacturers. I seem to remember them, in their advertising, making a lot of mileage over the fact that with all the money in the world to spend on the moon race, it was Hasselblad cameras with Zeiss lenses that the Americans took to record it. If your Contax is in mint condition, it might be worth valuing and insuring it.

blacks2 Loc: SF. Bay area

According to your description (West Germany) the camera is an after war Contax. If it has a light meter built in on top it would be a Model IIIa, without the meter it is a IIa. If the speed dial has multi colored numbers it is a color dial which are more valuable. If all is working, shutters are mostly the problem, it should be worth around $500-600. For instructions you will find originals and reprints on Google.