Contessa compact fixed lens series are 35mm film rangefinder / viewfinder cameras, manufactured by Zeiss Ikon AG., Stuttgart, former West Germany.
The Zeiss Ikon Contessa series started in 1950 and got various upgrades and re-modelings up to 1971. The early models were folding type, others made after 1960 were compact type. Zeiss cameras were very well made - even the cheaper versions, like the Contessa LBE. There are several variants of the models.
Contessa 533/24[]
- Same Zeiss catalog number with folding Contessa 35 cameras
- This model is in break-up with the positioning and the aspect of Contessa precedents. It belongs to the same lineage as Symbolica
- Produced between 1960-61
- Rangefinder
- Lens: Tessar 50mm f2.8
- Shutter: Prontor
- Uncoupled Selenium cell meter
Photos in [1]
Contessa L[]
- Produced before 1966
- Very rare nowadays
- Shutter: Prontor 500 LK
- Lens: Color Pantar 45mm f2.8
- Lightermeterreading in the viewfinder
- Almost identical look like the Zeiss Ikon Contina LK
Photo in [2]
Contessa LK[]
Contessa LK by John Rees (Image rights) |
- Produced between 1963-65
- Viewfinder
- Lens: Tessar 50mm f2.8
- Shutter: Prontor 500 LK
Contessa LKE[]
Contessa LKE image by Klaus Riesner (Image rights) |
- Produced between 1963-65
- Rangefinder
- Similar to LK except rangefinder
- Lens: Tessar 50mm f2.8
- Shutter: Prontor 500 LK speeds: 1/15-1/500, +B +self-timer
- Coupled Selenium cell meter
- Cocking lever: short stroke
Contessa LBE[]
Contessa LBE c.1966 image by Süleyman Demir (Image rights) |
Specifications[]
- Produced between 1965-67
- Lens: Carl Zeiss Tessar f/2.8 50mm
- Aperture: f/2.8 - f/22
- Focus range: 1-6m +inf
- Focusing: match the yellow images in the viewfinder, via a ring behind the shutter
- Shutter: Prontor 500 LK leaf shutter, speeds 1/15 - 1/500 B+
- Cocking lever: also winds the film, on the back side of the top plate
- Frame counter: manual re-set, decreasing type
- Viewfinder: coupled viewfinder/rangefinder, w/parallax correction bright frame
- Exposure meter: coupled Selenium cell meter
- Setting ready window on the top plate, a needle just between the two red arrows by turning the aperture or shutter rings
- ASA range: 10-800, setting: press the small black knob on the shutter ring, and turn the ring to click on desired ASA/DIN,
- Re-wind lever: folding crank, on the bottom plate
- Flash sync. 1/30, automatic flash control by linkage between distance and aperture setting
- Others: Self timer; Hot-shoe; Tripod socket 1/4 inch; Film memory window
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Contessa LBE c.1966 Images by Süleyman Demir (Image rights) |
Contessa S-310[]
Contessa S 310 image by Paulo Moreira (Image rights) |
- Produced in 1971
- Viewfinder
- Shutter: Prontor 500 S
- Automatic with aperture priority
- CDS cell, on the right of the lens
- Electronic shutter Prontor 500 S. Synchro flash X at all speeds or, specifically with the 1/30 of second
- Speed: 4-1/500
- Viewfinder, very comfortable and luminous, remind the selected aperture (on top) - the speed determined by the camera (on the right) and the distance of focusing by pictograms (on the left).
- Lens Carl Zeiss Tessar 40mm f/2.8 4 elements in 3 groups, considered for its optical high-quality
- Minimal focusing distance 90cm
- Shutter release w/ cable releasesocket, accessory shoe, indicator of battery and exposure counter, on the hood.
- Simple cocking, by lever. In absence of battery the cycle of the cocking is not complete.
- Supply by 4 batteries PX6245 or adaptations.
- Backcover removable
- Placed in the sole, one finds a crank of rewinding largely dimensioned as well as the key of locking of the back
- A mechanical indicator of advance of film is present at the back of the camera
- Very rare
Contessa S-312[]
- Rangefinder (similar to S-310 except rangefinder)
- Produced in 1971
- Lens: f2.8 40mm Tessar
- Shutter: Prontor 500 S
S-310 and S-312 were made by Voigtländer. After the merger of the two companies they came to the market under the Contessa S-31x.
Links[]
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