Happy SUNday! – Contax Bliss

Chris and Carol

The Contax 50th Anniversary Edition 137 MD Quartz 35mm SLR film camera.

The ’50 Years’ model had a unique leatherette and a gold Contax ‘button’ on the flash sync terminal.
I don’t usually chase anniversary models, but this one struck me as pure in the early 1980s.

Contax celebrated fifty years, 1932-1982.

One of two standard lenses is shown here.
Contax numbered their cameras, consequently. As far as I am aware, no date code is hidden in the serial numbers.
It’s a simple manual focus aperture priority camera first released in 1980. Notice the location of the tripod socket. The entire baseplate is removable to be able to install the four AA batteries needed to power the meter and motor drive.
Advertisement from early 1980.
I believe the red sticker indicates that the color of the body is ‘fin’ or ‘wine.’ The Google Translate app isn’t apparent.
There aren’t many of these models still available, but they are well worth being chased.

This particular camera was sold in Japan, and unfortunately, I don’t have the original paperwork or Japanese instruction booklet. I’d love to find the correct strap, too. The proper case is a bit of a mystery, but I believe it should have been C-004, according to my friend Graham in the UK. By the way, the period correct flash units made for the 137 MD is the Contax TLA20 and TLA30 Auto Flash units for true TTL flash metering. There is also a 137 Data Back and a 137 Grip Adapter. Thanks for stopping by and be sure to visit my camera shop (hosted by Etsy) at http://www.ccstudio2380.com – Chris

Follow me on Instagram at @ccphotographyai

Comments are always welcomed, as I’ve learned quite a bit from reader feedback. As always, thanks for stopping by, and while you’re at it, feel free to visit my camera shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com (CC Design Studios hosted by Etsy). – Chris Whelan

Please respect that all content, including photos and text, is this blog’s property and its owner, Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic, Yashica Sailor Boy, Yashica Chris, Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris. Copyright © 2015-2024 Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris (Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic), Chris Whelan. All rights reserved.

4 thoughts on “Happy SUNday! – Contax Bliss”

  1. Hi Guys!

    What a delightful camera!

    As you mention, it was only ever sold In Japan; it would not have come with a case. I have a few of the RTS 50th Anniversary cameras and they never had an Eveready Case – just a hefty wooden box with padded, contoured leather to hold the camera and lens in situ, an eyecup, a protector for the strap-lugs, a standard strap, a cleaning cloth and the usual documents. That 137MD has been the basis for a surprising variety of specialist cameras; my favourite one being the NASA version – rather beautiful.

    You certainly have one of the nicest 137MDs I’ve seen in a very long time – and it looks minty too! I’m positively green with envy…

    Very best wishes,

    Graham

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Many thanks for your kind comments, Graham! A NASA version? I’d love to see that. A question. Do the RTS 50 Year models have the standard leatherette or the wine-colored skins? I’ve seen both, and I’m unsure if I’ve seen a user ‘made-up model.’
      Best,
      Chris

      Like

      Reply

      1. Hello again,

        I’ve attached a small photo picked up from a German auction site about 6 years ago of the 137MD NASA model – very distinctive in its titanium-coloured finish.

        Once again, there are a few oddities concerning the 50th Anniversary RTS sets. I’ve attached a piccie of one of mine which shows the official finish of the camera and lens. As you can see, the leathers of the camera have been replaced with lizard-skin, as have the two grips on the lens, though this would now be illegal under the CITES Convention. This was the correct appearance for each of the series of 100 cameras.

        Now, Contax also made available an incentive to dealers who shifted the most sets in the form of a gold RTS, again with the same lizard-skin and 24ct gold details, but with a gold 50mm f1.4 Planar in which the grips were conventional black rubber. I have seen a tiny number of RTS models in black but with the wine-coloured skin seen on your 137MD being sold in Japan under the title: RTS ‘Special Edition’ but none has been linked to the 50th Anniversary. What has always concerned me is that the colour of the skins is pretty much identical to Aki-Asahi’s Lizard Ochre Emboss skins. So, whether these were a lower level dealer incentive, a limited production for the Japanese market (top retailers could occasionally negotiate special finishes or notations for cameras approaching the end-of-line) or simply some enterprising after-market modder will only be found out if we can find some Japanese photo-trade publications around the time of the 50th Anniversary sets…

        Liked by 1 person

      2. I don’t see the pictures you’ve mentioned. Maybe send them via email. The ‘wine’ colored ‘skins’ (we’ll leave it at that) appear consistent across the models they were used on, so I feel confident that they were added by Contax. Some aftermarket attempts to replicate the exact color and texture fall short. Do you have all of your Contax special edition versions on your Flickr page?

        Like

Leave a comment