Zeiss Ikon with the "green" bright/low meter ability User manual

THE CONTAFLEX II CONTROLS

I Exposure meter scale               8 Aperture Scale
2 Exposure meter setting index         9 Syndrronizing lever
3 Film speed setting knob               l0 Depth-of-field scalc
4 Rewind knob                       11 Distance setting index
5 Button to open the meter cover         l2 Focusing scale
6 Eyelets for carrying strap                                       t 3 Focusing mount
7 Flash socket                                   1.1 Shutter speed setting ring





              For further camera controls see page 42.

The Inside ,Story

  You will probably want to know more about what goes
  on inside your coNTAFLEx, and how this masterpiece
  of optical and nrechanical precision engineering really
  works. But please don't satisfy your curiosity by at-
' tacking the camera with a screwdriver or pliers       it                                                 -  certainly won't do your coNTAFLEx any good ! Never-
  theless we should like to give you some idea of the
  internal anatomy of your camera, and have therefore
 shown a cross-section of it on the last page. There you
 can foliow the path of the light from the lens via
  the rnirror and finder system to the eye. The letters
 of the illustration indicate the following details:

     a Winding knob witb film cor.tnter and release button
     b  Pentaprism
     c Finder eyepiece
     d  Condenser lens
     e Fresnel field lens witb ground glass screen ring and
           split-image rangefinder
         f  Mirror
    g  Capping plate
    b Film track
            i  Film pressure plate
     k  Remouable back
         I  Tripod busb
   m Spring-loaded pre-selector iris
    n Diaphragm  sbutter
    o   r,lt in&t (<s mm.) ZEISS TESSAR f ,:.s lens


                                                40

)                               |"'FIE  ,. ')NTAFI-FX llTZETSi
                                     ILJ KoN
                 made by zErss rKoN AG., srurrcART com-
                     bines the advantages of a miniature with
                   those of a reflex camera. Its design is
                  based on many years of experience in
                 the manufacture .of precision cameras.
                       \X/hile it has been produced for the ad-
                  vanced amateur, it is of great value to
                the professional worker, the scientist,
                   and the technical photographer.
              The coNTAFLEx rr offers every imagin-
                  able safeguard for the' success of your
                      pictures. The built-in photo-electric ex-
                   posure meter, completely encased within
                 the camera body for maximum protec-
                      tion, reliably indicates the correcr aper-
                   ture and shutter speed even for colour
                      shots. Two coupled focusing systems en-
                sure accurate focusing of the world-
                 famous 1s/a inch (45 mm.) zErss rEssAR
                               f 2.8 lens. The large clear finder image
                    is completely free from parallax even
                 at close range. The automatic coupling
                  of quite a few operations and the clear        tr
                  arrangement of all controls make the
                camera instantly ready for action. And
                  with the extensive coNTAFLEx system of
                    accessories described in detail on the
                      last pages of this booklet, you can cover
                an amazing range of interesting subjects.

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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1
To rnake the best use of all the features
of your Contaflex and to get the most
out of your pictures, please study this
instruction booklet carefully. Vhile doin3
so, open out the front and
back cover pagcs fcr easier
conrparison of the descrip-
tion with the illustrations
of the camera.
Start by  practising the
various operations of  pic-
ture taking without a filnr
in the camera. If you are
doubtful on any point, your
photo dealer will be glad
to help yon with further
advice and infon'nation.
'We    are sure that you have made a wise
choice in buying the coNTAFLEX, and
that it will give you much pleasure to use.
$/e would like to share your enjoyment,
and we shall appreciate it if you care to
send us some of the outstanding pictures
you have taken with 1'6111 coNTnr:LEX  II.


Tbe picture on page z oJ tbe cotrer was taken u,itb tbe
CONTAFLEX al sunset. Exposure  tf 6 second at f  , s.a.


5

t


                  coNTAFLEX rr'reaiuRps
                      The large bright finder shows the picture
                             in almost natural size before you take it.
                      The built-in Fresnel-type field lens evenly
                             illuminates the finder screen right into
fr                         the corners. The pentaprism ensures an
                          upright and right-way-round image at
                               eye-level. The  f inder shows the correct
                       view, completely free from parallax,
                       even with the lens attachinents or the
                          supplementary lenses for close-up photo-
                             graphy.
                      The built-in photo-electric exposure meter
                             indicates reliable aperture and shutter
                          speed settings even in poor light. It has
                         behind it twenty years of experience by
                              ZEISS IKoN in the design and manufacture
                          of photo-electric exposure meters.
                      Tbe focusing system clearly shows the
                            point of sharpest definition in the finder
                   by means of a split-image rangefinder
                             aird ground glass screen/ and is coupled
                          with the lens.
                      Tbe lens is the world-famous zErss TESSAR
                                    f :2.8 with a focal length of 13/r inches
                         (45 mm.). It is coated and fully colour-     fl[D

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     i
I           corrected,black-and-whiteand yieldsor colourpin-sharpfihn.  images on
            T b e Syn&tr o - Compur  - Sbutt er, mo del MXV
          with built-in selftimer l-ras shutter speeds
        1 to 1/r:o second as well as a B setting
          for time exposures of any duration. It
           is speedsynchronized and can be used
         with any flash unit up to the fastest
            shutter speed.
           All settings are visible at a glance from
           above. The spring-loaded pre-selector iris
         and the coupled film transport and shut-
           ter tensioning mechanism make the ca-
        mera ready for action at a moment's
              notice.
        The camera takes 24x36 mm. negatives
       on 35 mm. miniature film available in
         standard daylight cassettes, daylight
               refills, darkroorn refills, or as bulk film.
          Vith the special cassettes the film can be
          changed in daylight after any number of
           exposures without rewinding.
        The remooable ba&. simplifies loading
                       as well as cleaning of the
          f*#]""ding
         The all-metal body guarantees the utmost
            rnechanical precision of all components                                                    -          the hall-mark of zEISS II<oN products.

llA\   )i-lNG THE CA,

ffi                      Erposure Readings
F                           Before taking the picture determine the
ry                        exposure time with the built-in photo-
                              electric exposure meter (Fig. 2)- This
                           yields accurate readings even in poor
                                light, irrespective of whether the coNrA-
                      FLEx II is loaded with black-and-white
                                                                     colourH                         film, or negative or reversal
                                 material.
                                First set the speed of the film used. Rotate
                            the inner disc by means of the small knob
                           (3) until the black index line of one of
                        the two windows is opposite the appro-
                           priate speed number. Use the window
                    on the left (looking in the direction of
                           the subject) for DIN speeds, or the right-
                    hand window for ASA exposure index
                       numbers. The disc can also be  set
                        to intermediate values. To make things
                                 easier, partly pull up the rewind knob (4)
                           (see Fig. 31 on Page 34).
                                                                  systems                                    If the film sptied is quoted in
                          other than DIN or ASA, use the table
                            to obtain the corresponding speed.
                  To take an exposure reading, point the
                         coNTAFLEx u in the directioir of the sub-

k

                               ject in the same way as when taking a
                            picture. In brilliant lighting the white
                           pointer will immediately give a reading
                        on the scale (1) of the meter. If the light
                                 is poor, first open the cover of the meter
                     by gently pressing the button (5). Now
                         turn the setting ring so that the black
                            triangular index mark (2) points to the
                      number indicated by the pointer on the
                           scale (1). Use the figures on a green
                         background for readings with the cover
                               closed, and set to the number on a black
                         background for readings with the meter
                           cover open. As a reminder a green mark
                                 is visible when the cover is closed.
                          In a nutshell                                            -                      Use the green scale with the cover closed
                      and the green mark visible;
                       use the black scale rvith the cover open    _g
                      and no mark visible.
                     Once you have set index (2) against the
                            appropriate figure, you can directly read
                              off the correct shutter speed on the outer
                          ring against each aperture on the inner
                             ring, and vice versa. The shutter speeds
                            to the left of r/e are fractions of a second
                                      (e. g. 30 stands for rlln second), while the
                        red figures to the right of  | /z are whole

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seconds. The values found are then set on the aperture
scale and shutter speed ring of the coNraF'LEx II as
described in the following pages.
In addition to the index mark (2) the setting ring also
carries filter factors engraved in red. \fhen using filters
(s.page35) therefore set the corresponding  factor in place
of the index mark (2) to the scale reading on the green
or black background. This automatically gives the cor-
rect aperture and speed for the filter without any need
for calculation.
A prism unit is built in underneath the meter cover.
This ensures that the direction and angle of view of
the exposure meter exactly correspond to the view
taken in by the coNTAFLEx  Ir.


11

Settirrg the .4perture
i-o             Depress the button (17) and at the sanre
.rO             time rotate the black milled ring carryinc
                 the aperture scale (8) until the requirecl
                                                         index-t'o             aperture number is opposite the
                 (18) (Fig. 3). As the aperture ring clicksoO                 into position at each setting, yorr cal.l
              even set the aperture in the dark b-v=o                 touch only. In that case start from one
:o            end position and count the clicks to the
                    requirecl setting. The aperture can be ad-
So               justed whether the shutter is tensioned or
                 not (see next section).

      ,-H)t t^

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          Setting the Shutter Speed

         Rotate the chromium plated milled ringt        (14) until the black dot (15) is opposite
         the required speed figure (see Fig. 3).
       The milled ring clicks into positicn at
         each setting; this precludes intermediate
         speeds. The numbers indicate fractions
         of a second (thus 60 stands for 1/or se-
         cond, and so on). \When set to B, the
         shutter remains open as long as thc'
           release button (20) is depressed (see page
           22). For setting the selftimer see page 26.
      To tension the Synchro-Compur  shutter
          turn the winding knob (19) in the direc-
            tion of the arrow as far as it  will go-            Important         This at the same time advances the film     (
       by one frame. The coupling of the film
         transport and shutter tensioning makes
         double exposures and blank frames im-
           possible. All shutter speeds can be set
          either before or after winding the fiim.
        Keeping the shutter tensioned does not
        harm it in any way.


           13

t

                A Uselul Hirrl, \When winding the knob
                             don't just twiddle it round with two fin-
                               gers lil<e a screw. A rnuch more convenient
                        and quicl<er way is to swing both hands
a                            simultaneously in opposite directions with
                         one hand holding on to the camera body
                       and the other gripping the winding knob
                                 (Fig. a).
                       \When winding the shutter, please note
                         that the u'inding knob (19) should be
                          turned until a positive resistance is felt,
                               otherrvise the shutter nray remain closed
                             u'hen operatirrg upon being released.

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         Setting the Distance

      The built-in coupled rangefinder system
          sets the camera to the correct distance.
      Vhen you look through the finder eye-
         piece (25) you will see a clear circle en-
         closed by a ground glass screen ring in
         the centre of the field of view. This circle
          is cut in two by a horizontal line (see
          illustration right). You can measure the
          subject distance in two ways:

               t. Sight a oertical line (e. g. tbe edge of
       a wall, or a tree trunk) tbrougb tbe
            finder. On tunring the focusing mount
           (rz), tbe imaQe in tbe upper balf of
         tbe circle will moDe relatioe to tbe
           lower balf . Wben tbe two baloes ol tbe
          imaQe are exactly aligned, tbe lens is
              set to tbe correcl distance.

         z.If tbe subject sbows no prominent per'
               ticals, obseroe tbe imaQe in tbe ground
           glass ring. Turn tbe focusing mount
           (rt) to or fro until tbis imale on tbe
          ground qlass is pin sbarp.


          15





I

t;
                                         It is immaterial which method you use,
                                                              automatically|q                          in either case the lens is                                 set to the required distance.
                       The Depth of Field Scale
lffi                    The sharp definition of the lens is notlh{,
                                                                 focusedm                            Iimited to subjects at the exact
                                 distance, but also covers a certain range
                              in front of, and behind, this point. That
                           zone of sharpness is comparatively  small
tffi                        at  full aperture (f  : 2.8), but becomes
                              greater the more you stop down the lens.
                       The depth of field scale (10) shows the
,d                          extent of this zone at various aperture
                                   settings. Two series of aperture numbers
                           are engraved for this purpose to the left
lH                    and right of the distance setting index
                                 (11). The distance figures on the focusing    ,$
                             scale (12) opposite these aperture num-
                              bers then indicate the extent of the depth
     'i                            of field. For instance, with the lens set to
                    6 feet (Fig. 5), the left-hand figure 8 is
wl                          opposite about 4r/z feet, and the right-
                          hand figure 8 opposite about 9 feet. Thus     ji
                              for a subject 6 feet away and with the
                           lens stopped down to  f  : 8, everythingffi'
                     be sharp. The table on page 18 givesil                         between about 4rlz and about 9 feet will
                        more exact values.

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You can equally well go about it the
other way round, and measure with the
rangefinder the nearest and farthest
points of the subiect that have to be
sharp. Then simply find the required
aperture from the depth of field scale.
Do not, however, stop down further than
necessary to make sure of the depth of
field you want. Otherwise you may need
long exposure times, which increase the
risk of camera shake (see page 22).

For tedrnical reasons there is a second scale below
the focusing scale (12), but it has no bearing on
the operation of the CONTAFLEX   II.

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llolrlinit lhe ( (t,t.?r'(,
Ilold the coN'r'r\rf r-rx rr perfectlv  still rvhile
c'xposing. Support the canrera bodl' rvith
thc palrn of bcth hands ancl firnrly grip
it u'ith the  f ingcrs (Fig. 6). I)rcss thc
thuurl'ls against the back of thc caurera.
Use thc sccorrcl   f irrgcr of the lef t  han.l
to rotate the lcns rt'rount ( I 3 ) for focusittg,
arrcl the right inclex fingcr to prcss thc
rclcase button (2()). I)ress thc elbolvs


 l()

lightly against the body. You can use
either the left or right eye to look
through the finder (Figs. 7 and 8). This
is the position for horizontal shots with
the coNrerl-Ex  II.
For upright pictures turn the camera





through 90 degrees, and press the upper
end gently against the forehead with the
left hand. The second finger again
operates the focusing mount (13). The
right hand supports the camera from
underneath, with the thumb on the

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  release button (20). See Figs. 9 and 10
  Alternatively, you can take upright shots
  with the right-hand end of the camera orr
  top (Figs. 11 and 12). In this case the
  right index   f inger operates the release
  button (20), and the second finger of the





                                                           i
                  ral_,:

right hand the focusing mount (13). Use
the left hand to support the corurnrrlEx  rr
from below.
The illustrations on these pages show the
various ways of holding the camera; so
select the one that suits you best.

2l

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                                                   'I

                                            I
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                                                 I      fI
                            I   I,l


Releu.sirtg
To release the shutter press the release
button (20). Use either the tip of the
inclex  f inger (Fig. 13) or the first joint
of the finger (Fig  14), squeezing  it
clownwards. This rnethod of releasing  is
specially reconrnrended, as experience has
shown that it is least liable to cause ca-
nrera shake. If by any chance the winding
knob (19) was not wound lo ifs  fitllest
cxlent, thus advancing the filnt only part
of the wry, the shutter will not open                             i
when you press the release. This prevents                   I
clouble exposures.


                                        22

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                                        I   rt
                'O'\,,^r-,
         The Finder
         The finder image is only visible after ad-
           vancing the film and tensioning the shut-
            ter by the winding knob (19). This at     1>".          the same time pushes down the mirror             inside the camera: you know at a glance       \tt'>;:
           whether the camera is ready to shoot.
         As long as you can see the large bright            finder image, the lens aperture automati-   flxfrv
           cally remains fully open. This permits
           comfortable and accurate focusing. On
            pressing the release button, the spring-
          loaded iris jumps to its pre-selected set-
            ting just before the shutter uncovers the
             film. The coNTAFLEx is the first camera
            to utilize this system.
       The finder alrvays shows the correct
             field of view absolutely without any pa-
$           rallax error, even with the lens attach-
         ments or for close-ups, with supplemen-
 t         tary lenses. You can easily "follow" mo-
          ving subjects with the camera, for you
           see the image at eye-level, upright, and
           the right way round.


            23