Had To Say Goodbye to My Contax IIa and Contax IIIa

[Deleted]

For the life of me, I couldn't get on shooting with the Contax IIa and Contax IIIa because I found the adjustment of going from SLR to Rangefinder was too difficult. I practised focusing the lens with my left eye without film for a week this was due to the flash sync socket which got in the way with my right eye. Did I tell you that I am right eye dominant? 

The second week I loaded both cameras with film and thirdly, little did I know that knob wound cameras had to be advanced in one continuous motion, the first roll of film had spacing problems.  On Sunday afternoon, I unloaded both cameras to their new owner and managed to score two Nikon F cameras, yesterday...stayed tuned for an update.

I don't have any regrets, photography allows oneself to experiment with different equipment, this was an expensive experience that I will never forget. However, not every photographer can adjusts to using a rangefinder and I myself is included in this category. Many times it is better to stick with the more familiar equipment than to follow others. Another issue arose, that the Contax IIa viewfinder was slightly out of alignment, only if I was told this before going for my debit card but it didn't phase the person who bought the cameras off of me. Don't get me wrong, the pair of Contax cameras are well built, with great optics and a lot more affordable than the brand with the little red circle...

It just wasn't for me.

[stevewmh]

It's always good to try out new things

Interestingly, amongst the members of our photography club there are only 2 of us who use range finder style cameras regularly

If you like them they are great but can understand why they are not for everyone

[nickr]

Contaxes - the rangefinder ones - are to put it mildly quirky cameras. That said, if what you have bought are Nikon Fs, then they're nearly as quirky - they are very much based on the Nikon S rangefinder series, which were clones of - Contaxes. Some things point very clearly at that - same direction of lens mounting and focusing, the back that comes off for film loading and so on. The a model Contaxes are a little more user-friendly than pre-war ones, but only a little. I loved owning a IIIa, but didn't love using it. I've still got a Kiev, which gives me the experience at a much lower cost, and it's about time I dug it out and gave it a go again.

Good luck with the F - I hated it.

[geoffr]

I have tried range finder cameras and didn’t get on with them either.