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']he CONTAX manufactured by Z E ISS I K 0 NAG STU T T GAR T, is a deluxe precision miniature camera enabling its user to solve almost any photographic task.
photographer will be delighted with the sharpness and perfection of his CON T A x photos and the amateur photographer will be able to record the most unusual situations. Complete information on these subjects is contained in the CON T A X literature and hzmdbooks. The booklet is intended to furnish the owner of the CON T A x with essential and Jccurate instructions on how to operate his CJm era.
THE MAIN FEATURES OF THE CONTAX 7he Hew CON T A X represents a f~lrther develop ment of its predecessor models. All the essential advantages of more than 100000 CONTAX cameras in use have been employed and further Hew developments /Jave been introduced. J-lere are a few details of ·tbe maiH features of tbe new CON TA X Di e-cast body of li ght alloy guaranteeing extreme mechanical precision characteristic of Z E ISS I K 0 N products.
35 nlln perforated cine film is used which is av;tilable in various types such as 35 mm cartridges, daylight loading spools, ready-cut lengths of film, etc. CO NT A X cassettes permitting interchangeability of various kinds of 35 mm negative material in daylight without rewinding. Detachable camera back which is advantageous not only during loading and unloading but also when thoroughly cleaning the camera.
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MANIPULATION OF THE CAMERA STEP I PREPARATIONS TO BE MADE BEFORE TAK[NG THE PICTURE: THE LEFT HAND Take the camera in the left hand in such a manner that the thumb rests on the vi ewfinder shoe (17) and the other fingers grasp it from underneath. TH E RIGHT HAND Then use the thumb and the index fing er of the right hand to set the desired diaphragm and shutter speed as well as to wind the shutter itself. THE DIAPHRAGM is set by tllrning diaphragm ring (9).
THE EXPOSURE TIME is set on ring (4). This can be done before or after the shutter is wound. The disc (4) is lifted and turned until the desired exposure time is opposite the setting marie At this point it is dropped into position. The fact that one ring is used to set all shutter speeds makes the operation of the CON T A X convenient, easy and sure.
The CON T A x shutter has a range of speeds fro:n 1 second to 1!t250 second in .. ddition to "B" and "T' At "B" the shutter is opened by pressing the release button (3) down and is closed by relaxing the pressure upon the release button. At the setting "T" the shutter is opened by pressing the release button down, and by turning th e shutter speed setting ring (4) slightly in the direction towards "B" it is closed again.
STEP II MAKING THE EXPOSURE The shape of the CON T A X and the arrangement of its control are adapted to the human hand and are designed to hold the camera securely The following description of the manipulation guarantees utmost safety when taking pictures. THE LEFT HAND holds the CON T A X from below with the thumb and the index finger. THE RIG HT HAND grasps the CON T A X from the side. The middle finger is placed on the focusing wheel (6) and the index finger on the shutter release button (3).
FOCUS I NG By looking through the eyepiece (20) of the combined view and rangefinder one will see the viewfinder field for the standard 2 inch lens. In the center of the viewfinder field there is a somewhat lighter and yellowish field in which the object to be photographed usually appears with double contours.
RELEASING THE SHUTTER By pressing the shutter release button (3) down with the index finger of the right hand, the shutter will be operated and the picture taken. This can either be done with the tip or top joint of the index finger (See illustrations No. 11 and 12). It has been found by experience that the greatest security in holding the camera steady during the exposure is given when the uppermost joint of the index finger is pressed downward.
HOLDING THE CONTAX CAMERA When taking vertical pictures, manipulate as described under Step II. (Pages 12 and 13.) The right hand grasps the camera above and is suitably curved for this purpose. The left hand is used as a support.
venient. If the left eye is used for focusing, the right eye can remain open. If the right eye is employed for focusing , the left eye should be closed. The various ways of sighting and holding the camera are shown in the illustrations. The user of the CON T A x should select the method which suits him best.
STEP III LOADING AND UNl THE OPENING The lens of the CON T A X is held between middle and ring finger of the left hand. The top of the camera is next to the chest. The thumb is placed on the back of the camera (ill. 19). With thumb and index finger of the right hand, turn locks (23) on the bottom, right and left respectively The left thumb can now lift the back off (ill. 20). Then the right hand lifts the back away from the housing of the camera (ill. 21).
)ADING THE LOADING to nose underneath the triangular lip of the spool, 35 mm cartridges are supplied by the manufacturer with the beginning of the film ready-cllt to proper shape (ill. 22). No special cutting is required on a stock roll of 35 mm film (ill. 23). The cartridge is then placed into the feeding spool chamber in such a way that the rewind prong engages with the hollow end of the cartridge (cassette) . The empty spool is fitted into the takeup spool chamber (ill. 24).
the take-up spool until its perforation engages the teeth of the sprocket on both sides (ill. 25). Then replace the back of the camera, inserting it from above into the corresponding grooves and holding the film strip down with the thumb of the left hand in order to keep the perforation well attached to the teeth of the sprocket (ill. 26). Then lock the keys on the under side of the CONTAX and fold them flat. This can only be done when the back is placed correctly on the camera.
If it is intended to feed the film from a cartridge into a cassette or even from cassette to cassette, then the film should be attached to the core of the cassette on the take-up side. The CON T A X cassette consists of two slotted containers and a core. By pressing down a small button the two containers can be turned until their apertures are over each other In this position the cassette can be pulled apart.
each other the cassette is locked. The word "zu" ( = shut) should then be visible. The c
THE UNLOADING Jf you use a standard film cartridge the film must be rewound before unloading. For rewinding, press button (25) at the bottom of the camera. Then rewind the film into the cartridge in the direction of the arrow by turning the rewind knob (18). [n order to fa cilitate rewinding, the knob (18) can be pulled out about 1 em (0.4 ins).
DELAYED ACTION SHUTTER RELEASE By pressing down lever (16) the delayed action mechanism is wound up. After having wound the shutter also, the self-timer can be set in action by releasing button (3); the shutter will be operated as soon as the delayed action mechanism has run off . If lever (16) is wound up all the way (approximately a 90° turn from its original position) the delay will be approximately 12 seconds. Intermediate settings for a shorter deJay can also be made.
to infinity), engraved on the helical focusing mount of the CON TA X For example: With a lens of 2 inch focal length focused on a dist~nce of 12 feet the depth of field at f /8 ranges from 8 feet to 28 feet. TAKING PICTURES WITH THE AID OF A TRIPOD A tripod socket (24) is provided on the under side of the CON to screw it on any standard tripod.
EXPOSURES WITH FLASH LIGHT The fully synchronised focal-plane shutter of the CON T A X can be coupled to any flash equipment on the market. Contact is made automatically by setting the exposure time. Thus any type of flash light, flashbulb, flash capsule or electronic flash, will be fired at just the right time and with all the shutter speeds.
The delayed action device can be used only with exposure times from 1 second to 1150 second when flash photographs have to be taken. The stop for use with the different types of flashbulb is indicated in the table furnished with them. The flash lead of the flashgun must be inserted into the sod
C HANGING THE LENSES The interchangeability of the CON T A X lenses is achieved by the bayonet mounting on the lens and on the front of the camera. All lenses of 2 inch focal length are to be fitted into the inner bayonet mounting of the camera and all the other lenses, in the outer mounting. Changing the lenses is always done when rangefinder and lens focusing mechanism are locked at infinity (Step I).
is opposite the red dot on the camera body By turning it to the left (anti-clod
THE CONT AX SYSTEM In order to enable the owner of a CON T A X I I a to make full use of his camera Z E ISS I K 0 N has created numerous equipments, which reveal the wide scope of CON T A x photography. This chapter is intended to give a short survey of the most important accessories of the CON T A X system. THE INTERCHANGEABLE LENSES TESSAR f/ 3.5 focal length 2 ins This Tessar, world famou s for its optical performance, is the ideal lens for the photographer who does not require utmost lens speed.
B lOG 0 N 7/S f/4.5 focal length ins The super-wide angle lens with the extremely wide angle of 90° Lisl No. 5631013 A BIOGON fl2.8, focal length 13/8 ins A high-speed wide-angle lens that is well suited also to action work owing to its great depth of focus. List No. 563109 T PLANAR f/ 3.5, focal length 13/ 8 ins A low-priced wide-angle lens that meets all requirements of amateurs. List No.
CONTAX ACCESSORIES Universal find er for all focal lengths of CONTAX lenses List No. 440 Wide-a ngle find er 1:1/8" List No. 432/5 7/S" List No. 435 Multiple find er for focal lenoths of 3"/8" and 5"/8" <> List No. 438 Range and vi ewfinder attachm ent for focal lengths of 3"/8" and 53/8" List No.
REPRODUCTION APPARATUS For the reproduction of \,rritten or printed papers or pictures, materials and objects as well as for scientific photographs of small and even di minutive objects there are available the "Large Reproduction Unit" the IITraveJ Reproduction Unit'l and the IITablc Reproduction Unit ll Request special folder.
HOW TO TAKE CARE OF THE CONTAX It is advisable to clean the film track, the spool chambers and the back of the CON T A X carefully with a soft hairbrush or a hand blower If the lens surfaces are dirty they shOl~ld be cleaned with lens tissue paper or with a soft washed-out piece of linen. Dust particles should be removed with a handblower beforehand to avoid scratching of the lens surface.
