Film cameras
Zeiss Ikon CONTINA IIa User manual
User manual for Zeiss Ikon CONTINA 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 CONTINA IIa
- Document type
- User manual
- Language
- English
- Pages
- 31
- File size
- 13.8 MB
- Category
- Film cameras
- Document date
- Not specified in catalog
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Page 3 · Read text
t[)perutionq,l, Parts of the CONTINA IItt,
(See illustrations on the two inner cover pages) -l.
1 Release knob 13 Distance setting ring
2 Frame counter 14 Distance setting mark
3 Rapid wind lever 15 Depth-of-field scale
4 Setting mark for exposure meter 16 Shutter speed setting ring
5 Knob for setting film speed 17 Shutter speed scale
6 Pointer of exposure meter 18 Diaphragm setting ring
7 Accessory shoe 19 Diaphragm scale in f/numbers
8 Rewind knob 20 Knob for opening the flap of the
9 Viewfinder exposure meter
10 Flashlight contact nipple 21 Tripod bush
11 Locking bar for camera back 22 Locking knob for film rervind
12 Synchro Iever
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COr-Tf NA If n i|Ernrn Owing to its rapid film wind, the coupling between the film wind and shutter tensioning and the clear lay-out of all operational scales the GoNTINA Ira is very easy to operate. The highly efficient NovARanastigmat f :3.5/45 mm or theNovlCARanastigmat f:2.8/45 mm lenses give needle-sharp photo- graphs on black and white and colour films. The built-in photo-electric exposure meter can be relied upon to indicate the correct exposure time, even under difficult lighting conditions. In order to make every CONTINA exposure a success right from the beginning, it would be to your benefit to study this booklet with the utmost care. This will enable you to utilize the obvious advantages of your 66NTINA to the full. If you still have some doubts or difficulties, do not hesitate to ask your photo- dealer for advice.View original page 6
Page 7 · Read text
Measuring the efrIromrre tirne
The dependable built-in exposure meter indicates the correct exposure time
and stop for black and white and colour film, for negative as well as for
reversal^ film. First the speed of the film to be used mlust be set. Turn the -theinner disc by means of small knob (5) until the relevant qpee4 value
appears opposite the black mark of the DIN or ASA window. The disc can
also be set to intermediate speeds (ill. 1).
If the film manufacturer has rated the film speeds in other than DIN or ASA
ratings, the corresponding values can be found in the table on page 5.
Ibeib'eed of coloir reoelsal film cannot be determined so easily.ior reoersal
colour film ihe uposure depends on tLte brigbtness of tbe. brightest biqltligbt
tbat tb'e pbotographer wisb'es to record and- not on tbe d.epth of tbe deepest
sbadow. Jor tlbtis reason tbe film manufacturers coDer the speed r.alingt. pf
their reoersal colour films witb upressions like, " . . . to be expo.sed like f ilm
gioeof xx ASA". jn den'eral, tbese indications are reasonably reliable and
riood results. Jor ihis reAson colour neQatioe f ilms can be used witb t.be speed
ew"oalue printed on tlte box. lf you want to make absolutely sure, make a f
test exposures witb difterent'exposure times on tlte colour film you intend to use.
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For measuring the exposure time, the CONTINA IIa should be aimed at the
subject in the way you actually want to take it. \7hen the light is good, the "Ho*.u".r,r,yhit_e pointer on the indicator scale (6) deflects immediately. when
the-light is poor, the flap of the exposure meter must be opened first with
a slight pressure on the knob (20). Now the setting ring with the black
triangle mark (a) is turned to the figure engraved in green or black on the
scale indicated by the pointer (6). $7hen doing this, the following rule must
be observed t
closed flap green mark visible on the flup set triangle - - mark to green figures.
Open flap no mark visible on the flup set triangle
. mark to black figures.
After setting the triangle mark, the correct exposure time (outer ring) can
be read off for every stop (inner ring) and vice versa. The shutter ipeeds
to the left of l/s stand for fractions ol a second (thus 10 means 1/ro second).
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The red figures to the right of r/z stand for full seconds. As described in the following pages, the values found must then be transferred to the diaphragm and the shuter of the coNTrNA rr a. when filters are used (see page 23), the red or green figures on the exposure scale corresponding to the reading of the poin- ter (6) should not be aligned opposite the black triangle, but opposite the relevant filter factors (red figures beside the triangle mark). You are then able to read off the stop and exposure time without Jll. t having to convert figures by means of the filter factor.View original page 10
Page 11 · Read text
Jll. z
Settin,g the diaPhrag??o
Turn the rear chrome-plated milled ring
(18) until its red mark is opposite the
f/number (19) required (ill. 2). The higher
the figure the smaller the stoP.
Settittg the efrPos?,ore timte
(shutter speed)
Turn the red mark on the milled front
speed ring (16) to the desired shutter
shown on the scale (17) (ill. 3). The
figures denote fractions of a second
lll. z
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("25" stands {or t/zs second etc.). ,Jfhen set to ,,8,', the shutter remalns
o_pen as long as the release knob is depressed. It does not matter whether
the shutter speed setting is carried out before or after i.i.ioning tr.,. shutter by means of the rapid wind lever (3)
(see page 18). ii:o-,t"i:;,-.:;.," r,. *.;,:,rr,:.,.:;...,.,,r..
Setti"t,g the distcr,?oee
Turn the setting ring bearing the distance
scale (13) until the setting mark (r4) is ;iiiil,l+ft++;$',;';#.,;.*;',ii.i'.
opposite the distance (in feet or metres)
required (ill. 4).
Tor te&tnical reasons, the underside of tbis
setting ring of tbe coNTrNA witltNovrcAR
lens bears anotlter scale uthicb is of no irn-
portance in the operation of the coNTrNA.
Tu. tView original page 12Page 13 · Read text
I)ep th - of -fr,el d seal, e
Every lens focused for a definite distance gives sharp pictures of objects -distanceonlv-in a limited space before or beyond the fdr i,vhich it is focused.
This zone of sharp definition becomei deeper the more the lens is stopped down.
This so-called depth of field f6r any lens_
aperture and diitance can be read off
fiom the depth-of-field scale (1 5). The
zone of sharp definition can be read off
from the dis[ance scale bv means of the
diaphragm figures on the right and left
side of the distance setting mark (14). In
illustration 5, for instance,' the distance is
set to 9 feet. Then the depth-of-field scale
indicates that the depth of field extends
from 5 feet in the foreeround to 30 feet in "stop the background at a of f : 1 1. The
exact depth-of-field values can be founcl
in the table on page 17.
Jll. s
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1Il. o
B,ed, dot settirog
In order not to lose time over distance and
diaphragm settings wbeq rapid snapshots
rn.rit be" taken, tfie red-dot setting ihould
be used. The distance should be set to the
red dot and the diaph ragm, to the red
figure 8 (ill.6), whereupon ali obiects from -will B Jeet to oo (infinity) be sharp. The
correct exposure time for this setting . is
ferrnci in fhe usual way by means of the
built-in exposure meter.
Flashl,ight and, seAf ffi??oer'
The speed svnchronised Prontor - SVS
shutter can be coupled to flashguns of eveiy type. r\4,oreover, it has a built-in
seli-timer (delaved action releise). The Proritbr-SVS shutter permits three
different settings of the synchro-lever (12) (ill.7).
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flt. 7
with the ,"rt""- settirg, the shutter fires
the flash automatically the moment the
shutter blades are fully open. \zith this
setting flashbulbs and flash capsules can
be fired with shutter speeds of rlzs seconcl
and longer. Electronic flashes must always
be fired with the tt xtt setting, even to the
JrrvrshortestL'DL shutterJrrLlLLtrr SPeeC[s'speeds. ,.,iiii....i.i'il.i.'i'i'i.i.i.'.....l.i,,.'.
'.t*..-.'.u..,..With the $M"- setti[g, there is a delay
flashbulbs. \ilurhen set to "M" the fastest h@J==bLh%=9,&%3r-.ru rg1ffi;;
shutter speeds can be used to fire a flashburb,rqqrvsru vrof theLlrc ,,M,,lvl crassificaticrasslrlcatlon,
with the "v"-setting, the delayed action release or self-timer can be
operated. After depressing the rerease knob (t), a retarding movement is set
t3View original page 16Page 17 · Read text
in motion which releases the shutter after about 8 seconds. Time exposures
("8") cannot be made with the self-timer. If, by mistake, a flashbulb is fired
with the "V"-setting it will act as though the shutter were set to "X".
The synchro-lever (12) can be set either with cocked or uncocked shutter.
For flashlight exposures, distance and diaphragm should be set in the usual
w?y, then the flash lead from the flashgun connected to the flash contact
nipple (10). Only then insert a flashbulb into the sociket of the gun. \7hen
the shutter is released by depressing the knob (1) the flashbulb will be fired
in synchronisation with the shutter. For further particulars study the instruc-
tions for the use of the various flashguns and flashbulbs. The correct exposure
tt - settings can be found in the table on page 15.times for the "X" , Mtt and "Y"
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Ifold,ing the ea??oeycr,
The camera must be held firmly during
the exposure. The body of the camera
should be held with both hands (ill. 8).
The right-hand index finger operates the
shutter release (1). The elbows should be
pressed slightly against the body. It does
not matter whether the right or the left
eye is used to look through the view-
finder (9).
In this way horizontal pictures will be
taken. To take vertical pictures, the camera o is rotated through 90 (ill. 9). The left
hand holds the camera from above while
the right hand serves as a support for the
CONTINA. In this case the thumb of the
JlI. 8
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right hand rests on the body shutter
release (1).
lxposures with the hand - held camera
should be made onry when the ,t uir.,
speed is set betwe.n 1/roo and t/zs ,..""a
(at the outside). For lo'ger shutte, ,o..a,
or when the self-timer is ils.diL-';b*fiNA
should be placed on a firm support or
screwed to a tripod by means of tfiJ iripoa
bush (?t). For verticir pictures a bal and
socket head must be inierpolated bet*".n
the camera and the tripod. AIr .*p*.rr.,
longer than r/zs second rrt"rrj, u, a matter
of plinciptre, be made with u- iubl. release
which can be screwed into the thread of
the release knob (1). This pr.u.nts camerashake.
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Shutter release a,nd filtn ad,aanee
The shutter is released by depressing the release knob (1) either with the
tip or the first joint of the index finger (ill. 10). After every exposure, the
shutter must be tensioned by means of the
rapid wind (3). Holding the camera in the
taking position, the rapid wind lever (3)
should be pushed round with a swift move-
ment of the right thumb until it stops
(ill. 1 1). This advances the film by one
frame and the film counter (2) which
indicates the number of frames exposed -
moves on to the next number, tensiorring
lll. ro
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the shutter at the same time. The rapid wind lever (3) snaps automatically
shot.bad< to its rest position and the CONTINA is ready for the next
As the shutter can be released only after being tensioned by the rapid-wind
Iever (3), and this lever, on the other
hand can be operated only when the
shutter has been released by depressing
the release knob (1), double exposures and
blanks are prevented. However, attention
has to be paid to the fact that the rapid-
wind lever must be pressed firmly until
ait stops. The shutter can remain in
tensioned condition without any risk of
damage.
lll. t lView original page 22Page 23 · Read text
Load,ing the Carnera,
The CONTINA can be loaded with all commercial cartridges containing black
and white or colour film 35 mm for 36 or 20 exposures, 7"xltlz" (2+x 36 mm).
Loading should never be done in bright
sunlight. When the locking bar (1 1) has
been pulled back the back of the camera
can be opened. Pull out the rewind knob
(8) and insert the film cartridge into the
empty feeding spool chamber in such a way
that the beginning of the film points to-
wards the take-up spool. Then push back
the rewind knob so that its prong engages
correctly with the opening of the film
cartridge (ill. 12).
Turn the take-up spool by means of the
milled flanges until the slit with its small
lll. t2
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lug points upwards. Hook the film to this l,rg. tX/ind the film on the take-up
spool until the sprockets on both sides engage in the perforation (ill. 13), and
simultaneously depress the locking knob ei). Close the camera. Tension the
shutter and advance the film twice by
means of the rapid wind lever (3) and
release the shutter twice. This will advance
the unexposed film to the film gate. Set
the film counter (2) by turning rhe black ,
lilg in the direction of the arrow to tt Att.
The CONTINA is now ready for the first :
shot.
To make sure whether the camera is
loaded or not, turn the rewind knob (s) '
in the direction of the arrow. vhen the
'camera is loaded a slight resistance will
,jbe felt after a short turnr
1ll. r3View original page 24Page 25 · Read text
Ilrol,oa d,ing the Cavnercr,
Before the camera is opened, the exposed film must be rewound into its
cartridge. Depress the locking knob (22) and at the same time turn rewind
knob (S) (which for easier handling will
automatically unscrew a little) in the di-
rection of the arrow (ill. l4). After some
time, a sllght resistance will indicate that
the film has parted from the take-up spool.
Then open the back of the camera, pull
out the rewind knob (8) completely and
remove the cartridge with the exposed film.
At y film particles which might break off
when the end of the film is torn off must
be removed from the camera immediately.
1ll. t4
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ACCESSORIES
Eo*er-r'eady-ease
The elegant ever-ready case protects the CoNTINA from damage, dust and
rain. The camera is fixed to the case by means of a screw fitting into the
tripod bush (21) and need not be removed from the case for exposures.
ZEISS fEON preeisiort lilters
In order to improve the tone values in black and white photos ZEISS IKON
precision filters can be screwed into the lens mount (27 mm Q). Yellow,
yellow-green, orange-, red- and ultra-violet filters are available. For expo-
sures by artificial light on daylight colour film, an IKoLoR FILTER (blue
til/hen filters are used the exposure time has to befilter) is also available.
extended in accordance with the filter factor engraved on the mount of
ever' filter'
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PolnrisCng fi,lter (ZEfSS,B,E.R NOTAB )
To reduce or eliminate reflections in highly polished, nonmetallic surfaces
and to darken the blue sky the polarising filter zErss BERNOTAR can be
slipped on to the lens (32 mm @).
sttlrprernentar.tl lenses for tfose-etna (zLrss I|nox]./f.])
If photographs at short range are to be taken with the CONTINA coated '
IZEISS PRoxAR lenses should be slipped on to the lens (28.j mm @). They
are available in four different types. The setting of the lens and the distance
can be found in the table on page 25. The distance between object and
camera is measured from the front rim of the mount of the suppleme ntary
lens. Sufficient depth of field should be ascertained by stopping down to f :8.
The resulting finder parallax, particularly when pRoxAR lenses of the shortest
focal length are used, can be compensated for by a corresponding movement
of either the. camera or the obiect.
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