Contarex

1958

Zeiss-Ikon

Stuttgart

West Germany

Lens:

f2, 5 cm Planar, automatic iris diaphragm to f22. Diaphragm compensation when focusing at short distances. Operating the film-advance lever opens the diaphragm after exposure. Depth of field scale. Bayonet mount. Serial no. 3249929 .

Shutter:

Focal-plane speeded 1 - 1/1000, B. Delayed action. Flash synchronisation.

Construction:

Metal body.

Format:

36, 24 x 36 mm exposures on 35 mm film held in cassette.

Focusing:

Helical to .3 metre.

Attributes:

Reflex viewing through taking lens. Fixed roof pentaprism finder, split-image and microprism focusing screen with fresnel condenser. Instant return mirror.
Auto-stop on film-advance. Film-advance and shutter inter-linked for double and blank exposure prevention. Film-advance lever sets shutter.
Selenium exposure meter connected to shutter speed and aperture, meter needle aligned against index. Selected aperture shown above meter cell. Removable baffle to meter cell. Meter needle visible in window on top plate and in view-finder. Film speed setting: 10 - 33 DIN. Filter factor settings. Interchangeable backs.
The mirror can be independently tripped by a lever just below the mirror when fitting the 21 mm Biogon.

Serial Number:

Z20158 .

Notes:

Bellows are made by Karl Muller.

With:

Ever-ready case.; Instruction book.
Three interchangeable backs. Film speed reminder scale 5 - 1300 ASA, 6 - 33 DIN.
G2 yellow bayonet mount filter.; Ikolor C bayonet mount filter.; "Tables", depth of field tables.
Microscope adapter.
Bellows unit. Scaled 0 - 90 mm. Provides pre-set aperture selection.

This is a large, heavy, cumbersome camera that does not fit the hand well and is difficult to use. It had a very advanced specification with interchangeable lenses from 21 mm to 250 mm (at around the time of introduction), interchangeable film magazines and an exposure meter coupled to the speed setting and aperture. The standard lens focuses to .3 metre. To align the meter needle a small wheel on the front plane is turned, this closes an iris in front of the meter cell to simulate the lens iris. This results in the diaphragm setting being in the camera rather than the lens and the lenses do not have a diaphragm ring.

The interchangeable backs use the film plane in the camera. The film runs across a highly sprung pressure plate which presses against the film plane when the draw-slide is removed.

In 1960 the camera with an f2 lens cost £228 (a Leica M3 cost £158).

References & Notes:

Blue-Book, 1960-61, p. 57.;Blue-Book, 1962-63, p. 56.

Further Information:

Matanle, Classic SLR, p. 93.

Early Photography