Zeiss Ikon Contax S / Contax D User manual

IN STRU CTIO N S
                 for using the
coNTAX-s


MECHANIK - ZEISS IKON VEB - DRESDENA 21

i
     I M PORTANT.. . R"gisteryourComero!                                                                                                             i         (Use Applicotion Form Supplied With Comero)
   One of the feoturesof the CONTAX S comero is the inter-                      II
    chongeobilityof lenses.However the porticulor lens on your                                                i
   comero hos been corefully motched ond colibroted to  it to
             ensure the utmost degree of perfection.
   Under no circumstoncesoccept onother lens insteod of the
      one thot wos so corefully synchronizedto the comero.
   Supplementorylenses(wide ongle ond tele objectives)will be
    motched to your comero ot no expenseto you. You hove the
       world's finest comero -  be sure thot the lenses motch.
              ErronoZo^"roTorp.
                      5 2 7 F I F T H A V E N U E N E W Y O R K 1 7 , N . Y .


D 1 9 5 5 0 2


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'J::r:r:"t"":::flil
The contax-sis an one-tensreflex.l*"1g,, takingt!s.-Bf
                                              the                                                         a'taof                                                      thenovel                                                                prismi lil     ^gllttg,nlcturgseye-level,focussing2t Z!x,36mrn(lu/,is made-possible.x tllru")..t-rg.y_irhWhen                                                          viewed                                                                     through                                                                                   the                                                                                       Lcular fgtesc_one-,iinder,
 lens and the pentagonal  slanting-prissr,   the image produced by the              l"rr.,  ove"
 the mrrror'  on a  f ine.-grain ground  glass appears to t[e  observer in  v-ertical,"r-""""right-side-up
 p-osition and, with  the standard  lens  i"  thq eamera,  in  the  natural  size of  tie  picture'.
Thercompact                build  of the prism-telescope-finder   facilitates  selecting and focuss-ing the lmage.
Moreover,  the Contax-S possesses all the advar-rtages of a moclern precision  miniature
c&mera,, such as coupled                              -shutter-winder   and   fild'  advancement,   lbck          double
exposures,  interchangeability     of the  lens, and synchronized   flashlight   coritact."gai"st
Successful photographic                                     with  the Contax-S  depend by  all mea,ns on  careful                           _results_
operating  and  thoughtful   handting.-   It   is reeommended  in p#ticular    tftat  the paees
relating  to the technic  of exposure3troyla  be sp_e_ciallystudie'd. ancl the hmdli"g;ffi;
c&mera practisell_without   loading   it  with  flm.  Wnen an understanding  of iL" Contax
                           this  practice,  the camera may be loaded  with  fiim?ncr
lt::l:^"1^g?i-L"q..blrn practical  work  can then  begin.                                               "xperience
The Contax-S   is designed  to take the orthodox  daylight  film,cartridge   for 86 exposures,
all  other  standard  miniature   film-fillings,   and u,try as -ro   perforai"d-iif-       i"  *fd"th;
up to 1.60 metres. (5 feet.)

E X P L A N A T I O N  O F S / G N S
 1 :  Shutter-release knob                 7 - Knob  for setting the speed groups
  . r _ Latch for camera back              8  :  Eye-lens (ocular)
 3 -  Picture-counting disc                          of the prism-telescope-finder
 4 :  Knob for winding the                              I   :  Film-marking disc
      shutter and f ilm-transPort              I0  :  Film rewind-knob
 o :   Disc showing shutter sPeeds                 Il   :  Eyelets forholdingthe carryingstrap
 6 :  Knob  for setting ttrreshutter speed.s  12 :  Screw-in thread for the camera lens
t 3 :  Interchangeable lens, mounted. with  d.istance-meter and diaphragm rings and
       rvith scales for setting d.istance, diaphragm, and depth-of focls
14 : Camera stand                    18 :  Film-transporting drum  I      .  l
15 :  Tripod bush                      19 :  Focal plane
16 :  FlashJight contact                 20  : Camera back
l7  :  Release-knob for rewinding the film    2I   :  Pressure plate.
The illustrations do not in every part correspond to t'he execution of the camera'

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I.SHUTTER
  AIVD trI LM -TRAIVSPORT
1 . Windin g the sltutter
The shutter  is rvound up by means of a full turn
of the knob (4) (Ill.No.  l) as far as itwill  go in the
direction  of the &rrow. This manipulation  simul-
taneously moves the film and the picture counter
on to the next, picture, and s\rrings the mirror  into
position  for the observation  of the image in the        fll. Ilo.  1
finder.
z . S ettitcg the shutter sPeeds
The speeds are set, by using the knob (6) and the
knob (7) next, to the speed disc (5) (nl. No .2)-
On the speed clisc (5) are blaek figures indicating
the short speeds of t/roooth to 'luoth second, and
red figures indicating  the long speeds of  'lroth
                568"                    exposures running  for anyt,o 1 second and
length of time (fn. No. 1).

                                                                                         Ill. No. 2
 4

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When  lsing  the .,8"  setting  of the shutter', the release knob  has  to remain pressed
clorvn as long  a:i the exposure  is  to  last.  The  release krtob  e&lt be locked  in  this
position by turnirg    it  to  the  left,   if longer time exposure-s Are desired by meaus of a
tripod. To close the shtrtter. disengage the knob by rotatirrg   it  to the right.

4. The wire release
The  release knob   (l ) iucorporaters a" tlrread  to
take a tlexible rvire release (Ill. No. 4). For longer
time exposures & rvire release differing  from  the
trsual type ean be supplied. This  is fitted  rvith a
locking device in the shape of a moveable plate (b)
betu'eetr the neek (c) ancl the head (a). When set
at "I3"  ancl released by pressure on the knob (a),
the shutter remains  operl until  the  plate  (b)  is
pressed dou'u.  In  case of short  tirne exposures      Ill. No.  .l
ancl instantaueous snaps, tlte plate  (b)  is pressed against  the neck  (c) and fixed b1'
 turning   it  to the right. This puts the locking device out of action.


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5'  7'he contact /or  ltash-tigtrt co,rnectio*
 lflre electrie flash-light  attaehment   is eonnectecl
 b5r me&ns of the eortact  in  the  trillocl sockeb
 (rll. No. 5). rt  is a,rra'secl for tensioris ,p  to 21
       ancl up  to  2 amp.  intensity  of  current.lolts
For flash-light exposures, set the shutter utr r,irutrr
second or longer, ancl release the knob  (l).
II. CAMERA ZEAI-S.1ND rIMER      Irr.No.r-,
1. C han ging the lcns





                                                                                         Ill. No. G

I-.etrsesatrcl supplernerlfs,r'1,rings  al'e inserted  by screrving to  the  right  (clockrvise) in
 tlre tlrreaded  opening. The  index  points  for  the diaphragnr and  distance must  be
 visible from above s'hen the mount  is screrved tightlv.
 z. The len,s scales
The lens mount  bears the following  engravings:
    On the front  ring the diaphragm  seale s'ith
     the index point,
     on the middle ring  the clistance seale, on the
     back  ring a diaphragm  seale. shorving the
     clepth-of-focus for each clistanee setting.
According  to this  scale, for  instance, the Biotar
lens f/2,  l'ith  5.8 cm  (2'ln")  focal  length. at a
clistance  setting  of  L2  ft.  (a m)  feet and   flll          Ill. No. 7
aperture,  gives & sharpness reaehing from  7  ft,.
6  i n s . t o 3 0 f t .  ( I l l . N o . 7 ) .
j. Focussing the image uilh tegard lo shalprNessand. oulline
Shctpness arrd outline  of the picture are vierved through the prisrn-telescope-finder.
'fhee:rmelanrrrstbeheldsiththeocularlens                                        eloseto the eye (8), and the image rvill be



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lr'or persolls rvho are obliged  to rvear speetaeles rvhen foettssing, a corrective  glass in
a speeial mount  to  fit  the  finder lens is obtainable, by meatr.s of rvhich  it  is possible
for the eye to approach the finder more  closely. The au'ku arcl ehatrging of spectaeles
betrveen focussing and setting the shutter  is hereby eliminated.
'fhese       small  parts  call convenientlv  be fixed  to the holcling cleviec itt  tlrc ocular-lettsrnount  ( 8).                                         It
 ,. Caut.cyastand                                      l1
Uncler the scrcn'-in opening for thc carncra lons is a little foot rvhieh. n'htru clrau'n out,
rjerves atj iu eamera statrcl (14).

III. LOADI I/G THL  I. I LM
l.  Hold  the camer&, facing the back, push the
bolt (2) on the right-hand  side upu'ards and pull
open the eamer& back bv  slight pressure on the
eclge (IIl. No. 9).



 I t l                                              i,
                                                                        li

2. Take the ernpt.Vspogl (rect'ivirtg spgol) fropr t[g
            light-ha11fl-spoolclrarnber (Ill. No. l0) ancl removo
             tulrypossible lema,ins of f ihn chip.sor coatiug f rom
           the pressrlre plate (21). flonr tho filrn gate a,ncltho
          spool chambers. Wirrrl rrp tlrtr slrrrttr.r'lx'turnir,gll           tlre knoll  (-t).
It

                                                                                                                                            I l l . , N o . 1 o

                   if . -1-orctayliglrt loa,Cirrg(bt'u'Art:of gln,ringliglrt !)
          a film-cartriclger is neees,s:&r'y.Itlace thc cattridge
            into the left-hancl spcol chambt'r, u'ith the be.qinn-
           ing of the fihn poirrtir:gintheclirection of thcfocal
           plane. fnsert the projectir-u tongue of fihn  in tlrt'
               slit of thc,takiug-ul) spool. IJenclin a {'eu'rnillimetl.r.s
            of the f ilnr-torgue -- - coatir-g otrt.uarcls--- and roll
          as nluch of the film on to tlrrr 'r-pcolas to allou'tlrc'
          sproel<et to cateh both per.for.ations (Ill. No.  I I ).
rlpI
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1. With   the  film  in  the  right  position  on the
film  track  ancl the  sprocket   (Ill.  No.  l2),  the
eamer& haek can he elosed dou'tt and locked.





5. Set the counting disc (3) trvo strokes before 0
to the index point  (Ill. No. l3)and make trvo blank
exposures by  aetuating  the  shutter  release (t )
and the transportin g knob (a). The reu'indin g knob
 ( l0) must turn inthe opposite direction of the arro\\'
 if the film  is beirg properlv transported.
 With  the counter at stroke No.  l.  tlte camet'a is
ready for the first exporiur(1.

  l 2

(i. The film-marking  clisc (9), ancl the sensibilit.v
scaleat the base of the reu'intliugknob  (I11.No. 14)
serve for recording the species and sensibility  of
the film  in the c&mer&. The disc is divicled into
three sections as follou's.
   Black-and-rvhite film  section :
      for blaek - and - u'hite   f ilms  without  special
     marking.
   Daylight  colour-film  section:
      u'hite stripe markecl "Coloul'".
    -\rtificial   light  colour-film  sectiorr :
     black stripe marked  "Colour".

7 . When  u'orking  u'ith loose cine f ihn rvhich is rolled on to an erlrJ)tv spool in the dark-
room, the end of the film  should be insertecl on the  filnr spool in such a, \\'ay that   it
ca,ll easily  slip  out.  This  saves  rervinding  the  film    if   it   is  rolled  into  a second
cartridge. The  lleginning  of the  film  must be fixed  into  the  slit  of the empty  spool
-   eoating outs-ards  --  ancl this spool, like the spool in the feeding cartridge,  is then
placed into the receiving cartridge.
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'Jlhe      cal'triclge nust   llo\\' be so ;rlacetl into   tlrt'
riglrt-hand slrool cltanrbet'. that  tlrc  film   u'ill
smootltl.\'t'ttrr ove)l'the sploclit't irrto tltt' opcninrl
of the cartriclge. .u'hich means tltat this openiug,
lrelou'   tlte  sprockt.t.  nrttst  lloint   up\\ a,rtl-*.
( l l l . N o .  l 5 ) .

I V. L H.{ A' G I r\i (;'I'H E  I; I L IUI
When using thc, stanclarcl f ilnr cartliclge for l](i t'x-
I)osul'es.it,cerl't&inrt'sistA,nct',clttt'to tltt' lilnr lleing
f ixetl  t o   t lu' col'(' of   t lrt' s llool,  u'i ll  bt' not ict'tl
tttter tlrt' iJ6tlr pictttlt,. f f t.xclrangt'clin c[tr,vliglrt,
tlre  filnr  ntrrst  f irst  bc spoolecl lraek irrto  tltt.
cu,t'tt'iclgt,.
'l'ltis       is dottt' l,)' l)r'('s:)irs-tltt, krtolr (|7)  in  tlte
lrottonr <lf tllrr ctun('r'alroclv ancl a,t tlrt'sult)(' tirut'
rotu,ting  tltt' t'eu'itrcl-knoll (l0)   irr tlu'  clirt'etiott
of the arr'o\\'(I ll. No. l6), rrntil tlre beginning of tlrt'
tilnr is looseneclartclslips off tlre takinq-ul) spool.
 l {

)
          At  this point,  slight resistance will  set in, after which the camera back can be opened
        and the film-cartridge removed.
                It is not necessaryto rewindthefilm ontothefeedingspooli'f itistakenoutinthedark-room
          or if the receiving spool is protected by a cartridge (seenote rrr,  7).
       Do not changethe 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. H O W T O H O L D T H E C A M E R A  D U R I N Gff     THE EXPOSURE
        The manner in w-hich to hold the camera d,ependson the kind. of lens being used. The
        Contax-S is very convenient both for horizontal as rvell as for upright pictures. We
       recommendthe following:t*                 l. The ca,merais held in both hand,s,lying firmly  in the balls. The shutter is rvound up
        and set with  the thumb and the forefir:ger of the right hancl, whereas focussing and
         diaphragm-setting are performed v'ith the micldle fingers of the left and right hands.




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When in proper focus, the shutter is releasedrvith
the forefinger of the right hand (Ill. No.  f 7).





2. The camera is held firmly  in the left hand, while
the manipulations  areexecuted rviththe right hand.
Thumb and forefinger wind the shutter, the middle
f inger  sets the  diaphragm  and  the  focussing,
and theforefinger releases the shutter  (Ill. No.  f S).




 l 6

:f. The right hancl holds the camera, the tlnrffib,
forefinger  ancl. middle  finger  of the  riglrt  hand
aetuate the shutter and f ilm-transport mechanism,
u,hile the thumb  and forefinger of the left hand
set  the  focussins{ and  the  diaplrragm.  The
camer&  is supported  by the ball  of the  left hand
(Ill.  No.  l9).



',['his     method  of holding the camera is especiallv
stritable for upright  pictures  (Ill. No.  20\.





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-t. The e&tnera catr al so be helcl rv ith  it s back presserl
against the foreheacl. In  this position the shutter'
is manipulatecl  u'ith  the  left, hancl. Atld the ler-rs
rvith the right hand  (IIl. No. 2I).
 it. For: \\'ork u'ith a tripod,  tht' ea,mera is screu'ed
to the tripod soeket (15).
(i. An ever-ready case is available f or the protection
of the camer&. The camera is fastened in the casc'
by means of the tripocl sererv (15). l'or  carrving
the eamera rvithout  tlte case, a strtrp catr be linkecl
into the eyelets (tl).





 l 8

VI. C LOSE -UP E XPOS URES
Close-up pictures ean be taken with supplementary
distanee  rings  which  are mounted  between  the
lens and the eamera body  (see note  II,   I ). In  this
case, sharpness and  outlines  of  the  pictures  as
u'ell as depth  of foeus are obtained  by means of
the prism   telescopic  view-finder    in  the  s&me
manner as for long-distance  objects. The following
sheet  shorvs the distanees  of  objects  given  by
using one, two  or three distance  rings.





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C o n t a x S  -     l n s t r u c t i o n s f o r U s e ,

Re: Page 7   5. Contact for Flasb Eqwipment

New Text:
5. The Synchronized  Flashlight Contact

The contact synchronizcd to the focal-plane shutter permits instant exposuresto be made with
electrically ignited flashes. This necessitatesan electric flashgun attachment, fitted with a threaded
contact piece which can be securedinto the contact (f6) in the tripotl socket (Ill. No.5). Take care
that the electric flashgun attachments used with the camera have not  more  than24 volts and
not moro  than 2 a,mpores.We would recommenda flashgun especiallydesiqnedfor the Contax S
an:l adaptable to  all kinds  of flash lamps and which o&n conveniently be employed in various
combinati<.rnswith the Contax S.
The shutter speed'dependson the duration and on the ignition delay of the flash used.       I
      l) For flashes and electronic flashes of which the durat.ion and intervals are not known, the
       shutter speed should bo l/toth sec.or longer.


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2)  If the duration and interval of the flashlight are known, the shutter can be set at a shorte,r
          speed, according to the following chart:
            .,U'                 Interval      +       Duration                Shutter Speed
     $'lvf{16
                                           milliseconds                 milliseconds
                                     0 (none)                 at least 25                 r/ruuth sec.
                                     0 t o   5                 at,least 25                 l11sel;hsec.
                                     0 t o l 5                    at least, 25                  l/uoth  see.
                                     0 t o  1 5                 irrespoctivo                   l/roth  sec.

        3) For electronic flashes with a duration of r/uo*th or l/rooothsecond and an interval  of 0 ta
             l0 milliseconds thc shutter speed should be l/zoth second or longer.
        4) Shutter speeds.cannot be given for elcctricallyignited  flash powder. The mostsuitable
         speedhas to be ascertained individually  for each exposure.





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