Contax III (1936–1942)

Name: Contax III
Brand: Contax

At 738 grams and carrying a selenium meter, it was a machine built to out-engineer the Leica - and it did.

Overview

The Contax III was produced by Zeiss-Ikon from 1936 to 1942. It is identical in core construction to the Contax II, which launched alongside it. The difference is a built-in selenium exposure meter in the top plate. At a time when photographers relied on handheld meters or guesswork, that was a big step. It was the first 35mm system camera to include one, and it put Zeiss-Ikon well past Leica on features.

The body measures 139 x 97 x 39 mm and weighs 738 grams. It is heavy, and it was built for precision and durability. The metal vertical traveling shutter has a top speed of 1/1250, which no contemporary Leica model matched. The shutter speed dial is fixed in place and integrated with the film advance knob, so you have to set it deliberately. This was a tool for professionals who valued repeatability and mechanical integrity over convenience. The combined viewfinder and rangefinder has a 90mm baselength and approximately 0.75x magnification. That gives sharp, accurate focusing for the Sonnar and Biogon lenses it was designed to mount via its dual-bayonet system.

Owners report that the Contax III feels substantial in hand, and not only because of the weight. The construction is dense. The removable back simplified film loading, a small improvement over earlier designs. The self-timer was likely the first on a system 35mm camera. In use, the Contax II and III proved exceptionally reliable, often considered on par with or superior to their Leica counterparts during their era. Most surviving examples show that working life: worn leather, scratched top plates, and the mechanical fatigue of decades.

Specifications

Manufacturer	Zeiss-Ikon
Model	Contax III
Production years	1936–1942
Type	35mm rangefinder camera
Dimensions	139 x 97 x 39 mm
Weight	738g
Shutter type	Metal vertical traveling shutter
Shutter speed sequence	B, 2, 5, 10, 25, 50, 125, 250, 500, 1250
Top shutter speed	1/1250
Rangefinder baselength	90mm
Rangefinder magnification	about 0.75x
Effective rangefinder baselength	67.5mm
Lens mount	Bayonet mount (with inner bayonet for 50mm lenses, outer bayonet for other focal lengths)
Exposure meter	Built-in selenium meter
Flash sync	No factory flash sync

Key Features

Built-in Selenium Exposure Meter

The defining feature of the Contax III is its built-in selenium exposure meter, which no other 35mm system camera had at the time. At the 1936 launch it needed no batteries and no external meter, just a light-measuring cell integrated into the top plate. By modern standards it is of limited use. Selenium cells degrade over time, and the meter's calibration is often unreliable today. In its day it let photographers make exposure decisions without breaking workflow. Collectors note that the meter adds bulk and complexity, and also historical significance, as the first step toward the metered cameras that would dominate the next three decades.

90mm Rangefinder Baselength with Rotating Glass Wedges

The Contax III rangefinder uses a pair of rotating glass wedges to achieve focus. Its 90mm baselength was the longest of any 35mm rangefinder of its era, which gives very accurate focusing. The longer base makes for a more precise focus patch in the viewfinder, especially with fast lenses at close distances. The effective baselength is 67.5mm, derived from the 0.75x magnification, and that still outperformed most competitors. The combined viewfinder and rangefinder gives a bright, clear image, though coverage details remain undocumented. Shorter-base rivals could not match it for professionals shooting in demanding conditions.

Metal Vertical Traveling Shutter with Dual Speed Control

The shutter is a fine piece of pre-war German engineering. Unlike horizontal cloth shutters, the Contax III used a metal vertical traveling shutter made of brass slats running on straps. Its speed control is unusual. Instead of varying only the slit width, it adjusts both the size of the slit and the travel distance of the curtains. That allowed greater accuracy at high speeds and let the camera reach 1/1250, faster than any Leica of the time. The complexity has a cost. The shutter straps are prone to failure after decades of disuse, and a non-working shutter is a common issue in un-serviced examples. When it works, the shutter is snappy and precise, with a distinctive metallic snap that owners describe as deeply satisfying.

Removable Back and Dual-Bayonet Lens Mount

The removable back was a practical improvement over earlier designs. It simplified film loading compared to the slide-open backs of some contemporaries, and it made the camera easier to reload in the field, especially for press photographers. The lens mount is a bayonet system with an unusual dual configuration: an inner bayonet for 50mm lenses and an outer bayonet for other focal lengths. This allowed optimized flange distances and mechanical alignment, which helped the sharpness and consistency of the Contax lens system. The mount supported a full range of high-performance optics, though specific lens details are not documented in the fact sheet.

Self-Timer and Integrated Control Layout

The Contax III included a self-timer, reportedly present on all II and III models and likely the first such mechanism on a system 35mm camera. A lever on the front plate activates it. It allowed delayed exposures, useful for self-portraits or reducing camera shake in long exposures. The control layout is idiosyncratic: a single non-rotating shutter speed dial combined with the film advance knob. The user rotates the entire advance knob to select speeds. That prevented accidental changes but demanded deliberate operation.

Historical Context

The Contax III was introduced in 1936 alongside the Contax II. It was Zeiss-Ikon's answer to the Leica, developed after the shortcomings of the Contax I. It was positioned as a professional alternative, with higher speed, better build quality and more innovation. Despite its advanced features, it was priced lower than contemporary Leica models, which made it attractive to working photographers. At the time it was widely regarded as a legitimate, often superior competitor, and frequently considered the definitive professional 35mm system of its era. Production continued until 1942, cut short by the war.

Collectibility & Value

Today, used Contax bodies and lenses generally command lower prices than their Leica equivalents, despite often being mechanically more advanced. A near-mint, serviced Contax III body recently sold for $595 USD, which makes it desirable but not ultra-rare. Most surviving examples are well-worn, since these were workhorse cameras rather than shelf ornaments. Common problems include inoperative shutters due to broken straps, a known failure point after decades of dormancy, and fogging in pre-war lenses, which often require professional cleaning. Maintenance is essential: occasional cleaning, lubrication, and adjustment are necessary to keep the camera functional. Modern users often prefer the leaner Contax II for its compactness and lack of a now-obsolete meter. The III remains a favorite among collectors who appreciate its historical significance and engineering ambition.