Contax S and D User manual

/A/TRODUCTION
The Contax-S   is an one-lens reflex eamer&. taking  the 35 mm perforated  cinemafilm.
and giving pictures of 21x36 mm  (13/sx'ulru")  size. With  the aid of the nov-el pris-m-
telesdope-iirider. eye-level focussing'is'iiade^possible. When vieu'ed through the bcular
lens and the pentagonal  slanting  prism,  the image produced by the c&mera lens, over
the mirror,  on a  f ine-grain grbundglass  appea,rs to the observer in verticaf  right-side-up
position  and, with  the standard  lens in the eamera,, in  the natural  size of the picture.
The compact build  of the prism-telescope-finder   facilitates  selecting and focussing the
image.
Moreover,  the Contax-S possesses all the advantages  of a moclern precision  miniature
camera, such as coupled  shutter-winder  and  film  advancement,  lock  against  double
exposures, interchangeability    of the lens, and synchronized  flashlight  contact.
Successful photographic   results  with  the Contax-S depend by  all means on  careful
operating  and  thoughtful   handling.     It   is reeommended  in particular   that  the pages
relating  to the technic  of exposure should be specially  studied. and the handling  of the
camera practised  rvithout  ioading   it  with  film. When an understanding  of the Contax
has been gained by  this  practice,  the camera may be loaded rvith  film and experience
in pra,ctical  lr'61ft can then  begin.
The Contax-S  is designed to take  tlie orthodox  daylight  film-cartridge  for 36 exposures,
all other standard  miniature   film-fillings,  and any 35 mm perforated  film  in cut lengths
up to 1.60 metres. (5 feet.)

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EXPLANATION OF S/GNS
    I  :  shutter-release knob                 ?  : Knob  for setting the speed groups
  2  :  Latch for eamera back              8  :  Eye-lens (ocular)
  3 -  Picture-counting disc                         of the prism-telescope-finder
  4  : Knob for winding the               g  :  Fihn-marking disc
       shutter and film-transport               l0   :  Film rewind-knob
  5  :  Disc showing shutter speeds                   ll    :  Eyelets forholdirgthecarryingstrap
  6  : Knob for setting the shutter speeds  12 -  Screw-in thread for the camera lens
 13 :  Interchangeable lens, mounted with  distance-meter and diaphragm rings and                  l
       rvith scalesfor setting distance, diaphragm, and depth-of focus,
 14 : Camera stand                    18 :  Film-transporting drum
 l5  :  Tripod bush                               l9   :  Focal plane
16 :  Flash-light contact                 20  : Camera back
l7  -  Releose-knob for rewinding the fi}n    2l   :  Pressure plate
The illustrations do not in overy part conespond to the execution of the c&mera.

2

r. SI/ UTT E R
  AIVD FI LIW- TR.4NSPO RT
 1. Winding  the slt,uttu,
The shutter is ri"ounclup by me&ns of a full turn
 of the knob (1) (r11.No" l)as far as itrvill go inthe
clirection of the a,rrow. This manipulation simul-
 l aneously moves the f ihn and the picture counter
orr to the next picture, and srvings the mirror  into
position for the obserl'ation of the image in the     Ill.lrTo.1
f inder.
z. Setting the shutter speeds
The speeds are set by using the knob (6) and the
knob (7) next  to the speed disc (b)  (ilI. No. 2).
on thc speed clisc (5) &re blaek figures indicating
the short speeds of 1/roooth to ,lurth second.,and
red figures indicating"llu   long speeds of  ilroth
to  I second and 6iB" exposures running  for any
k:ngth of time  (Ill. No. l).

                                                                                        fll. No. 2
4

FirsCsel,the shutter to the short (black) or long (red) speedgroup by moving theknob (7).
and, accordingly, the black or red pointer must appear in the u'indow of the speerl
indicatirg disc (5). Norv adjust the exposuretime in the colour of the indicator (btack
or red) by pressing dorvn, and at the same time rotating, the knob (6). This knob is
operated by the thumb and the forefinger of the right hand, or by the thumb onlv,
by rolling  it over the millecl edge of the knob.
Turning the knob is possibleinbothdirections ancl can be nradeeither before or aftcr
the shutter lras been tvound up.


.]. I?eleasing the s hutter
'I'o   make the exposute, the shutter has to be re-
Ieased b;r pressure on  the knob  (1).  Avoicl
shaking the pictures by jerkly pressing the knob.
Release smoothly.  This  e&n be a:hieved  b),
putting the fore limb of the finger on the bordcr
of the ring ancl.lxessing the knob u'ith this lirnll
like a lever (I11.No. :J).

                                                                                                     Ill. N<1. 3


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When using'tho "B"  setting of the shuttor, the releaso knob has to romain pressed
down os long as the exposure is to  lost. The release knoh can be locked in  this
position by turnirg   it  to the left,  if longer timo exposures&re desired by means of a
tripod. To close the shutter, disengagethe knob by rototirg   it to the right.
4. The w,irerelea.se
The release knob  ( 1) incorporates & thread. to
take a tlexible wire release(Ill. IrTo.4). For longer
time exposuresa wire relea;e differirg from the
usual type c&n be supplied. This is fitted with a
locking devicein the shapeof a move&bleplate (b)
betweenthe neck (c) and the head (a).When set
of "8"  and releasedby pressureon the knob (a),
the shutter remains open until  the plate (b) is
presseddorvn. In c&se of short time exposureg   Ill. No. 4
and instanta,neouEsnaps, tbe plate (b) is pressed against the neck (c) and fixed by
turning  it to ths right. This puts tbe locking device out of action.


6

5. The contact lor  f lash-Iight connection
The electric flash-light  attachment  is connected
by mea,ns of the eontact  in  the tripod  socket
(ril. No. 5). rb is arrangrc for tensions up to 24
volts and up  to 2 amp.  intensity  of  current.
For flash-light exposures, set the shutter at t/roth
second or longor, and release the knob  (l).

IT. CAMERA ZENS AATDFIIVDER   Ill. No. 5
7. C ltan ging the Iens
The lens in the c&mer& body  is interchangeable
within   its threaded Ilarge  (I2)   (ril. No. 6). By
being turned  to  the  left  (anti-clockwise),  the
lens can  be removed from  the c&mer& body.
Should the lens be screwed, out  of the loaded
e&mer&, take  c&re to  shield the aperture from
glaring light. Beware of touching the unprotected
surface mirror  with  the fingers.                                     Ill. No. 6


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Leusesand supplementary rings are inserted by screrving to the riglrt (clockrvise)in
  tlre threaded opcning. The index points for the diaphragm and d.istance must be
 visible from above u'hen the mount is screwedttghtly.
 2, Th,e len,s scales
 The lens mount bears the following  engravings:
    On the front  ring the diaphragm  scale u'ith
      the index point,
     on the middle ring the distance scaler oo the
     back rlng a diaphragm  scale, showing the
     clepth-of-focus for each clistance setting.
 According to this scale, for  instance, the Biotar
 lens t12, rvirh 5.8 cm  (2rln") focal length , a,t,a,
rlistance  setting  of 12  ft. (4 m)  feet and.  tlll                                                                                                     Ill. No. 7
aperture, gives a, sharpness reaehing from 7 ft.
6 ins. to 30 ft.  (Ill . No. 7).
.7.Focussing the image with regard lo sharpnessand. outline
Sharllness and outline of the picture ore vicwed through the prism.telescope-finder.
lllhe eamerautust be held rvith the ocular lens elose to the eye (8), and the image will be
s

visible, but only as long as the shutter is wound up (secnote I, 1). If the finder eppea,rs
dark, the shutter knob (4) has to be rotated in tho direction of the arrow. Now turn
ttre milled ring which is next to the camera body on the lens mount, until the image
s sharp on the ground glass. In order to obtain greater brilliance, it  will occasionally
be found more convenient to focus the picture rvith the rvidest lens aperture and therr
to stop down for the exposureby turning the {iaphragm ring. The outline of the picture
in indicated by the light-rim in the finder. The field of vision in the finder is someu'hat
smaller than the size of the picture itbelf and can be used in its full extension. Persons
rvearing spectaclesfor the correction of rvrong-siglrtednessshould perform the focussirrg
rvith  their  distance-glasses on. An  additional
corrective lens, corresponding to the spectacles.
ryhich can be fixed  to the  ocular glass, is also
available (see note II.  4),
4. Li eltthood and correctiae glas.ses
fn  order to avoid  the penetration  of sidelights
into the finder, a lighthood  (fn.  I{o. 8) can be
supplied. This renders   it  easier for the eye to
become adaptecl.to the brilliance of the finder, thus
giving greater &ccura,cyand rapidity  in focussing.      Ill. No. E


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X'or persons who are obliged to wear spectacleswhen focussing,a corrective glass in
 a epecial mount to  fit the finder lens is obtainable, by means of which it is possible
 for the eye to approach the finder more closely. The awku ard changing of sp-ectacles
 between focussing and setting the shutter is hereby eliminated.
These small parts c&n conveniently be fixed to the holding device in the ocular-lens
mount (8).                                                                 I
 5. Camera stand,                                                        IUnder the screw-in opening for the c&mer&lens is a little foot which, when drawn out.
servesas a c&mer&stand (14).

III. LOADING THE FILM
 l.  Hold  the e&mera, facing the back, push the
bolt  (2) on the right-hand  side upwa,rds and pull
open the camera back by  slight pressure on the
edge (Ill. No. 9).                                                        t
                                                               I
lo

2. Take the empty spcol (reeeiving spool) from the
right-hand spool chamber (Ill. No. 10) and remove
any possible remains of f ilm chips or coating from
the pressureplat e(21). from the film gate and the
spool chambers. Wind up the shutter by turning
the knob (4).



                                                                                           Ill. No. 10

3. For daylight loaCing (beware of glaring light !)
a film - cartridge is necessary. Place the cartridge
into the left-hand spcol chamber, with the beginn-
in g of the tihn pointirg in the direction of the f ocal
plane. Insert the projectirg torgue of film  in the
slit of the takir g-up spool. Bend in a {etv millimetres
of tire film-torgue
a,smueh of the f ilm on to the sprol as to allow the
sprocket to catch both perforations  (Ill. No.  ll).          I l l . N o . 1 1
                                                                                                                                        I t

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1. With  the  film  in the  right  position  on the
film  track  a,nd the  sprocket   (Ill.  No.  l2),  the
ea,merabaek can be elosed dorvn and locked.





                                                                                                                         I f f . N o . 7 2

5. Set the counting disc (3) two strokes before 0
to the index point (Ill. I{o. l3) and make two blank
exposures by  aetuating  the shutter release (l)
and the transportirg knob (4). The rewinding knob
( l0) must turn inthe opposite direction of the arro\r'
if the film  is beirg properly transported.
With  the counter at stroke No. J, the camera is
ready for the first exposure.
                                                                                                         I l l . N o . 1 3
t2

6. The film-marking  disc (9), and the sensibility
scaleat the base of the rewintlingknob  (Il!. No. 14)
serve for recording the species and sensibility  of
the film  in the ea,mera. The dise is divided  into
three sections &s follows.
  Black-and-rvhite  f ilm section:
     for blaek-and-white  films  without  special
    marking.
  Daylight  colour-film section:                                 Ill. No. 14
     rvhite stripe marked "Colour".
   Artificial   light  colour-film  section :
     black stripe marked "Colour".

?. When working with loose cine film which is rolled on to an empty spool in the dark-
room, the end of the film should be inserted on the film spool in such a way that  it
can easily  slip  out. This saves rewinding the film   if   it  is rolled into a second
cartridge. The beginnir:g of tb€ film must be fixed into the slit of the empty spool
-  coating outvards -  *nd this spool, like the spool in the feeding cartridge, is then
placed into the receiving cartridge.
                                                                                       l3

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The cartridge must now be so placed into  the
right-hand  spool chamber,  that  the  film   will
smoothly run over the sprocket into the opening
of the cartridge, rvhich means that this opening,
below  the  sprocket,  must,  point   upwards.
(nl. No. l5).

IV. C HAI{G  I ATG TH E FI LM
When using the standard film cartridge for BGex-      Ill. No. 15
posures,& certain resistanee,due to the film being
fixed to  the core of the spool, will be noticed
after the 36 th picture.  If exchanged in daylight,
the  film  must  first  be spooled back into  the
cartridge.
This  is d.one by pressing the knob (17) in the
bottom of the camera body and at the same time
rotating  the rervind-knob (10) in the direction
of the &rrow (Ill. No. 16), until the beginning of the
film is loosened and slips off the taking-up spool.      Ill. No. 16
l4

At  this point,  slight resistance will  set in, aiter which the camera back can be opened
and the film-cartridge removed.
It is not necessarytorewindthe fihn ontothefeedirgspool if itistakenoutinthedark-room
or if the receiving spcol is protected by a cartridge (seenote III,  7).
Do not charge the film  in bright sunlight, but,  if possible, in the shade. After having
been taken out of the camera. the film-cartridge should be kept in lightproof paper or
in a metal box.

V. HOW TO HOLD THE CAMERA DURING
  THE EXPOSURE
The manner in which to hold the eamera depends on the kind  of lens being used. The
Contax-S is very convenient both  for horizontal as rvell as for upright  pictures. We
recommendthe followir g:
 l. The camer&is held in both hands, lyingfirmly  intheballs. Theshutterisrvoundup
and set with  the thumb and the forefirger  of the right hand, whereas focussir:g and
diaphragm-setting are performed rvith the middle fingers of the left and right hands.



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When  in proper focus, the shutter is released with
the forefinger of the right hand  (Ill. No.  l7).





                                                                                                                                                      l l l . N o . 1 7

2. The camera is held firmly  in the left hand, while
the manipulations &reexecut ed rvith t he r i ght h and .
Thumb and forefinger windthe shuttero the middle
finger  sets the  diaphragm  and  the  focussing,
and theforefinger releasesthe shutter (Ill. No. l8).




                                                                                                                        I l l . N o . 1 8
 l 6

3. The right hand holds the c&mer&, the thumb,
forefinger  and middle  finger  of the  right  hand
actuate the shutter and film-transport mechanism,
rvhile the thumb  and forefinger  of the left hand
set  the  focussing and  the  diaphragm.  The
cemer& is supported by the ball of the left hand
(Ill. No. 19).



This method  of holding the eamera is especiallv
suitable for upright, pictures (nl. No. 20).





                                                                                    Ill. No ,20


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4. The e&mer&e&nalsobe helclwith its baek pressed
against the forehead. In  this position the shutter
is manipulated  rvith  the  left, hand, and the lens
with the right hand  (Ill. No. 2L).
5. X'or work rryith a tripod, the c&mer& is screwed
to the tripod socket (15).
6. An ever-ready c&seis availablefortheprotection
of the ea,mera.The e&mera is fastened in the case
by me&ns of the tripod screw (15). For carrying       Ill. No. 21
the ca,merawithout  the e&se,a strap can be linked
into the eyelets (11).
                       /e4;    7{*                       />a                   "S




I8

VI. C LOSE- UP E XPOS URES
Close-up pictures ean be taken with supplementary
distance rings which &re mounted between the
lens and the eamera body (seenote II,   I ). In thls
case, sharpness and outlines  of the pictures as
well as depth of focus &re obtained by means of
the prism  tele,scopic view-finder   in  the same
manner as for long-distance objects. The following
sheet shows the distanees of objects given  by
using one, trvo or three distance rings.





                                                                           t9
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6. The:contapt for fta'sh-light eon*eetion
trr.Camera lens'and finder     . .





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