Contax 1V - What would you have advised Zeiss?

[Kevcaster]

I have been totally impressed with the mechanics of the Contax lla camera and the way in which it has been designed with servicing in mind. What a loss it was when Carl Zeiss stopped production of these wonderful pieces.



Here is an image of the prototype Contax 1V, do not know what the viewfinder shows but suspect that this effort was too little too late and think they surely needed to start again as they did after www2.
What would you specify for this camera?
Kevin

 

[furcafe]

After Leitz came out w/the M3, it was clear what Zeiss Ikon had to do to remain competitive: (1) improve the VF (doubt that this prototype had framelines, but IIRC, another had fixed framelines), which was the main one: &/or significantly improve the built-in metering. The 1st was doable, though expensive, but the 2nd was not given the technology available in the late '50s (@ least not without a major cost in size). I think the Nikon rangefinder line gives a good counterfactual glimpse of what Zeiss Ikon could have done w/the Contax had they decided to stick w/RFs rather than forge ahead w/the Contarex.

 

[Kevcaster]

Yes I think ditch the meter,
New viewfinder with zoomed 28 35 and 50 with an optical fix for 85 and 135. Single frame with a width frames that show parallax
Forget the thumbwheel, use the external mount for all lenses
Major focus on 3 series of lenses - 28, 35, 50 F1.4 for pros with 85 and 135 Sonnars
35, 50, F2.0 for the well heeled
28, 50, 85 F2.8 Tessars for Amateurs
Hinged back that takes the Nikon motor drives or rapid wind devise
Kevin

 

[Roger Hicks]

Dear Kevin,

Get rid of the ridiculous small-throat, over-complicated lens mount.

Get rid of the ridiculously complicated roll-top-desk shutter.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Kevcaster]

Yes, the shutter could stand some mods. Perhaps use the vertical arrangement with Titanium foil.
A set of compact lenses would be good, I liked the idea of the ZM but not the rather large lenses.
Kevin

 

[someonenameddavid]

Amadeo type adapter to a wider throat external mount lenses. copal square type shutter, lever wind. a design concept that anticipated the need, the need for speed....

but Nikon would have sunk them anyway.

 

[Pioneer]

Keep that wonderful, reliable shutter.

Couple the meter. (this alone would likely have stymied Leica.)

Improve the lens mount by eliminating the inner bayonet.

Keep the focus wheel but drop the infinity lock.

Open up the viewfinder and add framelines.

Keep everything in a package close to the size of the IIa.

With the addition of coating, modernize the lens selection starting with external mount 50mm lenses.


Though I do agree with Nikon sinking their boat anyway. And if not Nikon, then another of the fast improving Japanese cameras would have.

Though it did not work out as they wanted, the rangefinder was a dead end by the 50s. The SLR was on the way up and Zeiss was not able to catch the trend.