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

According with Zeiss Historica that was a pilot series with two light levels of measuring.
The same system was applied in the Super ikonta rangefinder 6x6 where could be seen more frequently although super rare "white fly" piece.

Luiz, thanks for mentioning the Super Ikonta, I've seen that somewhere before (the perforated flap of the light meter), but I couldn't remember where.
I also understood about the 2 levels of metering, green with the flap closed and otherwise with the flap open. The light meter still reacts when the flap is open, but no longer when it is closed.
Thanks for the info :-)

Ulrich

http://fotos.cconin.de

the closed position is for using in high lighted summer days. as in Greece for example. Mountais or sea shore.
in Brazil I have gone to Cearб state the light there is so high that exposure meters go to the maximum value at sea shore.
Regards

Luiz, thanks for the info. Do you have any idea how many of these Contax IIIs were built?

Ulrich

http://fotos.cconin.de

What an interesting find!
Do we know if there is something new about the cell inside, compared to the ordinary Contax III? It's curious that this pilot series was not really produced...
Congrats, Ulrich!

Jacques.

As I understand it, this was a factory conversion that was offered, whereby the old carbon track resistor etc., was replaced with Super Ikonta components. Basically it eliminated the issues experienced with the carbon track, I think the original selenium cell was retained and an in line resistor was replaced to calibrate the cell to the new arrangement, the card register which the needle used to indicate the exposure value was replaced as you no longer zero'd the needle but read off a value. I suspect if Contax III production had continued post-war then this would have been a modification fitted to production cameras, the carbon tracks were always a source of problems as the track gradually wore from use.

Perfectly clear. Thanks Steve.

Steve, interesting information. Correct, these carbon tracks are always a problem (also with the Kievs), either they no longer work at all or the pointer always jumps jerkily.
When I have more time next time I will take the Contax apart and have a closer look at what has been installed/modified there.

Ulrich

http://fotos.cconin.de

A friend of mine has a Superikonta (Post war) bought new in 1951 with Zeiss Opton coated lens, name registered in 1949, witha simitar exposure meter.

Luiz,

yes, it looks similar. The difference is that it is conical on the Super-Ikonta, but straight on the Contax. The scale looks identical.
It's also interesting that the window of the scale and the accessory shoe are reversed on the Super-Ikonta.
Incidentally, the Contax also has a built-in flash socket, as you can see in the third picture. It doesn't look like it was retrofitted. But we'll see more when I have the time to take it apart.

Ulrich

http://fotos.cconin.de

probably this Camera uses remanescent prewar remaining Compur Rapid once Rolleiflex 2.8 from the same era is synchonized

one more picture of Super Ikonta

So, I've now got around to disassembling the Contax. It looks like it's not a pilot project after all, but a conversion from 1959, as you can see from the photocell. On the other hand, the photocell may also have been replaced in 1959, it is not known for sure.
In any case, the retrofitted flash connection is very interesting: It has 2 breaker contacts, one under the shutter release, which is closed when the shutter is pressed, and one at the bottom of the housing, which is closed when the shutter is released. When the shutter release button is released, the upper contact is interrupted (the lower one is closed until the camera is cocked again), so that the flash does not fire continuously.
So, unfortunately it doesn't seem to be a pilot project, but it is an interesting modification. The question is, who might have done something like this, a gifted camera repairman, or perhaps even at Zeiss itself?
Take a look at the pictures:

























Ulrich

http://fotos.cconin.de

A few more additions:
- The blue resistor reads 16.6k
- "83" is engraved in the winding button
- The plastic cap in front of the selenium cell (is that even a selenium cell?) has been blackened 2/3 of the way through
- The area under the exposure setting is interesting, the indentation in the metal and the cut-out hole in the sheet metal look very professional
- The way the flash mechanism is installed has the advantage that the shutter can be removed. The cable is often soldered directly to the shutter when the flash connection is retrofitted.

Ulrich

http://fotos.cconin.de

Many thanks for your photos and your very clear explanations, Ulrich.
All that looks very professional, particularly the flash connexion.
On the contrary, the partial blackening of the plastic cap is odd. Of course, it was made to fit the holes and the extra scale, but that rather looks like an experiment...

Really, a very interesting camera...

Amitiйs. Jacques.

Jacques,

you wouldn't believe it, but I found another Contax III like this... It also has an additional flash socket on the left side. But this time it's from the B series and not the G series like the previous one.
I'm going to take it apart soon to see if the flash mechanism has been installed in the same way.
Really exciting, these two.

Ulrich

http://fotos.cconin.de

Here are 2 pictures after I unpacked the camera:





Ulrich


http://fotos.cconin.de

Very happy to know you had it, Ulrich!
I had tried to get it, but it was reserved to the German market...
A bit puzzled by the difference of dates: B to G...
Congratulations!

Jacques.

Jacques,

thank you. Sorry, I didn't know you were going to bid on it too. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing what awaits me when I open it this time.
Externally, it looks pretty worn out, the light meter doesn't work, but this time the shutter works well at all speeds. The lens is quite cloudy, let's see if I can fix it.
The different years (1936 and 1938) suggest a later installation.

Ulrich

http://fotos.cconin.de