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.

Setting the distance
The built-in coupled rangefinder system
sets the camera to the correct distance.
When you look through the finder eye-
piece (20) you will see a clear circle en-
closed by a ground glass screen ring in the
centre of the field of view. This circle
is
cut in two by a horizontal line (Figs. 4
and 5). You can measure the subject di-
stance in two ways:
1. Sigbt a vertic al line ( e. g. tbe edge of
a wall, or a tree trunk) tbrougb tbe
finder. On turning the focu s ing mount
(1), the image in the upper half of tbe
circle will mo ve relative to tbe lower
balf. When the two halve s of the image
are exactly aligned, the len s is set to
the correct distan ce.
2. if tbe subject shows no prominent ver-
ticals, observe tbe image in tbe ground
glas s ring. Turn tbe focu s ing mOlmt (1 )
to or fro until tbis image on tbe ground
gla ss is pin sbarp.
11

It is immaterial which method you use ; in
either case the lens is automatically set to
the required di s tan ce.

The Depth of fieLd scaLe
The sh arp definition of th e lens is not
limited to subjects at the exact focused
distance, but also covers a certain range
in front of, and behind, this point. That
zone of s harpn ess is comparatively small
at full aperture (/ 12.8), but increases the
more you stop down the lens.
The depth of field scale (4) shows the
extent of this zone at various aperture
setting s. Two series of aperture numbers
are engraved for this purpose to
the left
and right of the distance setting index (3).
The figures on the focusing scale (2) op-
posite these aperture numbers then in-
dicate the extent of the depth of field. For

o
instance, with the lens set to 6 feet (Fig. 6),
the left-hand figure 8
is op!:,osite about
41/ 2 feet, and the right-hand figure 8 op-
posite about 9 feet.
Thus for a subject
6 feet away
and with the lens stopped
down to fl
8, everything between about
41 /2 and 9 feet will be sharp. Th e table
on page 16 gives more exact values.
You can equally go about it the other
way round
and measure with the range-
finder the nearest
and farthest points of
the subject
that have to be sharp. Then
simply find the required aperture from
the depth of field scale.
For technical reasons there is a seco nd scale belo w
the focusing scale (2), but it has no bearing on the
operation on the CONTAFLEX .
The Correct E.xposure
can be obtained from tables or determined
more accurately with the ZEISS
IKON IKO -
PI-lOT RAPID photo-electric exposure meter.
Th e exposure time (shutter speed) depends
on the speed of the film, the general
subject brightness, the aperture,
and the
factor of any filter
that may be used. Do
not stop down further than necessary to
14

make sure of the depth of field you want.
Otherwise you may need long exposure
times which increase the risk of camera
shake, for the smaller the aperture the
longer you have to expose.
The ZEISS IKON
IKOPJ-[OT RAPID exposure meter directly
shows the shutter speed corresponding to
each aperture. A special model
is available
calibrated for the shutter speeds of the
CONTAFLEX I.
Rem.em.ber these Basic-Settings:
Outdoor shots in bright sunshine, with 26°
BSl (32 ASA) film:
Aperture f/8
Shutter speed '/ 125 second
Outdoor shots with overcast sky,
with 26°
BSI (32 ASA) film:
Aperture f/5.6
Shutter speed '/
60 second
15

CONTAFLEX depth-of-field table
Di S-I
Depth of fi eld at ape rt ur e,
tan ce
I I I I I I
l eet
f,2.8 f: 4 f : 5.6
f: 8
f: 11 f : 16
f: 22
'"
48' 00
33'6" 00 24' 00 1 6'9"
00 12'3"
00 8'6"
00
6'3"
00
20' 1
4'1" 33'2"
12'5" 41'3" 10'1 0" 107'
92" 00
1'6" 00 6'1"
00
4'9"
'"
10' 8'2" 12'1"
1'5" 1 3'9"
1'2" 1 8'4" 6'3" 22' 11 " 5'7"
46'3" 4'8"
00
4'
00
6'
5'9" 7'6"
5'7"
8'
4'7" 8'2"
4'1" 9' 1 0" 3'8" 1 2'9"
3'1" 25'7"
3'2"
00
4' 3'8" 4'4"
3'1" 4'1" 3'6" 4'8"
3'3" 4' 11 "
3' 1" 5'7"
2'9" 6'11"
2'4" 9' 1"
I
3'
2'10" 3'2" 2'8" 3'3"
2'7" 3'6" 2'6" 3' 8"
2'4" 4'
2'2" 4'9"
I ' ll " 6' 1"
I
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()\

Holding the camera
Hold the CONTAPLEX perfectly still while
exposing. Support the camera body with
the palm of both hands
and firmly grip it
with the fingers (Fig. 7). Press the thumbs
against the back of the camera.
Us e the
second finger of the left
hand to rotate the
lens mount (1) for focusing, and the right
index finger to press the release button
(14). Press the elbows lightly against the
body. You can use either the left or the
right eye to look through the finder (Figs.
8 and 9).
17

This is the position for horizontal shots
with the
CONTAFLEX.
For upright pictures turn the camera
through 90 degrees,
and press the upper
end gently against the forehead with the
left hand. The second finger again ope-
rates the focusing mount (1). The right
hand supports the camera from under-
neath, with the thumb on the release but-
ton (14). See Figs. 10 and 11.
18

Alternatively, you can take upright shots
with the right
ha~d end of the camera on
top (Figs.
12 and 13). In this case the
right index finger operates the release but-
ton (14),
and the second finger of the
right
hand the focusing mount (1). Use the
left
hand to support the CONTAFLEX from
below.
The illustrations on these pages show
the various ways of holding the camerai
so select the one that suits you best.
19

Releasing
To release the shutter, press the release
button (14). Use either the tip of the in-
dex finger (Fig. 14) or the first joint of
the finger (Fig. 15), squeezing it down-
wards. This method of releasing
is special-
ly recommended, as experience has shown
that it is least liable to cause camera
shake.
If by any chance the winding knob
(12) was not wound to its fullest extent,
thus advancing the film only
part of the
way, the
shutter will not open when you
press the release. This prevents double
exposures.
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