Film cameras
Zeiss Ikon Contarex Special User manual
User manual for Zeiss Ikon Contarex Special. 40 pages. Read the original PDF, download or print a copy without registration.
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- Brand
- Zeiss Ikon
- Model / document
- Zeiss Ikon Contarex Special
- Document type
- User manual
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- Check the original document
- Pages
- 40
- File size
- 2.3 MB
- Category
- Film cameras
- Document date
- Not specified in catalog
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Page 7 · Read text
I Eyeletsfor corrying sirop 1 8 Releose knob wiih threqd for coble
2 Aperturesettingwheel releose
Ropid wind lever 3 Focusinghood rnit 1 g
Ground-gloss screen ottochment 4 Accessoryshoe 20
Lock for finder oitochments 5 ned dot morkingfor lens chonging 21
Tripod bush 6 Pressbutton for lens chonging 22
Locking keys for cqmero bock 7 Focusingring on lens mount 23
Distonce setting mork 8 Prism unii 24
Depth-of-field scole I Leverfor deloyedoction mechonism 25
Aperture r,ing10 Floshcontoci 26
Retoining spindle for finder otiochmenls11 Boyoneifor filler or lens hood 27
Film type indicotor12 Knob for operoiing mognifier 28
Rewind disc13 Mosnifier 29
Collopsible rewind cronk14 Knob for openingfocusinghood 30
Circle morking focol plone15 Ape*ure settingmork 3l
Coich for exchonging finder units16 Shutterspeed seiting ring 32
Split-imoge rongefinder otiochmenl17 Fromecounterdisc 33
34 Rewinding mork "R"View original page 7Page 8 · Read text
(GCDntaFeXrne
is o single-lensminioture t'eflexcomero for lhe 24 x 36 mm negotive formot, wiih focol plone shulier ond
ropid wind lever' InterchqngeobleZEiSS lenses onci inierchongeoblefinder unils os well os opticol ono
mechqnicolouxiliory equipment widen the scope ond versofilify of lhis comero in o foshion which con
hordly be surpossed.No mclfer which interchongeobleIens is used, wheiher for close-ups,mocrophotog-
rophy, pholomicrogrophy or ofher types of speciolised work, the imoge depicted by the CONTAREX
speciol will olwoys be complefely free from porollox. Highesi precision in comero constructionond the
unsurpossedperformonce of the ZEISS lenses moke the CoNTAREX speciol the ocme of photogrophic
developmentond suitoble for use by ihe most exocling professionols,scieniislsond ombitious omoteurs.
These instructionsshould moke you fomilior with the operolion of rhe coNTAREX speciol. When reoding
this monuol, first unfold the cover poge where referencesio the position of ihe individuol componenis
ond controls will be found
Kindly note the reference to fhe Contorex possport on poge 32.
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Distinguishingfeaturesof the C0NTAREXspecial Theall metaldie-castbody,ensuringthe highestpossibleprecisionond rigidity. The parallax-freemirror-rellexviewfinderwith its lorge, bright, uniformly-illuminotedimoge field. Interchonge- oble finder-unitssuitoblefor the mostvoried photogrophictosks.Rongefinderond lensfocusingore coupled. InterchangeableZEISSlenses,speciollycomputedfor the CONTAREXspeciol,ronge from ihe 21 mm super- wide-onglelerrslo the telephololensof 250mm focol length;oll lensesore fiiied with ropid-chongeboyonel mounls.The CONTAREXlensesfrom 35 mm to 135mm hove iris diophrogmsof the pre-selectorpottern. TheshutterSpeedsfrom I sec.io 1/rooosec.ond "B" for time exposurescon oll be set on one ring. Thefocal-planeshutterruns smoothlyond is free from vibrolion. lf is synchronisedfor both floshbulbsond electronicflosh ond outomolicollyselectslhe correctmomentof ignition if the shutterspeed is set correctly for ihe type of flosh in use.A deloyedoction deviceis builf into the shutfer. All settings- distonce,operture,depth of field, shuiterspeed - con be reod off from obove ot o single g ronce. Standard35 mm miniaturefilm is used with the CONTAREX,in the form of either commerciolcoriridgesor doylight-refillsin CONTAXcosseites,os well os bulk film or dorkroomrefills. The twin-cassettesystemmokes ii possibleto remove the exposedfilm without rewinding.Block-ond-white ond coulourfilms con qlso be exchongedwithout rewinding,ot ony time. 6View original page 9
Page 10 · Read text
The detachablebackhelps consideroblywhen dusiing ond cleoningthe spool chombersond mokes looding
ond unloodingon eosy moiler.
0nlya few access0riesore neededto simplifythe mosleringof difficuli photogrophictosks,suchos close-ups,
mocrophologrophy,photomicrogrophy,copying ond lelephotoshots.
Gontrols
We recommendyou to procticeoperotingthe vorious controlsof ihe CONTAREXspeciol before looding
ihe comero.
The viewfinderof the CONTAREXspeciol hos iwo different finder uniis which qre interchongeobleto suit
the poriiculor viewing requirementsof the finder imoge. The following finder-combinotionscon be
obioinedr
Focusinghood unit with ground-glqssscreenoitochmenl
Focusinghood unii with split-imogerongefinderoilochment*
Prismunit with ground-glossscreenoilochmenr
Prismunit with split-imogerongefinderoitochment.
The focusinghood unit (3) ond ihe prism unit (8) serve for viewing the finder imoge.The iocusing hood
musl be opened for viewing by pressingknob (14).The mognifier (i3), which is inside ihe cover flop,
* Use only with swung-out mognifier, With some lenses blocked-out corners musl be loken inlo occount,
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must be opened for viewing by pressing knob (14)'
The mognifier ('13),which is inside the cover flop,
permits criiicolly exqci focusing. By depressing
knob (12),ihe mognifier will spring inio lhe working
position.
The viewfinder units con be interchonged by depres-
sing ihe cotch (32),when ihe eniire unit con be lifted
off towords ihe bock (Fig. 1). When inseriing the
unif, the cotch (32) should snop-in oudibly.
The finder qtiochmeni (ground-gloss screen or split-
imoge rongefinder ottochmeni) will be occessible
when the finder unit hos been removed. By pressing
the lock (2,l)upwords, it will be loosened ond con ihen
be lified off (Fig. 2). For re-insertion, the clows of lhe
finder oilochment should be slipped over the spindle
(27) ond should then be firmly pressed bock into ils
mounting.
The prism unit yields on upright ond loterolly correct
imoge when viewed in ihe ioking direction; looking
from obove into the focusing hood,the imoge oppeors
upright ond Ioterolly reversed.
F i s . 1
:::.:t:,:::::ili::View original page 11Page 12 · Read text
Focusing
When using the glound.glassscreen,its entire imoge
oreo is usedfor focusing.The focusingring (7) of the
lensmountshouldbe rotoied until the subiectoppeors
shorplyfocused.
When using the split-imagerangefinder,you will see in
b0 ! lhe centreof ihe imoge field o circulororeo horizon-
tolly divided into two holf-circles(definition indi- rt)
cotor).When ihe lens is not shorply focused,o ver-
-}4 iicol line which posseslhrough thesetwo holf-circles
will oppeorbrokenond loterollydisploced.
The focusing ring (7) of lhe lens mouni should be
roloted until lhe verlicol line oppeors completely FFB stroightond unbroken.This operoiionfocusesihe lens
F io the required disionce.For focusingon horizontol
' H lines,fhe comeroshouldbe held os for tokinguprighl
pholos.
()
J<
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The split-imogerongefindercircle is surroundedby o micro roster ring, which servesthe some function
os o ground-glossscreen.The outlinesof o subiectwill oppeor unshorpin this ring until ihe lens is cor-
recily focused(Fig.3). This micro rosterring shouldbe usedfor focusingon detoiledsirucluresond pollerns
or for copying,etc.,ond for subieclswhich hove no distinctstroightIines.
The remoiningimoge oreo outside the centrol rings is olwoys bright ond shorp but connoi be used for
focusing.Full imoge brightness,however,con only be ensuredwhen the comerois iensioned.
The CONTAREXlensesfrom 35 mm to 250mm focol lengthcon be focusedwith eitherthe splil-imogeronge-
finder or ihe micro rosterring*, or with the ground-glossscreenottochment.
After focusing,the octuoldistonceond the depih of field con be reod off from the lens mou.nl.The focused
disionceis indicotedby the setiing mork (24).To ihe left ond to ihe righl of the setting mork, f/numbers
ore engroved.The shorp zone (the depth of field) reochesfrom the disfonce-figurewhich is oppositethe
set operiure-volueon the left, io the distoncewhich is oppositethe some f/number on the right (Fig.4.
When working with the ground-gloss screen oitochment the ronge of the zone of shorp definition con
be controlled on ihe ground-gloss screen provided lhe comero hos noi been tensioned. Correct depih-of-
field figures con be found in the depth-of-field tobles. As the plone of reference from which disionces qre
meosured, ihe focol plone is morked by ihe circle (31) to ihe left of the viewfinder eyepiece of the
CONTAREX speciol.
x CONTAREXlensesof 35 mm - 135 mm should be used with the splil-imogerongefinderunit, Order No.20.15d4;ihe
SONNAR250 mm wifh the splil-imogerongefinderunit, Order No.20.1565.
F i s . 3
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Fi1.4 The dislonce con olso be sei by using the depth-of- field scole (25).Turn ihe lens so os io ensure ihe deptn- of-field required ot ony given operiure setting ond ihen set ihis operture by meons of fhe operture setting wheel (2). Further dislonce seiling is fhen unnecessory. Ihe aperture is set by roioting the wheel (2) (Fig. 5). The required volue should be sei lo ihe operture setting mork (,l5).The operiure to be set depends on the required depth-of-field. The smoller lhe operlure figure the lorger is the lens opening ond the smoller the depih-of-field ronge. With the BIOGON f/4.5, 2'l mm ond fhe SONNAR t/4, 250 mm the operiure should not be sei on ihe wheel (2) but on ihe lens setiing ring. The mosl suiioble shutter speeddepends on the move- ment of lhe sublect; the more ropid the movement ihe foster must be the shuiler speed. The shutier-speed setting ring (16) shows simplified figures, for instonceView original page 15
Page 16 · Read text
F i g . 5
"60" forllrolh second eic.; ihe shutier speed ring is
provided with click-stops,ond will snop in when the
morked volues ore sel to the lriongulor mork obove
the ring (Fig. 6); the ring should not be set to inter-
"8" d medioie volues. When sei to the shutter remoins
open os long os the releose knob is depressed.The
-h significonceof ihe coloured figures is exploined on a
H poge 17.
(t) Exposures from r/rmosec, to %o sec. moy be ioken by
,}{P hond without feor of camero shoke when the stondord
lens is used. The use of o iripod is odvisoble when
moking longer exposures.With lensesof longer focol
lengih foster shutter speeds should be used for hond-
held exposures. FFB
- Shutter speedand apertureore interdependeni, i. e. ihe
fosler ihe shuiter speed the lorger should be fhe
, F
operture ond vice verso. Which of the shutter speed
operture couplings is required depends on the speed().v of ihe film, fhe generol brightness of ihe ovoilqble
F
F i s . 6
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light ond,when using colour filters, on the filler foctor. Correct shutler speed ond operiure setiings con be oscerlqined from the tobles, or, more reliobly, wilh the ZEISS IKON IKOPHOT photo-electric exposure meter (Fig. 7). The exposure meter is indispensiblefor colour phoiogrophy since colour film must be exposed wiih o hight degree of occurocy. Fig. 7View original page 17
Page 18 · Read text
Exposure{rio.a)
When shuiier speed ond operiure ore correci-
ly sei, the shulter con be releosed.The riqhi-
hond index finger should dep.g5t ihe .eleose
knob gently. Do not ierk, but squeeze the
knob, toking up the slock in the releose me-
chonism slowly. This will couse the mirror to
flip upwords, the diophrogm to close down
fo ihe pre-set position ond ihe shuiter to run
off oi the pre-set speed. Then ihe mirror re-
turns to fhe finder position whilsi the dio_
phrogm remoins oi the pre-sei volue in order
to remind you thot the nexr exposure con be
mode only ofier ihe ropid wind lever (19)hos
been tensioned (Fig. 9). With +he operoiion
of the lever, the film is odvonced by one
frome, the shutter is tensioned once oooin
ond ihe diophrogm opened to its full o-per-
lure. After exposure-settingond focusing, the
next exposure con be mqde.
F J ^ R
I
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vView original page 18Page 20 · Read text
Flashexposures
The focol-plone shuiter ofi ihe CONTAREX speciol con be coupled to oll lypes of flosh equipment. Seiiing
the shuiier speed will outomolicolly odjust the correspondingflosh contoct so thot ihe vorious floshbulbs
or electronic flosh units will be fired oi ihe oppropriote insionl, olwoys provided, however, thoi the shulter
is sei to the correct speed. The shuiter speeds qre morked by coloured figures. They ore:
"B")1 Block (1-%osec. ond for firing normol floshbulbs(ClossM) or electronicflosh lubes.
2 Yellow (1/rosec.) for firing elecfronic flosh tubes.
3 Red (r/rzs-rlrooosec. for firing slow-burning floshbulbs (FP Closs), which ore speciolly mode for use
with focql-plone shutters.
The opertures to be employed wiih ihe vorious types of flosh ore indicqted in ihe tobles provided with the
flosh lomps. The oppropriote operture should be set by meons of the operture wheel (2).
The deloyed oction device (self-iimer) con olso be used for flosh exposures with oll shutler speeds from
I-1/rooosec.
The flosh leod should be connecied to the flosh coniqct (10) beside lhe lens (Fig. 10). The floshholder itself
con either be slipped inlo ihe occessory shoe (4) or screwed io o brocket which is fiited to ihe tripod bush
of the comero.
1 7
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DelayedAction
The deloyed ociion device (self-timer)should be iensioned by depressingihe lever (9). This lever should
be operoted only ofter the shufter hos been iensioned. When the releose knob (18) is depressed, the mecno-
nism siorts running ond will operote the shulter outomoticolly.When the lever (9) is depressedright down
to its stop posiiion the deloy will be opproximotely l2 seconds. Belween the siop ond the iniiiol position
ore nolches into which ihe lever con be sei for intermediote deloy periods. The self-fimer con be used with
oll shuiter speeds from l-rlooo sec.
Timeexposuresfroma tripod (Fig.'li)
The CONTAREX is provided with o tripod bush (22) ond con be screwed to o tripod or o copying unit.
This is necessorywhen moking lime exposuresond when long-focus lensesore employed.
The shutter should be releosed by meons of o cqble releose which con be screwed into the threod of the
releose knob (lB). The tripod bush (22) of ihe CONTAREX is countersunk into the comero body, which
ensures perfect rigidity.
Exchangingthe lens
The press-button(6) besidethe lens should be depressedond ihe lens turned in on onti-clockwisedirection
until ii stops:the red dot on ihe lenswill then be opposiiethe red dot (5)on the CONTAREX.In this position
lhe lenswill springoutomoticollyfrom the boyonetmouniof rhe comero(Fig.l2).
Fiss.10,11
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F i s . 1 2
To insert o lens, ploce the lens in lhe boyonel mounl
so thol the red dot on the lens coincideswith the red
dot (5) on fhe CONTAREX. Turn the lens to ihe right
uniil it snops in. This will couse the press-button(6)
io spring out. The lens is then coupled ouiomoticollyio ihe rongefinder. li does not motter whether the IE-(.) "infinity"
lens iiself is set to or ony oiher distonce, b0
or to whiclr operlure the diophrogm is set. L
The CONTAREX lenses con be interchonged in full a-,
doylight without fogging the film, but il is obvious JP
thot the opening in lhe comero body should be
proiected from direct sunlighi. tFF
A speeialcase
The BIOGON t/4.5,21 mm, which exlendsdeep into
the body of the CONTAREX,con be inserted only
whenthe mirr0ris in its raisedpositi0n.
3View original page 23Page 24 · Read text
F i s .l 3
The CONTAREX should be tensioned ond the mirror
swung upwords by depressingthe smoll lug beneoih
ihe mirror (Fis. 13). Then the BIOGON f14.5,21 mm
"red con be inseried occording to the doi to red dot"
rule. For sighting, fhe 2l mm viewfinder should be
used, which must be slipped into the occessory
shoe (4). The depth of field of the BIOGON f/4.5,
2l mm is so greot thoi it is sufficientfo guess ot the
dislonce. The depth of field ot f 15.6,when focused io
opprox. 6 fi., extends from opprox. 34 in. io infinily.
Inserting the BIOGON does not involve ihe loss of
o frome. When the BIOGON is removed the mirror
will reiurn to the viewing position oulomoiicolly. (For
iechnicol reosons it is impossible to use the deloyed
qction mechonism for the first exposure ofter the
BIOGON hos been inserted.I
I
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F i g s . 1 4 i, 5 , l 5LoadingandUnloading
'r4,opening(Fiss. 15,t6)
The CoNTAREX speciol should be held in ihe left hond, with ihe lens pointing downwords. The locking
keys (23) in ihe bose of the comero should be folded outwords wilh the righi hond ond iurned to the righi
ond ihe left respeciively. This unlocks the bock. With your left thumb push the bock of the comero down-
words ond lift it off with the right hond.
22View original page 25Page 26 · Read text
t'.'
'18,Loading (Figs17,lB, l9) Fiss 1/, 19
Pioce o stondord cornmerciol20- or 36-exposurecossetle inio the fllm chomber so thot the prongs of the
rewinding shoft engoge in the lower opening of the cosseite. Pull the beginning of ihe film ocross ihe
film gote ond insert it into the slot of the tcke up spool. Hook lhe third or fourth perforotion hole over
the lug in the slol ond turn the loke-up spool so ihci the teeth of the tronsport sprockel engoge the per-
forotions of ihe film on bolh sides.
Whilst holding ihe film with the thumb of the lefl hond so thoi ihe leelh remoin engoged in the per-
foroiions. the comerc bock should be reploced by lorvering it inlo the grooves of the comera fronr
23
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#r.li
obove wiih the righi hond ond then sliding ii bock
home. Turn ihe locking keys on ihe bose in the oppo- 36 site direction ond fold ihem down. The keys con be
folded only when the bock is correctly in position.
After looding, ihe frome counter disc (17) should be
,.,A set. When using o 36-exposure cosseile, sei the while
ZU mork to the red mork to the lefi of the figure 36;
when using o 20-exposurecosseite the whiie mork
should be set to the red mork io lhe left of the
figure 20. Now swing the ropid wind lever (19)oround
wiih your right thumb uniil it butts up hord ogoinst
the siop, qnd then releose lhe shutter. Repeoi ihis
operotion to tronsporl unexposed film into the film
goie. After releosing the shutter twice, the frome
counier mork will point to 36 or 20, ond will lhen
indicote how mony fromes ore lefl for exposure.
!i
i$.;
g-,..,.View original page 27Page 28 · Read text
If the film is wound on properly, the rewind disc (29)
should rotote in ihe direction opposile to the en-
groved orrow. When using bulk film (see "Reloodobre
Cossettes") or 20-exposure cossettes it moy hoppen
ihoi the film is noi wound lout; in this cose the rewinq
p0 disc (29) will not rotote when the first fromes ore
odvonced, ond should iherefore be roloted in the
,t, direction of the orrow until o disiinct resisionce is
5 I feli. (This is olso o relioble indicoiion os io whether
ihe CONTAREX is looded ot oll.)
The film-type indicotor (28) con be set lo ihe type FFB
of film used in the CONTAREX, by seiting the oppro-
prioie symbol for block-ond-white,doylight colour or
,trH orlificiol lighi colour film, to the speed figure of ihe
F() film (Fig. 20). The film type indicotor hos no influence
}( on the funciioning of the CONTAREX, but ii moy
L prove o useful reminder'for you,
F i s . 2 0
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tis.22
Furlher porticulors con be found in the inslruclions
for ihe use of Conlox cosseTres.
Unloading
Exposed films in stondord commerciol cossettes hqve
to be rewound inio their cqssettes before being
token out. For this purpose the locking key (23) on
"R")ihe comero bock (morked must be lifted ond
"R"turned so thoi it points to the (3a) (Fig. 22). Fold
oui the countersunk cronk (30)from the rewind disc (29)
qnd turn ii in the direciion o{ the orrow (Fiq. 23\
until the film is completely rewound; this will be
indicoted by o resistonceos the film leoves the toke-
up spool. After removing the bock, the cossette con
be removed. Porticles of film inside the comers
should be olwoys removed ol once.
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