Zeiss Ikon Contaflex II User manual

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In,rtr,uetior.a                                    f or    rtr.ae

THE CONTAFLEX II CONTROLS

I Exposure meter scale               8 Aperture Scale
2 Exposure meter setting index         9 Syndrronizing  lever
3 Film speed setting knob              10 Depth-of-field scale
4 Rewind knob                                              l'l Distance setting index
5 Button to open the meter cover         t2 Focusing scale
6 Eyelets for carrying strap             13 Focusing mount
7 Flash socket                          1{ Shutter speed setting ring





                                                                                                                                  Digitally signed by mike butkus
                                                                                                  DN: cn=mike butkus, o=orphancameras, ou=29,
                                                                                                          email=mike@butkus.org, c=US           mike butkus Date: 2020.04.18 14:54:07 -04'00'





               For further camera controls see page 42.

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    THE CONTAFLEX II CONTROLS

15 Shutter speed setting index          20 Release button
16 Shutter speed scale                 21 Film counter disc
                                    22 Reversing button
17 Aperture setting knob
                                    23 Locking keys of camera back
18 Aperture setting index              24 Tripod bush
19 Vinding knob                     25 Findcr eyepiece





    The numbers refer partly to Fig. I on page 3 of the front cover.

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    The In.side Story

     You will probably want to larow more about what goes
    on inside your coNTAFLEx, and how this masterpiece
     of optical and nechanical precision engineering really
     works. But please don't satisfy your curiosity by at-
      tacking the camera with a screwdriver or pliers       it                                                    -      certainly won't do your coNTAFLEx any good ! Never-
      theless we should like to give you some idea of the
      internal anatomy of your camera, and have therefore
     shown a cross-section of it on the last page. There you
    can follow the path of the light from the lens via
     the mirror and finder system to the eye. The letters
     of the illustration indicate the following details:


            4  Winding knob witb Jilm counter and release button
            b  Pentaprism
              c  Finder eyepiece
           d  Condenser lens
              e  Fresnel field lens utitb ground glass screen ring and
                  sDlit-ima g e  r an g e I ind er
                 I  Mirror
            s  Cdpping plate
           b  Film track
                      i  Film pressure plate
            k  Remooable back
                          I  Tripod busb
       m   Sprin g-lo ade d pr e-s ele ct or
           n  Diapbragm  shutter
           o    tslr indt (ts mm.) ZEISS TESSAR | ,z.s lens

The r,e.( Trltoto-electrie enpoaute
nteter in the (ONTAEnnlf  II
The corvrarrl.Ex rr is now equipped with the new
follow-up photo-electric exposure nleter. This new
instrument facilitates considerably the rapid finding
of the values for correct exposure.
The film speed rating is set in the same way as
described on page 8 of the instructions for using the
coNTAFLEX  rr. It should, however be noted that the
DlN-window is now at the right and the ASA-win-
dow, at the left when seen in the direction of taking'

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The operations described on pages 10 and 11 should
 be altered as follows:
For exact measurelrlent, the flap of the exposure
meter should be opened by a slight pressure towards
 the left of button (5). The coNrAr.'LEX u should then
be aimed at the subject in the way you actually
want to take it. \When this is done the pointer (1)
will deflect imrnediately. Now the setting ring (2)
should be turned until tl-re centre of the small circular
mark is exactly on top of the pointer when seen from
above (see illustr.). The correct exposure time (outer
scale) can rlow be read immediately from the setting
ring (2) for any stop (inner scale) required and vice
versa.
The shutter speeds to the left of t/sstandfor fractions
of seconds (thus 15 means 1/rr second), the figures
to the right of 1/z stand for full seconds.
As described in the following pages, the values found
must then be transferred to the diaphragm and the
shutter of the coNTAFLEX  rt, For the figures for full
seconds marked in green the shutter must be set to
"B" (see page 13).
  @z,nrss rKo NAG.S TUTTG[AR,T


                         3 le I 862 I 2 4         Printed in Germany,kn-si  l   Einl .
                                 Author: J.Kraatz 5 0456

THE CONTAFLEX SYSTEM
The ZEISS IKON TELESKOP
increases the focal Ierrgth of the ZEISS I'ESSAR
f         nrnt, rvhich is  rigidly built  irtto the  '2.8145CONI'AFLEX by about 1.7 tirnes, thtrs giving a total
focal length of about 3 irrs. The ttseful speed of dre
conrbination is f  , 5.6. The diaphragnr setting ring
shotrld be set, therefore, to f 5.6 or a lower value
(larger figures).
Operating
the ZI:lSS IKON TELIISKOI' 1.7 x
 1. Set the standard lens of the coN-tAFLEX to @
    ancl tal<e care to renlove all scrcrvecl-in filters.
2. The nrounting support or bracket should be
    slippecl into the grooves at either side of the front
   panel of the cattrera frotrt belorv arrcl pushed up-
    rvarcls as far as it goes.
3. The -l-ELIlSxol'shoulcl be screu'ccl into the threacl
    of the bracl<et until it srraps in audibll'.
+. Therc is no changc in the actual operation of the
   CoNlAFLEx. The only difference is that the
    clistance tnust be set by turning thc milled front
   ring ort the 'l'EI.LSKOP, insteacl of turning thc
    clistancc settitrg rittg ott tlre t'tiSSAR' The correct
    clistartce is, as rtsttal, lncasttrecl bv tneatrs of the
   ground-glass rirtg or the split-inrage rangefillder.
   The clistance Incasttrecl, as u'ell as the clepth of
    field provicled by the variotts stops/ can be read
    off frorn the scales of the rEt-ItsKot).

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  5. To remove the attachment, the 'rErssxop itself
    should be unscrewed  ffrst. Depress the small
    knob (1) on the underside of the bracket and
    unscrew the lens attachment. Then press in the
    grooved catches on either side of the bracket (2)
    and remove it by pulling it downwards. If desired,
    however, the bracket may remaitr on the camera
    even when the ever-readv case is closed.

 Ilepth of field table
 for ressen t 2.8145 mm rvith rsresxop 1.7x
                                          z :  0.05 mm

     Sentng                 DIAPHRACM
     T.lc.l.         t.6                lrrlreln
               69',6'.6           48't0,. o         35'7".o           24'7'. a           17,11"  - o

      20'           5',9',-27',8'         l4'4'.33'2'                ltI z"'44'4'      fi'tv.,.100'        9'7t12".6

       t0'        8',t0'.1 t'6!/r'        8'5'.lX'4tlz"    Z,tltl2".13,7r            7',3..16'.3'         6'7'.72'4

                6'5t11,. 7'8t12"     6'2t12'-  8'tlln           1.".8'6t1.,                               5'2t  | 1' -to' tlt  12'

            5',       4'gt1r'. 5'4'       4'7tlr".5t5tJ2.     4'5tlz'. 5'8tlz'     4'ttl."-  6'ltl.,      4,t12,- 6,7tlz',

               3'9t12,.4,2t12.        319r- 4,3t12r        3'B',.4',5t1.'       3'6'- 4'7tlz'     3'4tl.,.4ttl.
  * Lens of the camera set to co.

 Aceessories
 The following accessories for the rELEsKop are
 available: coated precision ftlters (order no.355), in
 colours yellow, yellow-green, orange, red, blue
 (rxoron) and a UV-filter as well as a lens hood in
 screw-in mount (O S 55), order no.1126.     Filter                                         - and lens hood can be used together.
 The bracket can also be used for attaching the stereo
'attachment designed for the coNTAFLEx, called the
 STERITAR-A.




ZEISS IKON AG. STUTTGART
                                                         0757-4 ldslGaEl 3191861109     Author: J. I{raatz 3
                     Printed in Germanv

Settirt;: the Aperture
i-o             Depress dre button (17) and at the sanre
€O             time rotate the black milled ring carryirrg
                 the aperture scale (8) until the requirecl
                                                         indexf,.o             aperture number is opposite the
                 (18) (Fig. 3). As the aperture ring clicks
oO                 into position at eaclr setting, yorr can
              even set the aperture in the dark by
=o             touch only. In that case start from one
3o           end position and count the clicks to the
                  required setting. The aperture can be ad-
so                justecl rvhether the shutter is tensioned or
                  not (see next section).



                         *___*

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Setting the Shutter SPeed

Rotate the chromium plated milled ring
(14) until the black dot (15) is opposite
the required speed figure (see Fig' 3)'
The milled ring clicks into positicrr at
each setting; this precludes intermediate
speecls. The numbers indicate fractions
                                                 se-of a second (thus 60 stands for 1/oo
cond, and so on). \When set to B, the
shutter remains open as long as the
 release button (20) is depressed (see page
 22). For setting the selftimer see page 26'
To tension the Synchro-Compur  shutter
 turn the winding knob (19) in the direc-
                                        go'            Important tion of the arrow as far as it  will                                              ( This at the same time advances the film
 by one frame. The coupling of the film
 transport and shutter tensioning makes
 double exposures and blank frames im-
 possible. All shutter speeds can be set
 either before or after winding the film'
 Keeping the shutter tensioned does not
 harm it in any waY.


  13

A Uselul Hirrl, V/hen winding the knob
don't just twiddle it round with two fin-
gers lil<e a screw. A rnuc'h tnore convenietrt
and quicker way is to swiirg both hancls
simultaneously in opposite clirectiorrs  rvith
one hand holding on to the camera bodl'
and the other gripping the ivinding knob
(Fig. a).
When winding the shutter, please note
that the rvinding knob (19) should be
turned until a positive resistance is felt,
otheru,ise the shutter ntay reinain closecl
rvhen operating upon being released.




                                                                                          {'i' i'?
                             *6s*.yo.","*dS.'SSl

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 Setting the Distanee

The built-in coupled rangefinder system
 sets tlre camera to the correct distance.
\7hen you look through the finder eye-
 piece (25) you will see a clear circle en-
closed by a ground glass screen ring in
the centre of the field of view. This circle
 is cut in two by a horizontal line (see
illustration right). You can measure the
subject distance in two ways:

 I. Sight a oertical line (e. g. the edge ol
  a wall, or a tree trunk) through tbe
  finder. On turning tbe focusin! mount
  (rs), the image in the upper balf of
  tbe circle will moqe relatioe to tbe
  lower balf. Wben tbe two baloes of tbe
  imaQe are exactly aligned, tbe lens is
   set to tbe correct distance.

z.If the subiect sbows no prominent oer-
   ticals, obseroe tbe image in tbe ground
  Qlass rinQ. Turn tbe focusing mount
  (rs) to or lro until tbis imaQe on the
  ground qlass is pin sharp.

1i

It is immaterial which method you use,
                in either case tl-re lens is automatically
                    set to the required distance.
              The Depth of Field Seale
             The sharp definition of the lens is not
                   limited to subjects at the exact focused
o                  distance, but also covers a certain range
C\|                in front of, and behind, this point. That
                                                           small                                        comparatively                           sharpness                                          is
                                                                             :                                         2.8), but becomes                         aperture (fFo            atzonefullof
                    greater the more you stop down the lens.
              The depth of field scale (10) shows the
                 extent of this zone at various aperture
                      settings. Two series of aperture numbers
                 are engraved for this purpose to tl-re left
              and right of the distance setting index
                    (11). The distance figures on the focusing
                  scale (12) opposite these aperture num-
                  bers then indicate the extent of the depth
                   of field. For instance, with the lens set to
            6 feet (Fig. 5), the left-hand figure 8 is
                   opposite about 4r/z feet, and the right-
                hand figure 8 opposite about 9 feet. Thus
                    for a subject 6 feet away and with the
                 lens stopped down to f  , 8, everything
                 between about 4rlz and about 9 feet will
             be sharp. The table on page 18 gives
                more exact values.

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You can equally well go about it the
other way round, and measure with the
rangefinder the nearest and farthest
points of the subiect that have to be
sharp. Then simply find the required
aperture from the depth of field scale.
Do not, however, stop down further than
necessary to make sure of the depth of
field you want. Otherwise you may need
long exposure times, whictr increase the
risk of camera shake (see page 22).

For te&nical reasons there is a second scale below
the focusing scale (12), but it has no bearing on
the operation of the CONTAFLEX   II.

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Holcling llte ('umera
Hold the coNrAr.'LEX  rr perfectly  still while
exposing. Support the camera body with
the palm of bcth hands and firmly grip
it with the  f ingers (FiS. 6). Press the
thumbs against the back of the can'rera.
Use the second finger of the left ha:r.l
to rotate the lens rnount (13) for focusing,
and the right index finger to press the
release button (20). Press the elbows


1()

lightly against the body. You can use
either the left or right eye to look
tlrrough the finder (Figs. 7 and 8). This
is the position for horizontal shots with
the coNraplEx  II.
For upright pictures turn the camera





through 90 degrees, and press the upper
end gently against the forehead with the
left hand. The second finger again
operates the focusing mount (13). The
right hand supports the camera from
underneath, with the thumb on the


                                      20

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 release button (20). See Figs. 9 and 10
 Alternatively, you can take upright shots
 rvith the right-hand end of the camera orr
 top (Figs. 1 1 and 12). In this case the
 right index  f inger operates the release
 button (20), and the second finger of the





right hand the focusing mount (13). Use
the left hand to support the coNrnr:LEx  rr
from below.
The illustrations on these pages show the
various ways of holding the camera; so
select the one that suits vou best.


21

;
                                   lr
         tj                         fl                               nl


Ileleusirr;2'
To release the shutter press the release
button (20). Usc eithcr the tip of the
irrclex  f irrger (Fig.  1 3) or the first ioint
of the finger (Fig. 14), squeezitrg  it
clorvnrvarcls. This urcthocl of releasing  is
specially reconrnrertded, as experiettce has
shorvn that it is lcast liable to cause ca-
rrrera shakc. If bv anv chattcc thc rvindirrg
knob  ( 1 ,t)) rvas not wourrd   I o ils  f ullesl
crlt'ltl, tlrus aclr'arrcing the filrn onlv part
of the way, thc shuttcr rvill not opelr
rvhcn you press the releasc. This prevents
clouble exl)osures.


                                         22

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              IAL FEATUIi S OF TI-IE
                 ,\ I''FLEX II
         The Finder
         The finder image is only visible after ad-
            vancing the film and tensioning the shut-
            ter by the winding knob (19). This at
          the same time pushes down the mirror
J            inside the camera: you know at a glance           whether the camera is ready to shoot.
         As long as you can see tle large bright
            finder image, the lens aperture automati-
           cally remains fully open. This permits
           comfortable and accurate focusing. On
            pressing the release button, the spring-
           loaded iris jumps to its pre-selected set-
      7 ting just before the shutter uncovers the             film. The cor.rr.qplex is the first camera
             to utilize this system.
        The finder alrvays shows the correct
                fielcl of view absolutely without any pa-
            rallax error, even with the lens attach-
          ments or for close-ups, with supplemen-
            tary lenses. You can easily "follow" mo-
           ving subjects with the camera, for you
           see the image at eye-level, upright, and
            the right way round.


             23

The black eyepiece mount (25) unscrews
and will take suitable correction lenses
(Order No. 902) to compensate for de-
fects of vision. Even if you nornrally wear
spectacles you can therefore observe the
fielcl of view and the rangefinder with-
out glasses.


Zone I'ocrt,sirtg'

To save time in focusirrg action subjects,
a zone focus setting is provided. Se the
aperture to the red figure 8 and the dis-
tance to 20 feet, also marked in red
(Fig. 15). Everything from g feet to in-
finity will now be sharp.
Another useful way of dealing with ac-
tion subjects is as follows. For instance,
                                if you want to get
                   a shot of children at
                      play, set the aper-
                  ture and shutter
                  speed, and focus



                                     24