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.
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 | |
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| Jun 2020 | EUR 6,000 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 36 (Lot AI_36_38369) Title: Contax IIa + Ultron 2/50mm
Description:
Contax IIa body in excellent condition, with unique Voigtländer Ultron 2/50mm - the lens never went to production in Contax mount and is unknown in this form, with very good optics Estimate: EUR 6,000 - EUR 7,000 |
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| Nov 2016 | EUR 850 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 30 (Lot AI_30_34480) Title: Contax IIa 'Norwegian Air Force'
Description:
extremely rare camera with original engraving 'FLYVAPNET' (Norwegian Air Force), in excellent condition, with T coated Carl Zeiss Jena Sonnar 2/5cm no.3050735, front cap Estimate: EUR 1,200 - EUR 1,400 |
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| May 2013 | EUR 600 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 23 (Lot AI_23_10328) Title: Contax IIa Set
Description:
first type post-war Contax IIa in good working order with pre-war Sonnar 2/8.5cm no.1503180 (cap), folding Albada finder 433/26 (5 u.13.5) and pre-war Tele-Tessar 6.3/18cm no.2189934 (small cleaning marks, both caps) with matching 18cm tube finder 436/11 in keeper Estimate: EUR 1,000 - EUR 1,200 |
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| Nov 2008 | EUR 150 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 14 (Lot AI_14_17607) Title: Contax IIa
Description:
second type with color dial in good working condition, everready case Estimate: EUR 250 - EUR 300 |
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| Nov 2006 | EUR 280 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 10 (Lot AI_10_15438) Title: Contax IIa
Description:
2nd model in near mint condition with Sonnar 1.5/50mm no.715130, cap Estimate: EUR 400 - EUR 600 |
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| May 2004 | EUR 313 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 5 (Lot AI_5_23877) Title: Contax IIa
Description:
red scale, Zeiss-Opton Sonnar 2/50mm no.885445, in good working order Estimate: EUR 1,952 - EUR 17,003 |
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| Sep 2003 | £188 | Christie's | |
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Auction: CAMERAS & PHOTO EQUIP, INCLUDING A EUROPEAN LEICA COLLECTION (Lot 314) Title: Contax IIa no. T29298
Description:
Contax IIa no. T29298 Estimate: £100 - £150 |
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| Sep 2003 | £293 | Christie's | |
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Auction: CAMERAS & PHOTO EQUIP, INCLUDING A EUROPEAN LEICA COLLECTION (Lot 313) Title: Contax IIa no. A45939
Description:
Contax IIa no. A45939 Estimate: £200 - £300 |
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| May 1998 | £138 | Christie's | |
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Auction: CAMERAS AND OPTICAL TOYS (Lot 261) Title: Contax IIa 563/24 no. F20025
Description:
Contax IIa 563/24 no. F20025 Estimate: £20 - £100 |
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