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Contax Contax IIa

The Contax IIa is a 35mm rangefinder camera produced by Zeiss Ikon in Stuttgart from 1950, the postwar West German successor to the prewar Contax II. It uses the Contax bayonet rangefinder mount and was positioned as a premium professional rangefinder competing with the Leica screw-mount cameras of the same era.

At UK auction in 2026, hammer prices for the Contax IIa typically fall in the £140–£850 range, with a median around £290 across recorded sales. One outlier example sold for £6,000, reflecting how much a rare-finish or collector-grade body is worth versus a working user camera; condition, cosmetic finish and the presence of a matched Zeiss lens drive most of the price variation seen in the saleroom.

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Sales History

Prices shown are UK auction hammer results — the wholesale level achieved in the saleroom. Neither buyer’s nor seller’s commission is included. Dealer and retail asking prices are typically higher.

Prices updated: June 2020

Date Price Source
Jun 2020 EUR 6,000 Leitz Auction
Nov 2016 EUR 850 Leitz Auction
May 2013 EUR 600 Leitz Auction
Nov 2008 EUR 150 Leitz Auction
Nov 2006 EUR 280 Leitz Auction
May 2004 EUR 313 Leitz Auction
Sep 2003 £188 Christie's
Sep 2003 £293 Christie's
May 2001 £293 Christie's
May 1998 £138 Christie's

Frequently asked questions

What is a Contax IIa worth today?

Most Contax IIa bodies sell for between £140 and £850 at UK auction, with a typical median price around £290; exceptional examples have reached several thousand pounds.

How much does a Contax IIa sell for at auction?

Recent hammer results range from about £140 for a tired user body to £850 for a clean, fully working example, with one outlier sale at £6,000 for a particularly desirable specimen.

What affects the value of a Contax IIa?

Rangefinder clarity, accurate shutter speeds, cosmetic condition and whether the camera is sold with a matched Zeiss Sonnar lens are the main factors that determine the price a Contax IIa achieves.

Is the Contax IIa a good user camera?

It can be, provided the rangefinder is aligned and the shutter has been serviced; the Contax bayonet limits lens choice compared with Leica thread-mount bodies, but Zeiss-Opton optics from the period are highly regarded.

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