After the Contax I Zeiss-Ikon needed to bring to market a camera that was easier to use and more aesthetically pleasing. The outcome was the Contax II and III. These were new designs that inherited the Contax I lens mount and other accessories Unfortunately they also inherited the vertically running focal-plane shutter composed of metal slats. With an f2 lens the camera cost £50.10.0, the Contax I remained available priced at £41.0.0. An upgrade service was offered where a model II was converted into a model III.

The Contax II appeared in 1936 and remained in production until the middle of the war. Apart from the general look of the camera, improvements were the placement of the film advance knob on the top plate, delayed action was added, combined viewfinder/rangefinder window and swing-wedge rangefinder optics. The grouping of shutter speeds was abandoned in favour of a single dial showing all speeds. The main control knob on the top plate advanced the film and set the shutter, it also housed the shutter speed setting ring and the shutter release.

The Contax I had been criticised for introducing many changes over its life time, the Contax II was much more stable with just a few differences:

• Shutter speeds on early versions were 1/100 and 1/200 rather than 1/125 and 1/250.
• Knurling on the film advance knob was at first vertical then square.
• The camera serial number was later placed on the accessory shoe.
• There were minor differences in engraving.

Lenses

The Contax II was able to take the full range of earlier Contax I lenses which were re-issued in a chrome finish. In many focal lengths two lenses of different speed were offered, the slower lenses being cheaper and often smaller. The tele-photo designs, as opposed to long focus, favoured by Zeiss resulted in shorter, compact, lenses but also ones that were very heavy. The f4.5 Orthometer, shown above, was a cheaper alternative to the f2.8 Biogon, it was issued in 1937.

Universal Finder

This was first produced in a black/nickel finish. later in black/chrome. Normal focal lengths included were 2.8 or 3.5, 5, 8.5, 13.5 and 18 cm, the 18 cm focal length could be replaced by a wide-angle or, at an extra cost, other combinations could be included. The field of view is displayed by interchanging optics on a rotating plate, this has the advantage that the image remains roughly the same size, on the equivalent Leica finder the field of view is shown by a mask.

Albada Finder

This was produced in two patterns - Folding (1932) and Rigid (1937). In both cases three models were made: for 5 cm; 5 and 8.5 cm; 5 and 13.5 cm lenses. The folding pattern was originally available in black finish for the Contax I and later in chrome finish.

Wide-angle Finder

These were simple direct-vision finders produced for each of the three wide-angle lenses.

Contameter

This allowed hand-held close-up photographs to be made at the set distances of 20, 18 and 8 inches. The device consists of a rangefinder with parallax adjustment to which one of three small prisms is attached and three close-up lenses that fit the standard 5 cm lens. With a prism and corresponding close-up lens in place the camera is moved backwards and forwards until the rangefinder image coincides. Early versions had the close-up lenses held flat in the case one above the other, later they were held vertically in slots and lastly flat in individual recesses.

Plate Back

A surprisingly popular accessory, judging by the number extant, was the plate back for 3 x 4.5 cm plates or cut-film. The plate was held in single metal slides having a spring that pushed the plate forward when the draw-slide was removed. The plate had the same register in the camera as 35 mm film.

Polarisation Viewing Device

This fits onto the outer lens bayonet. A small toothed wheel rotates a polarising filter in front of the lens and a smaller filter mounted directly above that can be seen in the camera's view-finder. It is shown in the 3rd edition of Contax Photography (1938). Illustrations show an all-chrome finish rather than the black crackle and chrome on this example.

Focusing Screen

This clips into the shutter aperture when the shutter is open and allows critical focusing, it was often used in conjunction with the plate back.

The images on the right show a small tripod and the film cutting template.

The images on the right show the developing tank and a printing frame.

Swing Wedge rangefinder

Two fixed prisms are used. In front of one there are two cylindrical lenses, in the neutral position there is no deflection. By swinging one of the lenses a prism of varying angle is formed. Rather than two air-separated mirrors or prisms, Zeiss favoured a solid glass rhomboid.¹