 1936-42 Contax II |
 1936-42 Contax III |
 1950-61 Contax II(a) |
 |
 1947-55 Kiev II |
 1947 - 52 Kiev III |
|
| |
 1952 Contax D |
 1954 Hexacon |
Click on camera image for more details
In 1932 Zeiss Ikon introduced the
Contax
camera. A 35mm Rangefinder camera, it was designed to compete with the
Leica in the growing 35mm market. Zeiss took a leaf out of the Leitz
book by introducing a plethora of lenses and other items to create a
'system' camera equal to the Leica. Zeiss was a huge conglomerate, a
goliath, in comparison to the David of Leitz, a family run business.
With all the resources at its disposal it is a wonder that Zeiss did
not surpass Leica in the 35mm market place. Between Leica and Contax,
Germany dominated the world of photography for 60 years. The Single
Lens Reflex camera, specifically the Nikon F of 1959 was the beginning
of the end for the rangefinder camera and Zeiss stopped production of
the venerable Contax in 1961.