Zeiss Contaflex III

This lovely 35mm slr was launched in 1956. It features a Zeiss Tessar 50mm f/2.8 lens with helical focusing. It also has a between-the-lens shutter, requiring the shutter to stay open in order to see through the viewfinder. A second shutter behind the mirror remains closed. When the shutter release is pressed, the following sequence takes place:

1) Lens shutter closes.

2) Aperture reduces to whichever f-stop is selected.

3) Mirror raises.

4) Second shutter opens.

5)Lens shutter opens, then closes.

At this point the viewfinder will go black until you wind on, which resets everything and opens the lens shutter again.

Flash synchronisation is available at all speeds. The synchro compur shutter has a top speed of 1/500 and a slowest speed of 1 second. There is a bulb mode and a self-timer (delay of 8 seconds). The shutter couples the shutter speeds and f-stops for speedy operation. To use it you need an EV reading from a light meter. Set this reading on the camera and then use any of the pre-selected aperture and shutter combinations. If bulb mode is selected, you can read the suggested shutter timings (green figures) against your chosen apertures. This tells you how long to leave the shutter open for. This is a very similar operation to that on the Super Frankanette.  

The 50mm lens can take 27mm screw-in or 28.5mm push-on filters. The lens barrel has a depth of field scale. Its front element of the lens is removable and can be replaced with others. All available lenses are coated and colour corrected.

Available Zeiss Pro-Tessar lenses include:

35mm f/4

35mm f3.2

85mm f/4

85mm f/3.2

115mm f/4

Monocular 8x30B, which according to camera-wiki.org is equivalent to a 400mm lens.

M 1:1 (a 50mm macro lens with 1:1 reproduction)

There is also a Steritar B (813) stereo attachment for this model.  This produces two 16x23mm half images on the same frame, side by side. Special Zeiss Ikon stereo masks were available to mount these negatives ready for viewing with the Ikolux projector through its stereo attachment. Alternatively, one could use the Zeiss Ikon "O" Stereo viewer.

Focusing is easy with the finger rests on the focusing ring. The manual recommends resting the middle fingers of each hand on each rest and using these to focus. This leaves the right index finger free to press the shutter release.

This camera, like many others, has a snapshot setting. After setting the exposure value, set the aperture ring to f/8 and the distance to 20 feet.

For long exposures there is a tripod socket and a cable release thread.

The automatic frame counter should be set to 0 after loading. There is also a film reminder offering 16 ASA to 200 ASA. It also shows settings for colour film, though these aren't really applicable now as modern colour film is far more sensitive.

A complex, yet wonderful little camera. This one is definitely Nicky's though 😉.