Film cameras
Zeiss Ikon Contax IIa User manual
User manual for Zeiss Ikon Contax IIa. 31 pages in English. Read the original PDF, download or print a copy without registration.
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Document details
- Brand
- Zeiss Ikon
- Model / document
- Zeiss Ikon Contax IIa
- Document type
- User manual
- Language
- English
- Pages
- 31
- File size
- 14.2 MB
- Category
- Film cameras
- Document date
- Not specified in catalog
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Page 3 · Read text
www.butkus.us
Gia
photographer will be delighted with the sharpness and
perfection of his coNTAX photos and the amateur
photographer will be able to record the most unusual
situations. Complete information on these subjects is
contained in the coNTAx literature and handbooks.
The booklet is intended to furnish the owner of the
coNTAx with essential and accurate instructions on
how to operate his camera.
Jt is reconunended tbat a tborougb study oJ tbese directions be made
and to practice tbe oarious me&anical movements before'loading
tbe camera.
Before readinq on, turn out tbe inner leaoes ol tbe cooer lor future
relerences !
Jbe te&tnical deoelopment may reQuire sligbt $anges on the cdmerd
as compared to tbe description.View original page 3Page 4 · Read text
THE MAIN FEATURES OF THE
CONTAX
Jbe new coNr ex represents a furtber deoelop-
ment of its predecessor models. All tbe essential
aduantages of more tban tooooo coNTAx cd-
meras in use haoe been employed and furtber new
deoelopments baoe been introduced. Jlere dre a
f ew details of tbe main f eatures of tbe neu) coN-
TAX.
Die-cast body of light alloy guaranteeing extreme
mechanical precision characteristic of
zErss rKoN products.
Combined view and rangefinder permitting sight-
ing and focusing through one eye piece.
Choice of incornparable zsrss lenses, factory-coat-
ed and in light-weight mounts especially
designed for the' c o N r e x. All are inter-
changeable by means of their bayonet-type
mount/ ensuring rapid use and precision
seating.
All-metal focal plane shutter having speeds from
1 sec. to l/rzso sec., and "8" and "T" all of
which can be set by means of one d111.
All scales are clearly visible from above.
IView original page 4Page 5 · Read text
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35 mm perforated cine film is used which is avail-
able in various types such as 35 mm cart-
ridges, daylight loading spools, ready-cut
lengths of film, etc.
coNTex cassettes permitting interchangeability
. of various kinds of 35 rnm negative ma-
terial in daylight without rewinding.
Detachable camera back which is advantageous
not only during loading and unloading but
also when thoroughly cleaning the camera.
A wide range of accessories extremely well de-
I 11' *::. 1T :"; ::ffi t: l:"'ff :J,;
as close-up work, photomicrogruphy arrd
tele-photography as well as reproduction
and copying work.
Higbest possible precision in its mechanical func-
tion and unexcelled Quality of its Zeiss
lenses make tbe new co N T A x tbe top-
not&t camera, chosen by the professional,
scientist and tedtnician, as well as tbe ad-
uanced amaleur pboto grapber.View original page 5Page 7 · Read text
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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 mark.
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 coNTAx convenient, easy
and sure. Setting the shutter speeds and verifying them is
at all times possible either before or after winding the
shutter.
The engraved nurnbers on the speed setting ring indicate
fractions of a second.
Example: 100 means 1/roo sec. exposureView original page 7Page 8 · Read text
www.butkus.us The coNTAX shutter has a range of specds from 1 second to rlpro second in addition to "8" and "T". At "8" 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 the shutter speed setting ring (a) slightly in the direction towards '.'8" it is closed again. The film and shutter winding mechanism are coupled to advance the film and cock the shutter simultaneously, thereby eliminating the danger of double exposures. The shutter winding knob (Z) is turned clockwise until a definite stop is felt. NOTE : Jt is not suggested that llcutrtb and inclex fittger of tbe rigbt hand wind tLte sbutter in tbe mAnner of turn- inQ a screw. Jt is adoisable to turn tbe cdwtera in su1h a wdy as to diuide tbe morsentent between the rigbt and left lsand lor greater conueniencc.View original page 8
Page 10 · Read text
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STEP II
MAKING THE EXPOSURE
The shape of the coNTAx and the ar-
rangement 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 coNrex from below with the
thumb and the index finger.
THE RIGHT HAND
grasps the coNTAx from the side. The
middle finger is placed on the focusing
wheel (6) and the index finger on the
shutter release button (3). The thumb rests
on the back of the camera and the other
fingers on the front. The right lower corner
of the c o N T A x rests in the palm of the
right hand.
THE EI.BO\/S
are held at the side of the body for better
support.View original page 10Page 11 · Read text
FOCLISING
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 some-
what lighter and yellowish field in which the object to be photo-
graphed usually appears with double contours. By turning the
focusing wheel (6) with the middle finger of the right hand
these contours will come to coincidence, which meanithat the
lens is accurately focused at the distance of the obiect seen in
I)ouhle collcrurs in combined (.oirrcidence ol conlours in cornbined
pieu, anLl ranqefinder f itld oieu, and ranqefinder field
the rangefinder portion of the combined view and rangefinder.
The focusing wheel (6) operatei the rangefinder and"the lens
focusing mechanism for 2 inch lenses simultaneously. The com-
bined view and rangefinder of the €oNTAX permits tLe control of
cornposition and the accurate checking of the focus at a glance.
The other c o N r A x lenses which ire provided with Jutside
bayonet mount are focused by turning lh. 1..r, mount. They
are also coupled to the rangefinder with the exception of the
long focal length lenses.View original page 11Page 12 · Read text
www.butkus.us RELEASING THE SHUTTER By pressing the shutter release button (3) down with the indexfinger of the righthancl,the shutterwill fe and the picture taken. This can either be donewith"p;;;;;,h;;; or top joint of the index finger (See illustrations No. 1i and 12).lt has been found by experience that;h.;;;;;*, security in holding the camera sieady during th. .iporu.. is given when the uppermost yoint of the iidex fG;; i; pressed downward. If the winding l<nob has not been turned until a definite stop is felt, it follows that the shutter ist not completely wound, and the film not advanced for a fuil a,#.;-i; this position it will be impossible to release the c o * ro * focal-plane shutter. Under no circumstan*;;; t, p"rrrilfi to make overlaps and double-exposures. There are no extern_al, rotating shutter parts on thecoNrAx which might, if inadvertently touched, inter_ fere with the normal operation of the .u-..u.View original page 12
Page 13 · Read text
HOLD ING THE
CONTAX
CAM E RA
\X/hen taking vertical pictures, manipulate as de-
scribed 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.
The same procedure is followed with the right hand
below, and the left hand above, if found more con-
16View original page 13Page 14 · Read text
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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-
re x should select the methodwhich
suits him best.
t7View original page 14Page 15 · Read text
STEP III
LOADING AND UNL
THE OPENING I
The lens of the coNrAx t.'lis 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 fin-
ger 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).
As a first step, attach the
beginning of the film to the
take-up spool by hooking it I
The open coNrA* ,holt
shutter, a famous lrView original page 15Page 16 · Read text
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,o ADING
t THE LOADING
to nose underneath the tri-
angular lip of the spool,t
35 mm cartridges are sup-
plied by the manufacturer
with the beginning of the
film ready-cut to proper
shape (tll. 22).
No special cutting is required
on a stock roll of 35 mm filin
(ill.23).
The cartridge is then placed
into the feeding spool cham-
ber in such a way that the
rewind prong engages with
the hollow end of the cart-
ridge (cassette). The empty
spool is fitted into the take-
up spool chamber (ill.24).
Now the film is wound on
[,
vrs the all-metal focal plane
achievement.
JechnicalView original page 16Page 17 · Read text
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 thelelt 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 coNT4'x and fold them flat. This can only be done when the back is placed correctly on the camera. After winding and releasing the shutter twice in order to ad- vance the film exposed during loading, the unexposed film will be in the picture field of the co*ri*. Attention should be given to the rewind knob (1g) which should turn in the opposite direction of the arrow engraved on top of housing; this is an indication that the film *i"rrd, p.of..tf. ny means of the knurled ring, turn the frame counting indicator 1s; either left or right to 0. After winding the shutter once more, the coNTAx is ready for the first exposure.View original page 17
Page 18 · Read text
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, 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 c o N 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. The cassette can be
loaded with ready-cut lengths of film, day-light loading lengths,
or with film from a stock roll of 35 mm film. \when two cassettes
are used the film may only be hooked on the nose of the feeding
core.
only if it is desired to rewind the film should the end of the film
be firmly attached to the core of the feeding cassette. It is not
necessary that the leader and the trailer of the film be cut in
a certain shape, because it can be hooked on the nose of the core.
Ready-cut lengths of 35 mm film have a special cut on the end
of the film similar to the shape of a tongue. This is to be attach- !
ed to the feeding core by threading it through the small slot in I
the center of the spool, and after'having turned it over,-it is once I
again pulled through the same slot, thus securing it tightly on
the feeding core.
The core with the film wound on it is placed in the inner con-
tainer of the cassette and the other container is slid over it, with
the leader of the film outside. By.turning the containers against
$l
BI
8l
g!
$i
$tView original page 18Page 19 · Read text
www.butkus.us 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) r 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 90o turn from its original position) the delay will be approximately 12 se- conds. Intermediate settings for a shorter delay can also be made. If the shutter is not wound when operating the delayed action mechanism it will, of course, not release. The delayed action mechanism cannot be used when shutter is set on "8" or "T" or r/soo or rlpro second. DEPTH OF FIELD SCALE The depth of field, which is dependent upon the distance focused at and the lens aperture, is of great importance to the photo- grapher. For this purpose the coNrAx has a depth of field scale (11) arranged symmetrically around the focusing mark. It is used in connection with the focusing scale (10), (range 3 feetView original page 19
Page 20 · Read text
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engraved on the helical focusing mount of the c o N - l";lltrtrtr,
For example, \With a lens of 2 inch focal length focused on a
distance of 12 feet the depth of field at f/g.o-ng", frorn g feet to 28 feet.
"TAKING PICTURES $TITH THE AID
l OF A TRIPOD
A tripod socket (24) js provided on the under side of the c o N _
TAX to screw it on any standard tripod. It is recommended to
use the special locking cabre rerear. ,o b. screwed into the
thread inside the shutter rerease button for ail pictures tuk.n with the coNrex from the tripod.
It is important to note that the tripod socket is not mounted on
the camera back but is part of the .o...u body, th,r, guu.urrt..-
ing a firm attachment of the camera to the tripocl.View original page 20Page 21 · Read text
EXPOSURES NTITH FLASH LIGHT
The fully synchronised focal-plane shutter of the coNrAx
can be coupled to any flash equipment orl 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 exposure times marked on the setting disc in different co-
lours should be strictly adhered to '
Ilecl (for exposure time from 1/rz;o second to 1/roo second) t
For firing flashbulbs of long flash duration especially
designed for focal-plane shutters (socalled F.P.-class).
Yellow (1/ro second) For firing electronic flash tubes. '
Black (l/zs second to 1 second, as well as B and T): For firing
flashbulbs with or without a small delay to peak as they
are used for between-lens shutters with X-setting, as well
as for electronic flash.View original page 21Page 22 · Read text
www.butkus.us The delayed action device can be used only with exposure times froil 1 second to 1/so 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 socket at the back of the coNTAx. The use of the zErss rKoN angle plug (order No. 1340) is advisable. After the shutter has been tensioned by means of the film advance knob, the camera is ready for the flash exposure. This knob must be turned until it stops. If this is not done properly, the focal-plane shutter will run down closed, when released. This prevents double-exposures and overlapping of frames. THE VIE\TFINDER SHOE The viewfinder shoe (17) can accommodate special viewfinders needed for interchangeable lenses as well as the optical near- focusing device, tl-re Contameter. EVER EADY CARRYING CASE The lined Eveready carrying case, macle of top grain cowhide leather, protects the c o N T A x while carrying it and also when taking photographs. The c o N T e x is held in the case by means of a screw fitted on the case which fastens to the tripod socket on the camera. The coNTAx is ready for action when the lid of the case is opened and all controls can be operated.View original page 22
Page 23 · Read text
CHANGING TH E LENSES
The interchangeability of the c o N T e x lenses is achieved by
the bayonet mounting on the lens and on the front of the camera.
AII lenses of 2 inch focal length are to be fltted into the inner
bayonet mounting of the camera and all the other lenses, in the
outer mounting. changing the lenses is always done when range-
finder and lens focusing mechanism are locked at infinity (Step I).
The lenses having outside bayonet mount have to be set at infinity.
Removing the 2 inch lenses is done by pressing with the reft
thumb on spring (12). Turn the lens slightly with the right hand
in a clockwise direction. This procedure will release it from the
helical focusing mount. It may then be carefully lifted from the
camera body.
Replacing the 2 inch lens is effected by fitting it into the focus-
ing mount in such a way that the red dot on the lens mount
www.butkus.usView original page 23Page 24 · Read text
www.butkus.us is opposite the red dot on the camera body. By turning it to the left (anti-clockwise) the catch spring (12) snaps back into place. Lenses with outside bayonet mount are placed into the c o N - r a x by bringing the red dot on the lens opposite the red dot on the camera body. The lens is then turned to the left until a stop is felt, and the catch will snap into position. The removal of the lenses with outside bayonet mount follows the same procedure. The side catch must first be released and then the lens is turned until the two red dots are opposite each other. It is recommended for inserting and removing that the lens be grasped with the right hand in such u -un.,.. that the top of the right thumb rests on the red dot of the rens. This procedure will aid in interchanging the lenses rapidly, because by bringing the two thumbs together, the most favourabre posi- tion of lens to camera can be obtained. The c o N T A x lenses are all fitted with the same inner or outer bayonet mounting, permitting their use on different c o N T A )< bodies. All lenses from earlier coNTAX models, with the exception of the 38 old-type Biogon, can also be fitted to the new CONTAX. Removal and interchang- ing of the lenses on the coNTAX may be effect- ed in fulldaylight without any extra precaution or any spoiling of film.View original page 24
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