I will be using this camera in week 500 of my 52 film cameras in 52 weeks project. Since January 1st 2010, I have been using a different film camera each week. This is now the tenth year, and this is the 500th week, I haven't missed a week so far, and intend to carry on until the end of year ten, making 520 cameras in total.
The Contax 1a is significant for me, as when I found it for £2 in a junk shop in 1990, it rekindled my interest in collecting cameras. Although it worked briefly, the shutter has long since failed, it opens, but doesn't close until the film is advanced. I intend to get around this by using a very slow (ISO 12) film, choosing lowish light levels, and using a tripod, with a lens cap acting as the shutter, to allow exposures of several seconds.
52cameras.blogspot.com/
www.flickr.com/photos/tony_kemplen/collections/72157623113584240 