Zeiss Ikon Contaflex

tigerphil said:
I have a contaflex 2 with is a very great camera: Solid as a rock, small, beautiful view finder and great Tessar lens (even wide open at f/2.8). I need to use it more. Also have a mint-looking contaflex B with sticking shutter. I should sell/give that one to someone who will fix and use!
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Phil,

I give some tips in an earlier post for getting this back to working order again. I've tackled three in the last month, one for me and two for friends. Although they have a formidable reputation as a DIY proposition my experience suggests that sometimes a simple clean of the shutter and aperture will kick start them. I've been using my own Super B for a few weeks now with good results even on auto mode.

I'm not going to knock back a free Contaflex though, I have really fallen for these little Zeiss beauties in a big way. I also have a nine year old son, who has a birthday coming up soon, who has expressed a desire to own one (I guess the apple didn't fall far from the tree!).

I would encourage you to think about getting it working yourself, but if you really cannot see that happening I would be delighted and privileged to take it off your hands. Happy to pay the postage, of course.
Kind Regards
Brett
 
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I guess your son will love it.
It is noisy, and looks good, but the best part will be
that he can go out with his own camera and his father
to shoot pictures and that is fantastic :D

.....I was thinking, why doesn`t Carl Zeiss make a new SLR?
A new Contarex/Contaflex for example, they have made a new
Rangefinder, why not a SLR as well?
 
AAAAAAAAAAND again I have grat news, my contaflex s arrived and i am very happy, that it is in TOP condition. I bought a 625U (1,5V) for it an the lightmeter works just fine.
Tha Camera Dealer told me, that the 0,15V difference to the original battery is not a big problem....what do you think?
 
Shahin said:
I guess your son will love it.
It is noisy, and looks good, but the best part will be
that he can go out with his own camera and his father
to shoot pictures and that is fantastic :D

.....I was thinking, why doesn`t Carl Zeiss make a new SLR?
A new Contarex/Contaflex for example, they have made a new
Rangefinder, why not a SLR as well?
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Well with respect it's Phil's prerogative. I'd be just as pleased to see him sort it out and put some film in it himself, beautiful cameras like Contaflexes deserve to be used and enjoyed I think.
Regards
Brett
 
Shahin said:
AAAAAAAAAAND again I have grat news, my contaflex s arrived and i am very happy, that it is in TOP condition. I bought a 625U (1,5V) for it an the lightmeter works just fine.
Tha Camera Dealer told me, that the 0,15V difference to the original battery is not a big problem....what do you think?
Click to expand...

It's a good model. I'd quite like to find one in nice working condition for 50 Euros, they do not seem to turn up on ebay for sensible prices nearly as often as the Super or Super B models.

Regards the meter, I can only suggest comparing readings from the cameras meter against a reliable light meter and/or cross referencing with sunny 16. If it seems to correspond OK, time to load some film.

Do go to the trouble of inspecting the shutter and aperture operation through the lens, with the back removed, at various shutter speeds, and light levels. These cameras can sound and look like they are functioning correctly on superficial examination, however the automatic control should be capable of adjusting the lens aperture according to changes in exposure value, and further, the aperture must be clearly seen to stop down completely to whatever aperture is set before the shutter commences opening. If you test fire it a few dozen times and can get a reliable f22 from the camera at all the shutter speeds from 1 second to 1/500, and all the other f stops to wide open, over the space of a couple of days or so, you're probably good to go. If on the other hand the aperture blades can still be seen to be closing after the shutter opens, or worse, are not moving to the appropriate aperture at all, then this must be remedied or your shots will be over exposed.
Regards,
Brett
 
Shahin, congrats on your Contaflex S. It's the one that comes in black paint, right? Keep us posted with some pics!
BTW, anyone else have opinions/experience with the Icarex?
I agree with a new Contaflex. I made a product design a few days ago, but I don't think Zeiss will bother with that. It would be cool to see Cosina making one for Zeiss.
 
Roberto V. said:
Shahin, congrats on your Contaflex S. It's the one that comes in black paint, right? Keep us posted with some pics!
BTW, anyone else have opinions/experience with the Icarex?
I agree with a new Contaflex. I made a product design a few days ago, but I don't think Zeiss will bother with that. It would be cool to see Cosina making one for Zeiss.
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The S was available in black (which fetches a premium these days) but is more often found in a similar finish to the Super BC or Super B
Regards
Brett
 
Thank you very much for your tipps, they where very helpful.
I tested the shutter speeds and found out, that everything seems to work
perfektly well, The V625U battery is delivering good results for the lighmeter
as fas as I could test it.
I even repaired the flap for the battery compartment and not it is closing well (a bit of elastic
did the job and one cannot see it)

I will now load a testfilm into it and have a go witht it.

I hope it will delivery good results.

here is a picture of my camera at my flickr account, go and check it out :)
 
Only one more shot for now, I'll try to develop more today. Here you can clearly see the potential of this lens in terms of sharpness.


Untitled by Roberto V., on Flickr
 
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i like this picture :)

i will post some new pictures the next two weeks i will be on a trip around north germany and will of course take my cameras with me :)
 
Anyone have experience with the Contarex? I handled a Contarex Super a couple of days ago at an antiques store in a city near Mexico City, and I loved the camera. I didn't buy it though, because the shutter curtains need replacement, lens has scratches and a bit of fungus (50 planar), and the body has a few dings.
 
Someday I would love to have a 'Rex...$$$

In the meantime I have one heckuva Contaflex kit...talk about compact versatility...

It means just as much if not more to me than my F2 Eye-level... :)

ContaflexCase.jpg
 
@ roberto:

the contarex was a camera for professionals and it was insanely expensive at its time. that is why there are not many left in good conditon + the crome on the cameras was extra thick ! That is great but it makes it very difficult to tell how the mechanics are working.
Despite all that I think that the Contarex is still one of the most brilliant camera Zeiss has ever made and it will deliver fantastic results !
The only problem is that one really has to buy a good one and that means .....expensive ....

In germany there are good ones available in some stores but they still cost MORE than the current Zeiss Ikon Rangefinders. The reason for that is that they are much more high quality than almost every camera that is being build today.

AND NOW THE BIGGEST REASON TO BUY ONE, FOR ME : NASA used them to let the astronauts take photos in space..... !!!! AMAZING !

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I have again good news, I developed a roll of kodak (Iso400) color for my Contaflex IV and the pictures seems to be better than the ones from my Yashica......I have to say that I was very happy with my Yashica MG-1 but the Zeiss has done a better job....1958 VS 1978....
I will upload some of the pictures tomorrow.
 
Nice, looking forward to your pictures. I guess I'll skip the Contarex for now, I was just curious after handling one.
 
I really hate to say it but I think that when you are thinking about getting a contaREX it is better tó go for a more modern SLR which is MUCH MUCH more cheaper and can deliver just as nice photos in case you use Zeiss lenses.... *G*

Unfortunately my scanner decided not to work anymore so I will scan them tomarrow in the office.
 
OK, now my scanner works again and I have scanned and uploaded the pictures from a weekend trip in Germany.
They are all taken by the Contaflex S and the quality is very good even the colors are brilliant :D

Take a look at them on my Flickr account :D
 
Shahin said:
http://img853.imageshack.us/i/hamburg2011040800156.jpg/

Here is my brand new Flash for the Contaflex S and it works very nice....in fact it works so good that i also usw it for my yashica mg-1.....
i hope the results are as good as i hope with it :D
does anyone has experience with using a flash on a contaflex?
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The usual rules of flash exposure apply and it depends on how smart your flash is. If fully manual, then guide numbers and f stops are the key to correct exposure.

I'm fairly sure the Contaflex S model has a Synchro Compur-X shutter like my Super and thus, won't feature an X/M switch, but if it does, ensure you have the switch set to "X" for electronic flash sync. Being a lens shutter SLR, you can synch the flash at any shutter speed you like.

There is a guide number based system of auto exposure on the aperture control ring, but all this does is to lock in a particular aperture based on the guide number you select, and limit the travel of the lens focus ring to a suitable distance for the flash. Clever in its day but unlikely to be called upon much for most current users. There's not really much else to say that is specific to a Contaflex.

Regards,
Brett
 
Thank you very much for your help Brett,
I took a look at the camera and did not find a X like I have on my Contaflex IV.
The good news is, that my flash is fully manual and on my current iso400 film I
only have to set it on f8 and 1/60s and I am ready to go.
I hope the results will be good. :D
 
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