Man, this is great stuff to know, as I just got an Alpha last month to go with my Contina and Pantars. I may go for a Super later on, as a friend of mine is sending me a pro-Tessar, thus enabling my Zeiss Jones.😀
PF
I haven't tried any of the Pantar models yet. A few images I've seen suggest it is not up to the Tessar but that's not to say it is a bad lens. Enjoy it for what it is. When I've finished getting all the Tessar models I might think about trying them, but I still need a C III and three or four accessories to complete the Tessar system at this stage.
In summary there are three categories of Contaflex (excluding the Pantar models). The I & II have fixed 45mm f/2.8 Tessars, front cell focus. They perform better than one might expect. They're so compact you can just about fit one in your pocket. I've seen some images with amazing centre sharpness from them. You are stuck with one lens, though. Apart from Proxar close up lenses the only accessory lens available is the Teleskop. Mike Elens (ZeissFan) rates this highly, I have yet to procure my own copy. Can't recall offhand if the Zeiss Monocular also fits the 45mm Tessars or just the later 50mms.
The line went unit focus with the Contaflex III onwards. All the 35mm, 85mm & the 115mm Pro Tessars will fit any of the unit focus models. The M1:1 macro Tessar was made in early and late types though, the mount was very slightly changed coincident with the Super or New Super as I recall.
Although the III & IV are unit focus models they are halfway between the very compact (for an SLR) I & II models and the later types, size wise. They can
not accept magazine backs.
Magazine backs can be fitted to the Rapid, old and new Super and Super B, BC & S. One or two of the Pantar models as well I believe, don't recall which.
Rarest of all Contaflice is the Rapid, with 8,000 examples produced. It took me a while to find a tidy example, but they turn up occasionally.
The Tessar fitted to the Contaflex series was "reformulated" with the later models. Much debate has taken place amongst experts about which models had it fitted and which didn't. All the Tessars perform well, in my own experience the best overall performers for sharpness seemed to kick in from the New Super/Super B onwards.
Not that you've asked for it, but in my opinion, if you are considering a Tessar model, and prefer conventional manual photography, the ones that handle the best are the first four, or the New Super. The (original) Super model is good, but the way the EV system limits the combination of shutter and aperture speeds according to the ASA you select can be somewhat frustrating. I like to be able to tell a camera what to do and not
vice-versa. The New Super on the other hand, accepts magazine backs if you want to use these, and offers conventional grips on both shutter and aperture rings, with an accurate (if non TTL) selenium meter that is coupled at all times.
The Super B, BC & S are all great cameras with superb versions of the standard Tessar, but are best suited to either shutter priority auto use, or fully manual with a hand held meter. Because those last three models only activate the meter on the "A" setting on the aperture control, conventional manual photography with the built in meter is annoying, as one is constantly shifting the aperture ring back and forwards from "A" (to take the meter reading) to the required f stop to take the photo.
If you need any advice about buying one, feel free to get in touch.
Cheers
Brett
