Contax are a range of cameras with a proprietary bayonet mount made by Zeiss Ikon. The first Contax rangefinder camera, launched in 1932 as a response to Leica, was aimed at professionals and journalists who needed a reliable and precise instrument. It was accompanied by a large variety of lenses and accessories to comprise a complete system of photography.

The 1932 Contax camera had a large share of problems, and in 1936 it was superseded by the Contax II, which is one of the most important cameras in history. After World War II the rebuilt Zeiss Ikon relaunched the camera name with modified cameras that were produced until 1961. The camera saw life for a longer time under the brand Kiev after the Zeiss Ikon factory was moved from Dresden to Ukraine as part of war reparations. It was produced in large numbers until 1986 and sold all over the world.