Zeiss Ikon Contessa - Found My Everyday Rangefinder

Colorado CJ

Colorado CJ

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Well, I think I found my new EDC (every day carry) rangefinder, a Zeiss Ikon Contessa 35.

I bought it from eBay for $49.00. The shutter needed cleaning, but everything else was excellent, the meter still works and matches up to my Gossen Luna Pro F. The rangefinder is BRIGHT and contrasty, it's very easy to focus. Has a great Zeiss Opton T Tessar 45mm f2.8 lens. The Contessa is built extremely well also, typical Zeiss quality. It's one of the nicest built cameras I own.

The best thing is its size. When folded, the camera is TINY!

Here it is next to my Gossen Luna Pro F

Canon 50mm F1.5 Sonnar Test 3 by Andrew Marjama, on Flickr

And next to a can of pop

Zeiss Ikon Contessa by Andrew Marjama, on Flickr
 
I processed my first roll that I shot through the camera tonight. These are just quick snaps from around the yard and walking around as I was waiting on tires being installed on my truck. I shot a roll of Tri-X and developed it in Pyrocat MC for 13 minutes.

I like what I see! The meter worked well, even shooting directly into the sun. The rangefinder is very accurate. The lens is plenty sharp, even wide open, and there isn't really any flare to speak of.

Zeiss Ikon Contessa Test Roll 1 by Andrew Marjama, on Flickr

Zeiss Ikon Contessa Test Roll 2 by Andrew Marjama, on Flickr

Zeiss Ikon Contessa Test Roll 3 by Andrew Marjama, on Flickr

Zeiss Ikon Contessa Test Roll 4 by Andrew Marjama, on Flickr
 
That little guy is awesome! Really makes nice images.

I'd run out and buy one, but the Retina IIa is my go-to itty-bitty, sharp, perfect pocket rangefinder. At least until I find another XA again and can have a shootout.
 
Nice find. Steve Grady has a good article on this camera on his website. The only issue I have with post-war Zeiss rangefinders is that the rangefinder patch is small, albeit well defined. But if small is what you want in a rangefinder, maybe consider a Super Ikonta A -- that's both small and big!
 
I can see why you like it, looking at those shots. They're almost enough to entice me back to shooting again. Tri-X is such a wonderful film. Nothing else looks like it, and the tones in your developer are beautiful. Just the way B&W is supposed to look in my opinion.
 
Thanks everyone.

I do have a Retina IIa, just got it yesterday in fact. Won it for $29.00.

While I like the IIa, the build quality just isn't there compared to the Contessa. The IIa feels kind of hollow, less robust compared to the contessa.

I fully plan on loading the IIa with some film and testing it out once I clean it up, but for right now, my vote definitely goes to the Contessa.

The IIa and Contessa are near identical in every dimension when they are closed though. I'll take some photos of them next to each other and post them here later today.
 
I have just finished CLA on one of these and put a film in it, not even shot a frame yet. They are lovely to behold. I have a few of the later non-folding ones which are very much underrated, and are cheap but a bit bigger and heavier, though they can be easier to use for grabbing a shot. You got a good price too, I think the case from the Ikonta 35/folding Contina also fit if you don't have one, but not 100% sure. Not many with working meters, I held out for that as well!
 
I found out about these from Stephen "Grady's" site myself. Lovely cameras, beautifully crafted. But the separate winding and cocking is rather slow, and the shutter release is rather clumsy, being mounted on the side of the lens. All in all, I think the Retinas are easier to use, what with the body-mounted shutter release and rapid-wind lever (even those mounted on the camera bottom).
 
I like mine but am not that keen on the viewfinder. There are no frame lines so it's hard to know what will be in the photo. I don't mind the separate actions required for cocking the shutter etc. It really is built incredibly well.
And yes, I first heard about it from cameraquest.com i.e. Stephen GANDY!
 
I had one of these in the not so distant past. Mine had been fully overhauled by Henry Scherer. It worked great, but the tiny little focusing dial, and overall tinyness got to me after a while.

This may be a great camera for children or ladies with fine fingers, but for an average size man with average size fingers, this got to be too fussy to use.
 
Coincidentally, I just got one last week, too! Excellent condition but the rf needs cleaning and the lens board seems a little loose. I really look forward to shooting with it after seeing your test shots. I think it will be a nice companion for my Retinas. Really solid little camera.
 
KoNickon said:
...the separate winding and cocking is rather slow, and the shutter release is rather clumsy, being mounted on the side of the lens. All in all, I think the Retinas are easier to use, what with the body-mounted shutter release and rapid-wind lever...
Click to expand...
I agree. My IIa is definitely more convenient to shoot with.

That said, I really like my Contessa, too, and I like its lens a lot. I just try to stick to subjects that sit still and let me take my time with the fiddly shutter. It's just so beautifully made; it's like a piece of jewelry. And yeah, my meter still works, too. Mine's sitting in my dining room right now with half a roll of long-expired Ektachrome 64x in it. I shot the first half last weekend.
 
Apologies to the OP, but I have a quick question about my recently-acquired Contessa 35. With camera open and lens fully extended, the lens/shutter assembly wiggles up and down and side to side ever so slightly. Is this normal or should the lens board be rigidly in place when fully extended for picture taking?
Thanks, and sorry again for the hijacking.
 
Peter Jennings said:
Apologies to the OP, but I have a quick question about my recently-acquired Contessa 35. With camera open and lens fully extended, the lens/shutter assembly wiggles up and down and side to side ever so slightly. Is this normal or should the lens board be rigidly in place when fully extended for picture taking?
Thanks, and sorry again for the hijacking.
Click to expand...

Not a problem.

Mine doesn't wiggle at all, it locks in place and feels solid.

You might see of the ring/nut on the back of the lens (inside the camera body) is tightened down.
 
Thanks.
I was fairly certain it should lock in place, but I couldn't detect any loose bits. I'll inspect it more closely now that I know for sure it's not operating properly.
 
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