The 139 Quartz came out in 1979, built by Yashica in Japan under licence from Zeiss. Like every Contax/Yashica-mount SLR, it takes the Carl Zeiss T* lenses that are the reason people buy into the system. The shutter is a vertical metal focal-plane unit timed by a quartz crystal, running from 11 seconds to 1/1000 in aperture-priority auto and 1 second to 1/1000 in manual. A silicon photodiode meters center-weighted, and you get AE lock, two stops of compensation either way and TTL flash with the TLA20 and TLA30 units at 1/100. Each shutter speed in the finder has its own LED. An optional winder ran on four AA batteries. Over 200,000 were made before production ended in 1987, and the early faults were fixed from about serial number 110,000.
Early bodies can suffer a sticking release magnet, and the original sealed microswitch can fail. The fixes came in around serial number 110,000, so later bodies are the safer pick.
Buying guide
We'd buy a 139 Quartz body titled tested for about $100 delivered and put the savings toward a Zeiss lens, since those lenses are why people buy into Contax/Yashica. There are about 44 listed, mostly from US sellers, and most ask $120–250 delivered, while a kit with a Zeiss 50mm f/1.7, a 28mm and a TLA20 flash asks $344. It won't fire without its two SR44 cells. Early bodies can suffer a sticking release magnet and a failing microswitch, fixed from about serial number 110,000, so ask for a photo of the serial and a video firing several times in a row. Skip the two sellers using the same black-body title, and the $657 body, almost four times the median.
$86.90est. delivered
The lowest-priced 139 titled as working, a body only at $87 delivered from a US seller. The title says to read the description, so look there for faults, and ask for the serial number and a video of it firing several times.
CONTAX 139 Quartz Camera Body, Works Please READ
$99.84est. delivered
A black body titled tested, at $100 delivered from a US seller, well under the $120–250 band. Read the description the title points to, then spend what you save on a Zeiss lens.
Contax 139 Quartz 35mm SLR Film Camera Body Black - Tested *Read*
$189.89est. delivered
Titled working and tested, with a 28-90mm f/2.8-3.5 zoom, at $190 delivered from a US seller, mid-band. Add two SR44s and film, and ask for the serial number to see whether it's a later body.
CONTAX 139 QUARTZ 35mm SLR Film Camera w/ 28-90MM 2.8-3.5 Lens WORKING TESTED
$48.16est. delivered
Sold as is, not working, for parts or repair, at $48 delivered, under a third of the median. Early bodies are known for a sticking release magnet, so a dead one may be repairable, but price it as a donor.
Contax 139 Quartz 35mm SLR Film Camera Body Only AS-IS Not Working Parts Repair
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 11, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Snapshot
Checked . Some may have sold.
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 11, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Used$86.90est. delivered
$74.95 + $11.95 shipping
Buy It Now$74.95
Good buy
Body only, titled works. The title says read, so check the description.
Seller: afrosandaltan
100% positive
Used$99.84est. delivered
$84.99 + $14.85 shipping
Buy It Now$84.99
Good buy
Black body only, titled tested. The title says read the description.
Seller: nwkansas_cameras
100% positive
Used$189.89est. delivered
$179.90 + $9.99 shipping
Buy It Now$179.90
Good buy
Titled working and tested, with a 28-90mm zoom.
Seller: ogcjm89
99.7% positive
For parts$48.16est. delivered
$39.99 + $8.17 shipping
Buy It Now$39.99
Project piece
Body only, sold as is, not working.
Seller: fiveriverstradingco
99.9% positive
![New Red Leatherette [ NEAR MINT ] Contax 139 Quartz 35mm SLR Film Camera JAPAN](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/I0cAAeSwRddqugK5/s-l500.jpg)
Used$204.99est. delivered
$139.99 + $65.00 shipping
Buy It Now$139.99
Our take
Re-covered in new red leatherette, a cosmetic custom. Near Mint is the dealer's grade.
Seller: toshi-japan-camera
100% positive
Used$344.25est. delivered
$331.55 + $12.70 shipping
Buy It Now$331.55
Our take
Kit with a Zeiss 50mm f/1.7, a 28mm f/2.8 and a TLA20 flash. No test claim.
Seller: surfntrain
100% positive
Used$61.50delivered
$61.50 · free shipping
Buy It Now$61.50
Check the seller
Another seller uses the same title, a copied-listing pattern. Compare photos.
Seller: thecameraoutlet
99.7% positive
Used$656.55est. delivered
$634.00 + $22.55 shipping
Buy It Now$634.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Priced high
Black body only, no test claim. Almost four times the median.
Seller: artsforhumanity
100% positive
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