B & T in Contax II, III, vs IIa & IIIa

[ernesto]

I have found this interesting (for me) fact:
Contax IIa and IIIa have several shutter speed settings plus B and T. B opens the shutter while pressing the shutter release, and it closes as soon as you move your finger out of it. This is usefull to expose the film for long times, while you are there.
But if you need a really long exposure, and you do not want to stay pressing the shutter release with your finger forever, T is the option. T opens the shutter, and you need to change the speed dial to B in order to let it close.
But Contax II and III shows only B.
Anyway there is a way to use it as the T option in the newer models:
If you look carefully the shutter release button, you will find a red dot, which is aligned with another similar red dot in the speed dial. If you set the speed dial to B, and press the shutter release button, and then rotate it shightly couterclock wise, it will stay pressed, therefore the shutter opened. Then when you come back you can rotate it again, in the oposite direction until the red dots would be aligned, so that the shutter can close again.
Be carefull, DO NOT try to rotate the film advance knob while the shutter is open!

Ernesto

 

[Highway 61]

In case you didn't know either - setting a Contax II & III shutter on B and using the selftimer to take your picture will make the shutter have a speed of 1s.

This is done by design and is mentioned in the camera user's manual. As is the shutter release button lock.

I wonder who may want to wind film on a camera during a B or T exposure.

 

[ernesto]

Good tip! thanks!

By the way, where can I get a manual of a Contax II?

I wonder who may want to wind film on a camera during a B or T exposure.

Nobody I guess, but in case you forget and try it, you camera will be broken.

Ernesto

 

[Highway 61]

Good tip! thanks!
By the way, where can I get a manual of a Contax II?

Ebay.

Nobody I guess, but in case you forget and try it, you camera will be broken.

Absolutely not. While the shutter button is depressed and locked-on at B or at any other speed, the film wind will turn and turn and turn and turn freely.

Fully depressing the shutter release button, keeping it depressed and turning the film wind is even a good way to clear a begnin camera jam on the Contax II.

 

[ernesto]

Really?
Thanks a lot, I was very carefull to use the lock, because i was warned I could damage the camera if turning the wind knob.
Good to know it , I feel better!

Here I have found a free manual:
http://www.davidrichert.com/ContaxIII_Manual.pdf
I have to correct you, as read in the manual, to get a 1 second exposure, the speed selector should be in B (not in 1/2s), then if you use the self timer, the resulting exposure will be of about 1 second.

Ernesto