35mm leaf-shutter SLR
From the early to mid-1950s, this is one
of the better examples from a dead-end branch of camera
development. The leaf-shutter single-lens-reflex is a good idea,
but difficult to execute. The plus is that one can have flash
synchronization at all speeds. The negative is that the mechanism
for actuating the shutter and aperture is overly complex. When
one winds the film the shutter is cocked and opened and the aperture
blades are opened to maximum for viewing. When the shutter is
tripped the aperture is stopped down and the shutter fires, hopefully
in that order.
Another downside to the design is that interchangeable lenses are difficult to design. This particular first model Zeiss Contaflex did not employ interchangeable lenses. Instead there was available a 100mm telephoto auxilliary lens attachment which could be connected to the front with an elaborate mount. I don't have one. Later Contaflex models employed interchangeable front elements to give wide and telephoto coverage, but because the rear element of the Tessar lens is mounted behind the shutter leaves it could not be changed.
Another downside to the design is that interchangeable lenses are difficult to design. This particular first model Zeiss Contaflex did not employ interchangeable lenses. Instead there was available a 100mm telephoto auxilliary lens attachment which could be connected to the front with an elaborate mount. I don't have one. Later Contaflex models employed interchangeable front elements to give wide and telephoto coverage, but because the rear element of the Tessar lens is mounted behind the shutter leaves it could not be changed.
The reason this is such a nice camera to
use is the Zeiss Tessar. This lens can give an almost 3D effect
to finished prints because of Zeiss' center sharpness and overall
excellent contrast.
A Zeiss Inc. USA ultraviolet filter that came with the camera.
The threads are opposite of traditional cameras, the filter is
threaded over top, not in the lens.
The Zeiss Ikon Stuttgart push on lens hood in place over the UV filter.
A view of the back and inside of the Contaflex. This camera still used the removable Contax takeup spool instead of a fixed spool.
The dubious advantage here is that one could also use two film cassettes, one for supply and one for takeup for quick loading.
Later Contaflex models used interchangeable magazine backs like used on the more expensive rear shutter Contarex SLR.
The requisite never-ready case, and the case for the filter.