Contarex
The Contarex is a small picture - SLR that of the Ikon Zeiss AG, Stuttgart, was produced in the 1960s. It is considered to be one of the most complex and solid 35mm SLR cameras that have ever been built. Contarex models were z. B. offered in 1961 at prices of 1,224 DM (Contarex with Zeiss Tessar 1: 2.8 / 50 mm) to 1,660 DM (with Zeiss Planar 1: 1.4 / 55 mm). Because of the very high development and manufacturing costs, the Contarex system was not an economic success for the manufacturer. The Contarex enjoyed a good reputation internationally. A modified Contarex was developed by astronaut Edward White during spacewalk during the Gemini 4 flight, the NASA used on 3 June 1965th
Models
.JPG)
There were five different models of the Contarex. The first model, now known as the Contarex I , is also called "Porthole Contarex" by collectors. "Bull's Eye Contarex" (also called "Cyclops"), named after the round window of the selenium cell light meter in the middle above the lens. The model was produced from 1959 to 1966.
The Contarex Spezial (1960–63) model had an interchangeable viewfinder system. A prism attachment , light shaft , Fresnel lens with cross- sectional image indicator or fully matt screen were available . A light meter was not installed.
The Contarex P (“professional”) (1966–67) already had the newer housing of the later Contarex S, but in contrast to this one did not have a light meter.
The Contarex S , which was supplied from 1967, had a newly developed CdS exposure measurement through the lens, with which important parts of the image could be measured in a targeted manner.
The top model was the Contarex SE (“super electronic”, from 1968), the world's first single-lens reflex camera in which the shutter speed was not set mechanically but electronically. Such a camera with a Zeiss Planar lens 1.4 / 55 mm cost 3060 DM in 1969 .
Lenses
Initially there were ten interchangeable lenses with a focal length of 21 to 250 mm for the Contarex. Seven other interchangeable lenses were presented at photokina 1963, including a mirror lens lens with a focal length of 1000 mm. From 1967 there were a total of 18 interchangeable lenses; the largest wide-angle lens had a 100 ° field of view with a focal length of 18 mm.
Selection:
- Zeiss Distagon 1: 4/18 mm, 1: 2.8 / 25 mm and 1: 2.0 / 35 mm
- Zeiss Tessar 50 mm f / 2.8
- Zeiss Planar 50 mm f / 2 and 55 mm f / 1.4
- Zeiss Sonnar 1: 2.0 / 85 mm and 1: 4/135 mm
- Zeiss Olympia - Sonnar 135 mm f / 2.8
- Zeiss Olympia - Sonnar 1: 2.8 / 180 mm and 1: 4/250 mm with quick focus handle
- Zeiss Mirotar 1: 4.5 / 500 mm and 1: 5.6 / 1000 mm
- Zeiss Vario - Sonnar 1: 2.8 / 40–120 mm and 1: 4 / 80–250 mm
Change magazine
The normal camera back wall could be exchanged for an interchangeable magazine for conventional 135 film cartridges with up to 36 exposures or for a more voluminous 17 m film magazine for continuous exposure of up to 450 images. Thanks to the light-tight construction, the magazines with partially exposed films could be exchanged without a darkroom and image loss and thus switch between different types of film, supported by a separate image counter and a film marker per magazine.
equipment
There was an electric remote control for the SE with which the exposure time could be set and triggered over a distance of up to 50 m. However, this only made sense in connection with the motorized film transport, which was also available to be attached to the camera base. Its speed was not very high, however, it managed two frames per second.
literature
- Hans-Jürgen Kuc: Contaflex and Contarex. History - technology - facts . 2., revised. u. exp. Edition. Wittig Fachbuchverlag, Hückelhoven 2012, ISBN 978-3-930359-53-0 (bilingual German and English).
- The Contarex book, Henrich Freyttag, 1st edition 1962 with subject index (available on ebay for 37 €)
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Company advertisement in the magazine The Yacht (Hamburg), No. 21/1960, p 813
- ^ Hans-Jürgen Kuc: Contaflex & Contarex, history, technology, facts , Wittig-Verlag 2001
- ^ Contarex in the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
- ↑ Accessories for Contarex C Super and Super electronic , brochure from Zeiss Ikon, Stuttgart 1973