Zeiss Ikon Contina III User manual

uFw.*
        Operationalcomponentsof the Continalll
           (See illustrotions on the two inner cclv€r poges)

                          '|             Releose knob                               15 Distonce setting ring
            2 Frome counter                               16 Dlltence setling mork                                                                     '17
            3 Ropid wind  lever                                    Depth-of-fie!d scole                                                                     '18
            4 Computer ring for exposure meler                Diophrogm ond shu-ttq1speed                .'
            5 Knob for setling film speed                          selting ring
            6 Pointer of exposure meler                   19 Scole of exposure volues        \-,"
            7 Accesory shoe                               20 Shutter speed scole
            8 Rewind knob                                           2l Diophrogm scole in fTnumbers
            9 Viewfinder                                   22 Reoding morks for stops ond
              l0 Window  for setling flosh ond                      shutter speeds
               self-limer                                  23 Knob for opening'the flop of the
              1l Knob for selting exposure volue                 exposure meler
          12 Locking bor for comero bock                 24 Tripod bush
            '13              Flosh contoct                                25 Locking knob  for  film  rewind
          14 Locking powl for interchongeoble             26 Synchro-lever for flosh ond
              lens elements                                       self-timer

-    \L;L-**                  www.orphancameras.com

fhere  is no limit to the vo-
riety of subiects thot con be
loken with ihe Contino. The
photogrophs on the leftwere
token with the three diffe-
rent focol  lengths of  the
"Pontor" lens: 30 mm (wide-
ongfe)i  45 mm  (stondord
lens) ond 75 mm (tele-lens)
in  bright  sunlight ot  f15.6
with yellow  filter ond  1lrzs
second;the one on the ri'ght
with the 45 mm  stondord
fens in pollid sunlighf ot f/4
ond 1/eosecond.

. d.heCorrtinallf                                          \                 i,dt,           |   -.-                                                                               {                                                                                                {4i    is o minioturd comero of on dttroctive design which  wllt  give yo,  ru.h
   ple5q5e.  lt is'olwoys reody for oction, since one swing of the rSpid film wind
   lever performs severol operotions oll of once ond ihe exposure volue setting
   soves precious time. The built-in photo-electric ropid exposure meter indicotes
   immediolely the correct setting of  the  shutter, ond  the  lens, the Pontor
   l/2.8,45mm. guoronfees needle-shorp photogroph!. Thonks to the interchon-
   geoble froni-elements of' lhe'lens. .you con toke wide-uns!9 ond telephoto.rl.*..
   exposures os well os stereo pictureC on one ond the some film. All elements
   of  ihe lens ore  colour corrected ond hord cooted, of  course, ond o16
   thus equolly suitoble for block-ond-witheond colour photos.
    ln order to moke every Contino exposure o suc€ess right form ihe beginning
  we suggest thot you should study these irfsfructions with the utmost core
   before you lood the comero with your  first minioiure film. Once you hove
   mostered the vorious mechonicol movements ond operotions, the corhero
    will remain c source of consflontpleosure. lf you  still hove some doubts ond
   difficulties, do not hesilote to osk your photo-dboler for help.


                             www.orphancameras.com

Determiningthe ExposureValue(sometimescalledr'LightValuett)
The built-in exposure meter will yield correct exposure volues for block-ond-
white ond colour film, both negovie ond reversol. First ihe meter must be set
to the speed of the film in use. Turn the inner disc by meons of the smoll knob
(5) until the relevont speed volue oppeors opposiie the blqck stroke of the
DIN or ASA window. The disc con olso be set to intermediote film speeds
 ( F i g . l ) .
 lf o film monufocturer hos quoted the film speed occording to o roting other
thon the ASA or DIN syslems ihe corresponding index cqn be found in ihe
conversion toble on poge 32. Since the speed of  colour films connot be
meosured in the some woy os thot of block-ond-white films, ihe colour film
monufocturers ore unoble to give exoct speed numbers in ASA or DIN indices
 but recommend their films should be exposed "os o block-ond-white film of
xx DIN or ASA". Generolly this odvice is quite relioble but in order to be
obsolutely sure the photogropher should colibrote his own equipment by
moking vorious test exposures ot different stops ond thus determine the octuol

speed of the film in question ond the correct setting for the built-in exposure
meter of the Contino lll.
To meosure the light ond determine the exposure volue, the flap of the ex-
posure meter should be opened by gently
pressing the knob (23)to the left. (To close
 it, press the flopp  slightly to the left with
the right forefinger.) Point the Contino lll
towords the subiect so os to  f rome  it  in
the viewfinder. The white pointer (6) will
then be seen to  deflect. By turning the
computer ring (4), the smoll white circulor
mork should be moved until it is olongside                      *;t
the pointer os seen from obove. The ex-                                                                         ffi
posure volue to be used (red figure) con
now be reod off from the computer ring                                        ffiropposite the red triongulor'mork on the
fifm speed setting disc. lf the lighting con-
                                F i s . l
                          www.orphancameras.com

ditions ore poor, the required exposure times in full second (green figures)
con be reod off  f rom the scole opposite th e flnumbers (block figures on the
inner disc to the right of the red triongle mork).
                           Once the exposure volue or the stop cnd
                                  shutter speed required hove been oscer-
                                 toined they must be  tronsfered to  the
                               shutter of the Contino | | l.
                            Settingthe ExposureValue
                            By pressing lightly on knob  (l l,  Fig. 3),
                                  the reor setting ring con be turned until
                                   ihe reqired exposure voiue (red figures
                              on the  right-hond side) is opposite the
                                red triongulor mork (19, Fig.2). lt is olso
                                possible to set holf exposure volues.
                             As th is setting ring co n on ly be rototed
                              through o limifed rodius, in some coses it
                                          will be necessory to move the operture/
                                  shuiter speed setting ring  (.|8) olso,  in
                              F i s . 2               6

order to obtoin the exposure volue required. By setting the exposure volue,
the diophrogm stops ond shutter speeds ore coupled outomoticolly. The
omount of light necessoryfor correct exposure is controlled by the relotive
operfure of the lens (diophrogm stop or
f/number) ond the length of time the film
is exposed to  light  (shutter speed). The         :
exposure volue figures obtoined, which
con be reod off from the setting mork (22ll
-   Fig. 3 -,  represent poired diophrogm
stops (f/numbers) ond the corresponding        ,
shutter speeds. When ofter hoving deter-              ,
mined the exposure volue, the  shutier
speed setting ring (.|8) is turned to o dif-
ferent shutfer speed (20), the operture (21)
will be re-odiusted outomoticolly in order
to give the some relotion between f/num-     rr1
ber ond shutter speed. The shutter speed
is likewise re-odiusted when the operture
is chonged.
                    7               Fis.3
                          www.orphancameras.com

F
       ShutterSpeed.The correctshutterspeedio be chosendependson the omount
        of movementof the subiect.The foster the subiect movement,the shorter
       shouldbe the exposuretime. The silverfigureson scole (20)denote froctions
        of seconds(60 meonsr/eos€cond,etc.).When set to "8" (green),the shutter
       remoinsopen os long os the releosenob (1)remoinsdepressed.
      The green figures, iust os those on the computer disc of the exposure
       meter,denotefull seconds.Theseconnotbe set ogoinstthe settingmork (22).
       Their importoncewill be exploinedloter on.
      Diaphrogm or Aperlure Setting. The correct operture of the diophrogm or
        "stop", for short,dependson the depth of field desired (see poge l0). The
       smollerthe f/number,the lorger the octuol openingof the diophrogm.
      To set the stop required,the some operotion should be performedos for
        settingthe shutterspeed.The desiredvolue shouldbe set ogoinstthe setting
      mqrk (22).
      So long os the exposurevolue obtoinedfrom the exposuremeter is odhered
         to, ony combinotionof shutter speed ond lens operture will result in o
        correctlyexposednegotive.The diophrogm ond shutterspeed setling ring

                                                               ir'
l=         - -...-    S4-!*: ..     .  ,t*1,',                          , ."                   .,,..     ,     .,     l'     .'.;#&*a                                    ,

*
('18)con only be iurned until the finol volues of the scoles on the ring hove
been set ogoinst the setting mork (22).The finol volue ot the right end of
the shutter:speed scole is "B".
lf  it should hoppen thot ofter setting the exposure volue, the lens is stopped
down  until the shutter speed scole outomoticolly indicotes "B" (green), on
exposure time of 2 seconds will be required.  lf  it is necessory to stop down
even further, the required exposure time in full seconds (green figures) con
be reod off from the computer disc opposite the chosen f/number. For this
purpose the knob (11) should be depressed, os is done when setting the
exposure volue. The exposure time con then be iontrolled  by depressing
the releose knob or coble releose for ihe requisife number of seconds.
It is olso possible in such coses to reod off the exposure time directly from
the exposure meter os described on poge 6. lf ofter these long-time exposures
you wish to chonge from "B",to shorter exposures/the light-meter must first
be set onew.
Settingthe distance
The setting ring with the engroved distonce scole (15)should be turned until
lhe required distonce in feet is opposite the setting mork (16 -   fig. 4).


                           www.orphancameras.com

Fis.4

                                   On  lhe underside  of  this disfonce  setting ring  the
                                    C o n f i n o    I I I   ( { o r    l e c h n i c o l   r e o s o n s ) h o s  o  s e c o n d
                                            scole  which   is  of  no  imporfonce   of   oll  for  the
                                               o p e r o f i o n  o l   t h e  c o m e r o .



                                Depth-of-fieldscale
                                 Everly lens focused on o definite distonce
                                          will yield shorp pictures of subiects on ly
                                   within q limited spoce before or beyond
                                                r    the plone on which it is focused.This zone
                                      F,jl,  of shorp definition becomes deeper the
                                             ""t':'';i more the lens is stopped down. This so-
coiled depth of field for ony lens operture ond distonce con be reod off from
the depth-of-field scole (17). The zone of shorp definition con be reod off
from the distonce scole by meons of the flnumbers to the right ond the
                                   1 0

Fis.5
left of the distonce setting mqrk (16). ln
illustrotion 5, for instonce, the distonce is
set to 9 feet. Then the depth-of-field scole
indicotesthot the depth of field (the shorp
zone) extends from opprox 6 feet to 15 feet
ot o stop of  f/8. The exoct depth-of-field
voluescon be found in the toble on poge 33.
Reddot or snapshotsetting
In order not to lose time over distonce ond
diophrogm settings when snopshots must
be token in ropid sucessionond the requi-
red exposure volue hos been.set, the dio-
phrogm should be set to f/8 qnd the di-
stonce to 15 feet (fig.6). To focilitote this
setting both figures ore morked  in  red.
With  th is  setting o ll  subiects between
opprox. B feet ond infinity will be shorply
recorded.
                                      I I                Fis.6
                           www.orphancameras.com

Flashlight and self-timer

The speed-synchronisedProntor-SVS shutter con be coupled to floshguns of
every iype. Moreover,  it hos o  built-in self-timer (deloyed oction releose).
By meons of the lever (26) which, in order to ovoid unintentionol disploce-
ment, is hidden on the underside of the Contino, three different setlings ore
possible which should be reod off from obove (10 -   tig.7).
With the "X" selling the shutter fires the flosh outomoticolly the moment the
shutier is fully open. Electronic flosh units should be fired with ihe "X" sei-
ting exclusively!
With  the "M"  selling, there is o deloy to peok which corresponds"to thot of
most floshbulbs.                     i
The correct settings ("X" or "M") for the vorious floshbulbs ond flosh copsules
should be found in the instructions for the use of the bulbs ond the vorious
floshguns, or from o coreful perusol of the toble on poge 34.
With  the "V"  selling,  the  deloyed  oction  releqse  or  self-timer     set
                                   1 2

F i s . 7
for  use. After  depressing  the  releose
knob (1), o retording movement is set in
motion which releosees the shutter ofter
obout  8 seconds. Time exposures (set-
ting "B") connot be mode with the self-
timer. lf, by mistoke, o floshbulb is fired
witht the "V" setting it will oct os though
the shutter were set to "X". The lever (26)
                  ovocon onfy be sel fo           if the shutter is
tensioned. lt refurns outomoticolly to "Xo
ond must, if necessory,be set to "V" ogoin.For flosh exposures the flosh leod from   ffi-
the floshgun should be connected to the
flosh contoct ('13)ond only then the flosh-
bulb inserted. When the shutter is releosed by depressing the knob (1), the
floshbulb will be fired in synchronisotionwith the shutter. For further por-
ticulors study the instructionsfor the use of the vorious floshguns.
                                    1 3
                          www.orphancameras.com

Fis. 8
Holding the camera
The Contino must be held firmly
during the exposure. The body of
the comero should be  held with
both honds (fig.8). The risht-hond
index  finger should operote the
shutter  releose (l ).  The  elbows
should be pressed slightly ogoinst
the body.
In  this woy  horizontol  pictures
should be token. To toke verticol
pictures, the left hond should hold
the comerq  f rom obove while the
right  hond serves os  o  support
(fig.9). In this cose the thumb of
the right hond operofes the releose
knob (l ).
                1 4

Exposureswith the hond-held co-
merq should be mode only when
the shutter speed  is set between
1/rooond r/sosecond (ot the outside).
For longer shutter speeds or when
the self-timer is used the Contino
should be ploced on q firm support
or screwed to o tripod by meons
of the tripod bush (24').For verticol
pictures o  boll-ond-socket heod
should be interpoloted between the
comero ond the tripod.  Alf these
exposures should be mode with o
coble releosewhich con be screwed
into  the  threod  of  the  releose
knob (1). This is the best meons to
prevent comero shoke.
                                       l 5          F i s . 7
                          www.orphancameras.com

Fig. 11
As the shutter con be releosed only ofter
being tensioned by the ropid wind lever (3),
the lotter on the other hond, con be oper-
oted on ly when  the  shufter hos been
releosedby depressingthe releoseknob (1),
double exposures ond  blqnks ore  thus
prevented. However, ottention hos to be
poid to the foct thot the ropid wind lever (3)
must be swung positively until  it stops.
The shutter con remoin  in o  tensioned
condition without ony  risk  of domoge.
Loading the Gamera                ,
The Contino I | | con be looded with  o I I
commerciol cortridges contoining block-
ond-white or colour 35 mm. minioture film for 36 or 20 exposures. l" x 1,/2"
(24x 36 mm.). Looding should never be done in bright sunlight!
When the locking bor (12) hos been pulled out the bock of the comero con
                                   1 7
                          www.orphancameras.com

Fis. l2
                              be opened. Pull out the rewind knob (8)
                             ond insert the film cortridge into the empty
                            chomber (fig. 12l'in such o woy thot the be-
                                ginning  of  the  film  points towords the
                                toke-up spool. Push bock the rewind knob
                                so thot  its prong engoges correctly with
                                  the recess of the top of the film cortridge.
                              Turn the toke-up spool by meqns of the
                                 milled flonges until the slit with  its smoll
                                   lug points upwords. Hook the film fo this
                              lug.Wind  the film on the toke-up-spool
                                        until the sprockets on both sides engoge
                                          in  the  perforotions (fig. 13), ond  ot  the
                          some time depress the locking knob (25).
                        Now close the comero bock, tension the
shutler o nd odvo nce th e  fi lm twice by meons of the ropid wind  lever (3)
ond releose the shutter twice. This will odvonce th" unexposed film to the
film gote. Set the  film counter (21 by turning the block ring in the direction
                                                                       t 8

Fis. 13
of lhe orrow to "0". Operote the ropid film
wind once ogoin ond the Contino is reody
for the first shot. To moke sure whether the
comero is looded or not, turn the rewind
knob  (8) in the direction of  the orrow.
When the comero is looded o slight re-
sistonce will be  felt ofter o  short turn.

Unloading the camera
Before opening the comero, the exposed
film should be rewound into  its origincl
cortridge. Depress the locking knob (25)
ond  of the some time turn'the  rewind
knob (8) -  which for eosier hondling will
outomoticolly unscrew o  little     in the
direction of  the orrow  (fig. la). After some time, o  slight resistonce will
indicote thot the film hos ported from the toke-up spool. Then open ihe bock
of the comero, pull out the rewind knob (8) completely ond remove thr


                           www.orphancameras.com

r t g .     t +

                                  cortridge with the exposed film. Film chips
                              which occosionolly occur should be  re-
                          moved immediotely from the comero.


                   TheContinaSystem

                          The r'PantarttGonvertiblelens
                         To give the greotestpossibleversotilityto
                              the Contino lll   it es equipped with o
                            Pontor ConvertibleLens which hos on
eosily interchongeoblef ront element, so thot tele-photos,wideongle pictures
ond stereo-picturescon be mode with the some bosic lens but with different
f ront elements. To remove the   f ront-element of  the stondord lens, the

Fis. l5
Contino should be  held  with  the  left
h o n d ( f i g .  l 5 ) . T h e   t h u m b d e p r e s s e st h e
locking powl (.|4) while the  risht hond
turns the distonce setting ring (15) to the
left, thereby overcoming  o  slight  re-
sistonce,until  it stops. Then remove the
ring  with  the   f ront element  f rom  the
boyonet mount by  pulling   it  upwords.
When the lens is re-ossembled the red
dot on the front element should coincide
with the red dot on the locking powl.
Then press in the lens firmly ond turn  it
to the right until it snops home oudibly.
All odditionol lens elementsof the Contino
should be interchongedin this woy, thot is:       .i-'
when inserting: red dot on red dot     turn to the right when removing:
depress the locking powl (.|4)-  turn to the left. In order to prevent domoge
or soiling of the highly sensitivelensestheir gloss portions should never be
touched!


                           www.orphancameras.com