Camera Geekery: Zeiss Ikon Contarex “Bullseye” The Zeiss Contarex, affectionately dubbed the “Bullseye” in the U.S and “Cyclops” in the UK, is a camera not to be taken lightly, both literally and figuratively. This big @$$ 35mm SLR camera debuted in 1958 and was produced until 1966. Although less Zeiss-Ikon documentation survived WWII than other manufacturers, it’s still simple to date your camera. This is due to the fact that Zeiss-Ikon used a letter code preceding actual serial number of any particular Contax camera. This letter indicates the year that your Contax (and many other prewar Zeiss-Ikon cameras) was produced.
Keep in mind the 'one letter five numbers' code was used for all Zeiss-Ikon cameras (not only for Contax) so these codes do not indicate total Contax production.
- Although less Zeiss-Ikon documentation survived WWII than other manufacturers, it’s still simple to date your camera. This is due to the fact that Zeiss-Ikon used a letter code preceding actual serial number of any particular Contax camera. This letter indicates the year that your Contax (and many other prewar Zeiss-Ikon cameras) was produced.
- The sequence of Ikoflexes is complex, with serial numbers in irrational order and repeated for different cameras. The table below the thumbnails and descriptions shows how it works. The picture above comes from the photoshoot by Amateur Photographer in October 2005, for an article by Ivor Matanle on the history of the Zeiss Ikon TLRs.
ZEISS Archives
T 1931/32
V 1933/34
Y 1934/35
A 1936
An extra letter, before or after the serial block letter, indicates the camera was sent back to the camera for repair.Contax I's WITHOUT a 2nd repair letter code are very hard to find!
Serial Numbers for Contax II e III
A 1936
C 10001 - 15000 1936
D 1937
F 41001 - 46000 1937
G 1938
K 1939
M 1940/41
O 1943
The production of Contax II ended with O 65500 in 1943
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Zeiss Ikon - Camera-wiki.org - The Free Camera Encyclopedia
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