ZEISS IKON CONTAFLEX I User manual

INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE

THE CONTAFLEX I CONTROLS
1 Focusing mount
2 Focusing scale
3 Distance setting index
4 Depth of field scale
5 Shutter speed setting ring
6 Shutter speed setting index
7 Aperture ring
8 Aperture setting knob
9 Aperture setting index
10 Synchronizing lever
For further camera controls see page 42

made by ZEISS IKON AG., STUTTGART,
combines the advantages of a miniature
with those of a reflex camera. Its de-
sign
is based on many years of expe-
rience
in the manufacture of precision
cameras.
While it has been produced
for the
advanced amateur, it
is of equal value to the pro-
fessional worker, the scien-
tist,
and the technical photo-
grapher.
The sensible lay-out of the
various controls and scales,
and the coupled shutter ten-
sioning
and film transport,
are designed for efficient
operation of this small
and
handy camera even under
the most difficult conditions.
The large, bright, parallax-free finder is
combined in one eyepiece with the range-
finder systems. These,
together with the
outstanding performance of the world-
famous
13 / 4 inch (45 m:n) ZEISS TESSAR
f/ 2.8 lens, ensure pin-sharp pictures every-
time which will always give pleasure.
To make the most of all the new fe atures
4

of your CONTAFLEX please study this in-
struction booklet carefully.
While doing
so, open out the front
and back cover pages
for easier comparison of the description
with the illustrations of the camera.
Start by practising the various operations
of picture taking without a film in the ca-
mera.
If you are doubtful on any point,
your photo dealer will be glad to help you
with further advice and information.
We are sure that you have made a wise
choice in buying the
CONTAFLEX . We would
like to share your enjoyment,
and we shall
appreciate it if you care
to send us some
of the outstanding pictures you have taken
with your
CONTAFLEX .
The pictllre on page 2 of the cover was taken with the
CONTAFLEX at '/ 250 s ecolld at f 4 ill bright s,,,,light.
5

The most prominent feature is the large
bright finder which shows the picture in
almost
natural size before you take it. A
stepped Fresnel-type field lens evenly illu-
minates the parallax-free finder image right
into the corners. You observe it through
a pentaprism which shows
an upright and
right-way round picture at eye- le vel. The
finder indicates the correct field of view
even with the lens attachments or the
supplementary lenses for close-up photo-
graphy.
The focusing system with the split~image
rangefinder and the ground glass screen
ring within the finder measures the exact
distance
and automatically sets the lens.
The world-famous ZEISS TESSAR f1 2.8 lens
with a focal length of
F!4 inches (45 mm)
yields pin-sharp images on black-and-white
or colour film. It
is of course colour cor-
rected
and coated.
The Syn&ro- Compur shutter, model MXV,
has shutter speeds from 1 to 1/;00 second
6

as well as a B setting for time exposures
of
any duration. The bailt-in flash contact
permits synchronization with all types of
flash
at the fastest shutter speed. It is also
fitted with a self-timer.
All settings are visible at a glance from
above.
The bright, parallax-free, viewfinder and
rangefinder system, the spring-loaded pre-
selector iris and the coupled film transport
and shutter tensioning mechanism make
the camera
ready for action at a moment's
notice.
The camera takes 24 x 36 mm negatives on
35mm miniature film available
in standard
daylight cassettes, daylight refills, dark-
room refills, or as bulk film.
With the
special cassettes the film can be changed
in daylight after any number of exposures
without rewinding.
The removable baCk simplifies loading and
unloading as well as cleaning of the camera.
The all-metal body guarantees the utmost
mechanical precision of all components -
the hall-mark of
ZEISS IKO N products.
7
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Setting the Ape rture
Depress the button (8) and at the same
time rotate the black milled ring (7) carry-
ing the aperture scale until the required
aperture number
is opposite the index (9).
If necessary, the diaphragm can al so be
set to intermediate values.
When making
some consecutive exposures it
is recomm-
endable to check the setting before each
exposure.
As the aperture ring clicks into
position
at each setting, you can eve n set
the aperture
in the dark by touch only. In
th at case st art from one end position

and countthe clicks to the required setting.
The aperture can be adjusted whether the ·
shutter is tensi~ned or not (see next
section).
Setting the Shutter Speed
Rotate the chromium plated milled ring (5)
until the black dot (6) is opposite the re-
quired speed figure (see Fig. 2). The milled
ring clicks into position
at each settingi this
precludes intermediate speeds.
The num-
bers indicate fractions of a second (thus
60 stands for 1/ 60 second, and so on). When
set to B, the shutter remains open as long
as the release button(14)
is depressed (see
page 20). For setting the self-timer see
page
24.
To tension the Synchro-Compur shutter
turn the winding knob (12) in the direc-
tion of the arrow as far as it will go. This
at the same time advances the film by one
frame.
The coupling of the film transport
and shutter tensioning makes double
ex-
posures and blank frames impossible. All
shutter speeds can be set either before or
after winding the film. Keeping the shutter
tensioned does not harm it
in any way.
9
~ Imp""an'

A Useful Hint: When winding the knob
don
't just twiddle it round with two
fingers like a screw. A- much more con-
ve nient and quicker way is to swing both
hands simultaneously in opposite direc-
tions, with one
hand holding on to the
camera body
and the other gripping the
winding knob (Fig. 3).
When winding the sh utt er, please note
that the winding knob (12) should be
turned until a positive resistance is felt,
otherwi
se the shutter may remain closed
when operating upon being released.