Zeiss Ikon Contax IIa
The Zeiss Ikon Contax IIa is a 35mm coupled-rangefinder camera introduced in 1950 as the post-war successor to the pre-war Contax II, manufactured in Stuttgart, West Germany. It uses the Contax bayonet mount and was positioned as a premium professional rangefinder competing directly with the Leica screw-mount cameras of the period.
Hammer prices for the Contax IIa at UK auction have ranged from about £25 to £210 over recent sales, with a median around £110. As of 2026, clean working bodies with original leather and a functioning rangefinder tend to sell for what a Contax IIa is worth at the upper end of that band, while rough or non-working examples sell for well under £100 at saleroom level.
Variants
| Variant | Years | Edition | Sales | Price Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (563/24) | — | — | 0 | — |
| (563/24) 'Zeiss Ikon' | — | — | 1 | £80 – £80 |
| FLYVAPNET | — | — | 0 | — |
| Type 2 (Color Dial) | — | — | 0 | — |
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.
| Date | Price | Source | Variant | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2025 | £90 | Special Auction Services | — | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 142) Title: A Zeiss Ikon Contax IIa Rangefinder Camera
Description:
A Zeiss Ikon Contax IIa Rangefinder Camera, first model (black dial), serial no T 33826, body G, four Zeiss bumps to back, shutter sluggish/sticking |
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| Jul 2025 | £200 | Flints Auctions | — | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 93) Title: A Zeiss Ikon Contax IIa 35mm Rangefinder Camera
Description:
black, serial number Y59276, body G-VG, RF works, shutter works well, with a Zeiss-Opton Sonnar f/2 50mm, optics G-VG, with cap and a very nice case. |
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| Jul 2025 | £80 | Special Auction Services | (563/24) 'Zeiss Ikon' | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 264) Title: A Zeiss Ikon Contax IIa 563/24 Rangefinder Camera
Description:
A Zeiss Ikon Contax IIa 563/24 Rangefinder Camera, first model, Stuttgart Germany, serial no S 24214, shutter working, self timer working, |
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| Mar 2025 | £139 | Chiswick Auctions | — | |
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Auction: Photographica (Lot 250) Title: Metered Zeiss Ikon (Stuttgart) Contax IIa & f1.5 Lens.
Description:
Metered Zeiss Ikon (Stuttgart) Contax IIa & f1.5 Lens. Body #O89363. Shutter firing, speeds sound OK, meter responsive (signs of very light use only). ... read more |
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| Nov 2024 | £812 | Flints Auctions | — | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica (Lot 140) Title: A Carl Zeiss Contax IIa Rangefinder Camera Outfit
Description:
1950-54, chrome, serial no. S25009, with Carl Zeiss Jena Sonnar f/1.5 50mm lens, chrome, serial no. 2393663, body, VG-E, shutter working, lens, VG, |
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| Aug 2024 | £80 | Special Auction Services | — | |
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Auction: TWO DAY: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 13) Title: A Zeiss Ikon Contax IIa Rangefinder Camera
Description:
A Zeiss Ikon Contax IIa Rangefinder Camera, first model, serial no U 1090, shutter working, rangefinder functions, self timer working, body G, 3 |
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| Jun 2024 | £25 | Special Auction Services | — | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 177) Title: A Zeiss Ikon Contax IIa Rangefinder Camera
Description:
A Zeiss Ikon Contax IIa Rangefinder Camera, shutter erratic, not working, self timer sticking, rangefinder working, body G, some Zeiss bumps to back, |
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| Jun 2024 | £212 | Flints Auctions | — | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Auction (Lot 112) Title: A Zeiss Ikon Contax IIa Rangefinder Camera
Description:
563/24, chrome, serial no. A49222, body G, shutter working, rangefinder patch clear, with Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar f/3.5 50mm lens, chrome, serial no. |
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| Jun 2024 | £188 | Flints Auctions | — | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Auction (Lot 103) Title: A Zeiss Ikon Contax IIa 35mm Rangefinder Camera
Description:
1950-54, early model, serial no.U4768, with a Zeiss-Opton Sonnar f/1.5 50mm lens, slow shutter speeds stay open, high speeds do not open, rangefinder |
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| Sep 2023 | £438 | Flints Auctions | — | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 26) Title: A Zeiss Ikon Contax IIA 35mm Rangefinder Camera
Description:
circa 1956-61, serial no.L86983, believed to be among the last produced, with PC socket and colour-coded shutter speed dial, with a Carl Zeiss Sonnar |
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| Mar 2023 | £81 | Flints Auctions | — | |
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Auction: The Collectors Sale (Lot 60) Title: A Contax IIa 35mm Rangefinder Camera
Description:
chrome, body F, shutter not working, rangefinder F-G, visible but not ultra bright, together with a Carl Zeiss Jena Sonnar T f/2 50mm lens, optics (Qty: 1) |
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| Mar 2023 | £162 | Flints Auctions | — | |
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Auction: The Collectors Sale (Lot 54) Title: A Zeiss Ikon Contax IIa Rangefinder 35mm Film Camera
Description:
chrome, 1952, serial no.X69, later type flash socket, with a Zeiss-Opton Sonnar T f/2 50mm lens, shutter working, body G-VG, lens G, a few tiny spots, |
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| Jan 2022 | £174 | Flints Auctions | — | |
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Auction: The Collectors Sale (Lot 108) Title: A Zeiss Ikon Contax IIa Rangefinder Camera
Description:
chrome, serial no. S24427, with Zeiss-Opton Sonnar T f/1.5 50mm lens, body, G, shutter working, lens, F, some internal haze and marks Note: Lot |
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| Feb 2019 | £160 | Harper Field Auctions | — | |
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Auction: Buying & Selling (Lot 416) Title: Zeiss Ikon Contax IIa camera numbered A43412 with Sonnar 1:2 f=50mm lens, in original case, fitted
Description:
Zeiss Ikon Contax IIa camera numbered A43412 with Sonnar 1:2 f=50mm lens, in original case, fitted |
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| Nov 2018 | £228 | Flints Auctions | — | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica & Instruments of Science & Medicine (Lot 1160) Title: A Zeiss Ikon Contax IIa Rangefinder Camera
Description:
1950-54, chrome, serial no. S24162, with Zeiss-Opton T Sonnar f/2 50mm lens, chrome, serial no. 90571, body, G-VG, shutter working, lens, G, cleaning |
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| Nov 2018 | £264 | Flints Auctions | — | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica & Instruments of Science & Medicine (Lot 1158) Title: A Zeiss Ikon Contax IIa Rangefinder Camera
Description:
1950-54, chrome, serial no. S22992, with Zeiss-Opton T Sonnar f/2 50mm lens, chrome, serial no. 685835, body, G-VG, shutter working, lens, G-VG, some |
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| Nov 2018 | £180 | Flints Auctions | — | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica & Instruments of Science & Medicine (Lot 1159) Title: A Zeiss Ikon Contax IIa Rangefinder Camera
Description:
1950-54, chrome, serial no. Y61264, with Carl Zeiss Jena Sonnar T f/2 50mm lens, chrome, serial no. 3090234, body, G-VG, shutter working, lens, G, |
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| Oct 2017 | £204 | Flints Auctions | — | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica (Lot 75) Title: A Zeiss Ikon Contax IIa Rangefinder Camera
Description:
563/24, chrome, serial no. T34855, with Zeiss-Opton Sonnar f/1.5 50mm lens, chrome, serial no. 47981, body, VG, shutter working, lens, VG, a few tiny |
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| Nov 2005 | EUR 500 | Leitz Auction | — | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 8 (Lot AI_8_25923) Title: Contax IIa outfit
Description:
first model body in perfect technical condition, Zeiss-Opton Sonnar 1.5/50mm no.577477 (condition A/B), cap, case, red Zeiss Ikon Contax box, Zeiss Opton Sonnar 2/85mm no.1128701 (rare) with both caps, case (condition B/A), synchro switch 1366 in box, Zeiss-Ikon finder 427 with case (condition B/A), film cassette, instructions Estimate: EUR 800 - EUR 900 |
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| Oct 1998 | £218 | Christie's | — | |
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Auction: CAMERAS & OPTICAL TOYS (Lot 216) Title: Contax IIa no. A46319
Description:
Contax IIa no. A46319 Estimate: £200 - £300 |
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