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
Select a variant to filter the sales history below.
| 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.
Prices updated: November 2025
| Date | Price | Source | Variant | |
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| 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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| Apr 2025 | £200 | Flints Auctions | — | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica (Lot 143) Title: A Zeiss Ikon Contax IIa Rangefinder Camera
Description:
1950-54, black*, serial no. A48335, with Carl Zeiss Jena Sonnar f/2 50mm lens, chrome, serial no. 2229049, body, F-G, shutter working, lens, P, |
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| Apr 2025 | £288 | Flints Auctions | — | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica (Lot 144) Title: A Zeiss Ikon Contax IIa Rangefinder Camera
Description:
1950-54, chrome, serial no. A48303, with Zeiss-Opton Sonnar T f/1.5 50mm lens, chrome, serial no. 1049672, body, VG, shutter working, lens, VG, some |
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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 | £312 | Flints Auctions | — | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica (Lot 140A) Title: A Zeiss Ikon Contax IIa Rangefinder Camera
Description:
silver, serial number U2953, body VG, light marks to bottom plate, rangefinder visible and working, shutter speeds all work and seem approximately |
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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 | £138 | Flints Auctions | — | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Auction (Lot 118) Title: A Zeiss Ikon Contax IIa 35mm Rangefinder Camera
Description:
chrome, 1950-54, serial no.S 26027, with a Carl Zeiss Tessar f/3.5 50mm lens, serial no.1976830, shutter working up to 1/250s only, sticking open at |
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| Jun 2024 | £150 | Flints Auctions | — | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Auction (Lot 115) Title: A Zeiss Ikon Contax IIa 35mm Rangefinder Camera
Description:
chrome, serial no. P 97605, early model with PC flash socket, with a Zeiss-Opton Sonnar f/1.5 50mm lens, serial no.1126979, shutter staying open at |
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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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| 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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| 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 | £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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| 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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| Oct 2022 | £600 | Flints Auctions | — | |
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Auction: The Collectors Sale (Lot 131) Title: A Zeiss Ikon Contax IIa 35mm Rangefinder Camera Outfit
Description:
chrome, serial no. B93047, body G-VG, shutter working, rangefinder patch bright & clear, together with a Carl Zeiss Jena Sonnar f/2 50mm lens, optics (Qty: 1) |
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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 | £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 | £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 | £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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| May 2011 | EUR 1,900 | Leitz Auction | — | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 19 (Lot AI_19_12666) Title: Contax IIa Ausrüstung
Description:
mint outfit including second type body no. F 20754 (stamped 'ZEISS IKON MADE IN GERMANY STUTTGART' on back door), Sonnar 2/50mm no.1452140, Biogon 2.8/35mm no.830467, Sonnar 4/135mm no.1600527 (all lenses with caps), hood 1119, hood 1118, Stuttgart Variofinder 440 (21-135mm), 3.5cm finder 432/5, finder attachment 563/03 for 8.5 + 13.5cm, some other accessories, all in fitted Zeiss Ikon leather case Estimate: EUR 1,500 - EUR 1,900 |
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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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Frequently asked questions
What is a Zeiss Ikon Contax IIa worth today?
Recent UK auction hammer prices range from roughly £25 for rough or non-working bodies up to about £210 for clean, functional examples, with a median near £110.
How much does a Contax IIa sell for at auction?
Most Contax IIa bodies sell for between £80 and £200 at UK auction, with the final price largely determined by shutter condition, rangefinder accuracy and the state of the body covering.
Why is the price range so wide?
The value of a Contax IIa is heavily condition-sensitive because servicing the complex vertical metal shutter is costly, so working examples command a clear premium over those sold as spares or repair.