Weird Contax III
Although I know that this is about Soviet cameras... the Contax III is the predecessor of the KIEV III, but this Contax III is very special.
The light meter cover has holes, the light meter setting looks like a Contax IIIa or a Kiev 4, but also somehow different.
I've never seen a camera like this before, what might it be? A conversion in the 50s, because, yes, why? Or a prototype? It is from 1938, as you can see from the G serial number.
Have a look at the pictures, I will take it apart soon to see more details:
Ulrich
http://fotos.cconin.de
The light meter cover has holes, the light meter setting looks like a Contax IIIa or a Kiev 4, but also somehow different.
I've never seen a camera like this before, what might it be? A conversion in the 50s, because, yes, why? Or a prototype? It is from 1938, as you can see from the G serial number.
Have a look at the pictures, I will take it apart soon to see more details:
Ulrich
http://fotos.cconin.de
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All explanation, about the cell and the flash mechanism here:
https://mikeeckman.com/2019/11/zeiss-historica-spring-2005/
Thanks to Mike Eckman and Zeiss Historica...
Amitiés. Jacques.
that is a very interesting article, thanks for finding it. As I mentioned before it's a regular conversion made by Zeiss itself.
I have disassembled the second one and made a site of it and added your link to it (only in german until now): http://ritzelkiste.de/kameras/weirdcontaxrepair/index.htm
Ulrich
http://fotos.cconin.de
Best regards,
Juhani
thanks. It was also a lot of work, dismantling, documentation, text, all together it took a good week. But it's fun, interesting and ultimately helps us all.
I already have the next projects, a Zorki 3 with a defective shutter, 2 defective Droug from which I want to make a working one and maybe I will dare to make a Kristall, also with a defective shutter :-)
Ulrich
http://fotos.cconin.de
Thank you much for this precious documentation, Ulrich.
As you know, I have found too one of these weird Contax, and your doc will help me greatly when I can have a closer look at it (even in German!).
Yes, the Zeiss Historica's article is very interesting. It's just a bit frustrating that we cannot have an idea of the number of these cameras.
Amitiés. Jacques.
No apparent change compared to Ulrich's ones.
By the date, we know that the camera was modified after may 1959. At that period, the IIIa were already on their dial: no production in 1958-59, 25 in 1960 and 4000 in 1961-62. Certainly, the repair of an old III could be interesting...
An interesting detail: the internal part of the flap was painted in black. And one of the six holes was filled with black varnish (regulation of incoming light, probably).
For the moment, I cannot go farther in the taking to pieces.
Amitiés. Jacques.
nice to see that it has arrived safe and sound. It's really interesting that the inside of your cover is blackened and a hole has been glued shut. The cameras were apparently all customized.
Ulrich
http://fotos.cconin.de
Yes, Ulrich. The flash socket is exactly in the same position as on your own cameras. Really, all that was made by the same worshop quoted in Zeiss Historica article.
I will check this very original flash contact as soon as I can, with your perfect explanations on you site!
Amitiés. Jacques.
https://mikeeckman.com/2019/11/zeiss-historica-spring-2005/
Ulrich
http://fotos.cconin.de