{"overview":"The Contax 35-70mm f\/3.5-5.6 T* Vario Sonnar is a standard zoom lens for the Contax 645 and Contax SLR family, offering a versatile mid-range focal length with the Carl Zeiss T* multi-coating. Designed as a walk-around zoom for general photography, it covers wide-angle to short telephoto in a single barrel.","market_narrative":"At UK auction in late 2025, a copy of this Vario Sonnar achieved a hammer price of £170, which sets the only datapoint for what the lens is currently worth at saleroom level. With just a single recorded sale, today's market read is provisional, and clean examples with original caps and hood may sell for more in the retail channel than the wholesale auction figure suggests.","buying_guide":"Inspect the front and rear elements for fungus, haze and cleaning marks on the T* coating, and check the aperture blades for oil migration that can slow the diaphragm. Rotate the zoom and focus rings through their full travel to confirm smooth, even action without stiffness or grit, and look along the element edges for any signs of separation or balsam haze.","specs":"Key specifications from the supplied data: 35-70mm focal range with a variable f\/3.5-5.6 maximum aperture and Zeiss T* multi-coating; no further verified specifications were provided.","faq":[{"q":"How much does a Contax 35-70mm f\/3.5-5.6 T* Vario Sonnar sell for?","a":"The single UK auction record we have shows it sold for £170 hammer in November 2025, so that figure is the best available guide to current wholesale value."},{"q":"What is a Contax 35-70mm f\/3.5-5.6 T* Vario Sonnar worth today?","a":"Based on the limited sales history, the price sits around £170 at auction, though a retail dealer asking price would typically be higher once commission and margin are added."},{"q":"What should I check before buying one?","a":"Look for fungus, haze, oil on the aperture blades, scratches on the T* coating and any stiffness in the zoom or focus rings, as these are the most common faults on Contax zooms of this era."}],"confidence":30,"reasoning":"Only one sales record and no SPECS or variant data were provided, so pricing and technical detail are necessarily limited."}