Contax – a Camera Name – Past and Present

In 1929, Zeiss Ikon began developing a 35mm camera designed to surpass the state of the art at the time. The Contax was launched in the spring of 1932. While camera designs have evolved significantly over the decades, the name has endured, and the brand is now approaching its centenary. Today, cameras are often integrated into smartphones used for all forms of communication, yet one thing unites all modern cameras worldwide: If they contain chips, those chips were created using Zeiss lenses. What can we expect in this anniversary year? A reminder: 1) Contax I Version 4, no. U54068, spring 1933, with Carl Zeiss Jena Sonnar 2/5 cm no. 1412683; very good condition. (2-/2-) – 2) Contax II, no. E8602, with Sonnar 2/5 cm no. 1863992; camera shows signs of heavy use. (3–4/3) – 3) Contax S, no. 2841, 1949 onwards, the first SLR with a prism viewfinder for eye-level shooting, with Carl Zeiss Jena Biotar 2/5.8 cm T no. 3350404. (2-/2-) – 4) Contax 139 Quartz, no. 134832, burgundy leatherette (non-original), with Carl Zeiss Planar 1.4/50 mm T* no. 7192197. (3/–) – 5) Contax 167 MT, no. 018764, with Carl Zeiss Planar 1.4/50 mm T* no. 6053682; electronics functional (accuracy untested); includes box and manual. (3/3) – 6) Contax T no. 034804, Carl Zeiss Sonnar 2.8/38 mm T*; camera fires, self-timer LED operates, no display in viewfinder; includes case, flash, and manual. (3-/–) – And: 7) Reference literature in German: Zeiss Ikon 1937 – 75 Years of Photo and Cinema Technology – Commemorative Publication 1862–1937; Kuc 1981 – Contax History 1932–1945.

布雷克拍品等级是为了方便竞买人判断拍卖品的成色而设置的。布雷克等级用1到6级来标注外观和功能的成色，(从非常好到非常差)。 在目录图册里用括号里的2个数字来表示，前一个数字表示外观成色的级别，后一个数字表示功能成色的级别。如(3/2)表示外观成色是3(满意的)，功能成色2(好)。 成色 定义参照下列标准： 1 - 非常好 (未使用过，没有使用痕迹) 2 - 好 (新，极少的使用痕迹) 3 - 满意的 (普通的使用痕迹) 4 - 及格的 (明显的使用痕迹，某个非主要部件是后配的) 5 - 有缺陷的 (极明显的使用痕迹, 某个主要部件是后配的，功能上有缺陷，需要修理) 6 - 非常差 (严重破损, 缺少重要部件)