Zeiss-Ikon Contaflex Cameras

The Contaflex is unusual for a 35mm SLR - it has a leaf-shutter, just like the shutters inside folding camera lenses. The shutter itself, and the rear lens elements, are permanently attached to the camera - changing lenses means changing the front lens element assembly only. This limits the range of focal lengths that are possible, and makes changing lenses rather fiddly. Meanwhile, behind the lens assembly, a complicated system is needed to protect the film surface while the shutter is open to allow light to reach the mirror and yet leave it exposed while the real shutter does its stuff. All things considered, this is one mechanically complicated camera design.

There is one major compensating factor to all this complication, though: flash is synchronised throughout the entire shutter speed range. Fill-in flash is, therefore, really easy with this camera. In its day, too, it was quite compact for an SLR. In use, though, it is hard not to admire the unobtrusive click-rustle from all that mechanical activity - it oozes good engineering and build quality and thats part of the enjoyment in using it. Ergonomically it's surprisingly good - really easy and comfortable to use, every bit as good as a modern camera.

Contaflex Links

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