My Contaflex Super System

[Contarama]

Here is what I have so far of the camera system I am trying to put together. I am off to a real good start with a nearly mint Super that came with tons of official paperwork and functions flawlessly as far as my beginner eyes can see. I still have several important pieces to find yet but I am working on it! Someday I hope to be able to connect it to my Zeiss Jena microscope.

[Contarama]

Well I guess you have to have 5 posts to do that...please forgive me...hahaha

[Contarama]

:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

[Contarama]

:cool::cool::cool:

[Contarama]

And here we go...the picture...

http://i1107.photobucket.com/albums/h400/Contarama/ContaflexKit.jpg

[Brian]

Yes- the 5 post minimum, we got a lot of Spammers. "Sorry about that", and thanks for sticking with it.

That is a beautiful outfit!

The gallery on this forum is free, allows 1MByte per image, and max of 1024 pixels on the largest size. Also, it is set up for easy posting of images to other forums-unlike some such as Flickr.

http://ziforums.com/all_albums.php

It would be nice to have some Contaflex images in the gallery.

[Contarama]

Thanks Brian! I like the outfit a great deal and have an extra Super for a back up...it is in very nice condition also & fully functional...the back up unit is a later serial number and has a different type of film counter...

I shot a roll of film out in the woods today with my two sons and the dogs on the back up camera w/ 50mm Tessar...I was trying to get some sort of bokeh effect with close up portraits but we'll see how they turn out tomorrow...me being a rank amateur don't get your hopes up for this first Contaflex album I will be making...lol

I may need some serious help and guidance before it is all said and done...hahaha

BTW...the gallery just blows me away...amazing stuff!!!

[Brian]

We'll be glad to help anyway possible.

I remounted an M42 mount Tessar into Leica mount several years ago- and the Bokeh was beautiful. You should get some good results.

[Contarama]

Thanks again Brian...perhaps you can give me some advice with the problem I am dealing with at this very beginning stage of my photography studies...

Everyone likes to ooh and aah over photographs, particulary portraits, that exhibit bokeh. Well I am playing around with this concept of "bokeh" and my basic approach is - open up the aperature as wide as possible eg 2.8 4 or 5.6, get some space behind the subject, and try to get subject within the depth of field zone such that the subject is in focus...pretty straightforward basic stuff I suppose...I try to work from the hip using sunny 16 and don't pay much attention to the light meter...my problem is the light...if I open the aperature to much like I want to do...I have to much light...so do I increase the shutter speed??? What are my options? What can I do in this situation???

I started an album...please go check it out...it is a Contaflex Super w/ Kodak Gold 200 and 50mm Tessar no filters session...I am playing with bokeh...I suppose it would be much better to experiment with the 85mm but I have UV and Skylight filters for the 50mm only and that is where I want to experiment next...my new plan is to take both of my Supers, each outfitted with 50mm, one sporting a UV filter the other a Skylight filter, each carrying Fuji superia reala 100, and redo the walk in the woods...

Any criticism or advice or whatever from you all would be greatly appreciated... :)

I suppose it would do no harm to tote the 85mm along as well and do a dozen or so shots with it just for comparison...

[Contarama]

I added a few more pics to my album...a couple of my boy taken with the Pro Tessar 115mm...it has a much softer bokeh I feel...

[Brian]

Will take a look at the album- sorry for the delay.

To shoot wide-open, slow film and fast shutter speed is required. Kodacolor 100 is the best bet or Fujicolor 100. Hard to find them these days, ISO 200 seems the lowest available.

The 1/500th top shutter speed of the Contaflex is limiting in this regard. 1/1000 and 1/2000 on focal-plain shutter cameras allow you to use the lens wide-open in the daylight. One other alternative: neutral density filters. Basically, they absorb light before hot hits the lens.

[Brian]

http://ziforums.com/picture.php?albumid=237&pictureid=2653

This is the one! Looks really good to me. Subject in focus, background is nicely blurred like a Matte shot.

[Contarama]

To shoot wide-open, slow film and fast shutter speed is required.

Thank you for your help sir...that is exactly what I needed to know...



neutral density filters. Basically, they absorb light before hot hits the lens.


Are my skylight filter and UV filter like this Brian?

This picture above ^ is Reala 100...I like the colors better..I think I am giving up on 200 or 400 film (at least with this camera)...

[Brian]

The UV filter absorbs light that is beyond the visible spectrum. Film is sensitive to it, but the optical glass of the lens does not form a sharp image with it. So it just adds to blur. Skylight filters absorb UV and some excessive Blue- cast a warm tone to the lens.

An ND filter looks grey, it absorbs color in the visible spectrum equally.

[Contarama]

Interesting...I believe the Contaflex would be limited in regard to filters too then...I have all of the various "colored" filters and the UV and Skylight...and there is no reference to Neutral Density filters in all of the old Zeiss Contaflex catalog stuff I have...I may be wrong but I don't think they have such a filter for the Contaflex which is a shame...

I put in another roll of reala set the shutter speed at 500 and opened her up to 2.8...I guess we'll see what happens...

I have a Nikon EM on the way...actually a couple of them... :)

I also have a nice original Zeiss Ikon Contaflex system case coming too...it should be super sweet...hopefully the Super will fit in it because it may be made for the earlier Contaflexes which are slightly smaller bodied...

[Brian]

Try to find a "Series" adapter, allows use of Series V or Series VI filters.

I will take a look in my big box of junk.

Post the filter size of the lenses that you use. I have a 30 year collection of random filters.

[Contarama]

I have a 30 year collection of random filters.

Interesting that you say that...I'm a neophyte beginner and I already have a a couple of random filters...one zeiss ikon-voigtlander 30.5 f=.5m 2 dptr and a weird one...B+W 27E...

Plus in my fledgling Nikon collection a Kali multi coated IA 52mm...

Can you tell me anything about these Brian???

BTW...the slip on lens cap for a 50mm Tessar is apparently 28.5mm I believe...the screwon filters are 27mm I guess...I recently sold an S27 yellow green filter on Ebay that wouldn't fit on my Super...I figure it was made for the 45mm Tessar read earlier model Contaflex but I don't know for sure...

[Brian]

+2 diopter is a close-up lens, fits over the prime lens and lets you get in closer.

The 1a filter is a Skylight- good all-purpose protection and slight warming filter. Use it all the time, no problems leaving it on.

The 27e- I need to look up. What color is it? The "27" designation is usually a color compensating type filter.

[Contarama]

New item in the mail today...Contaflex Case No. 23-0206...I am completely stoked by it more details to come...I can't imagine what a comparable Contarex outfit would be like...the ZI boys back in the day were something else...true craftsmanship if you want to call it that...

http://i1107.photobucket.com/albums/h400/Contarama/ContaflexCase.jpg

[Contarama]

What does a polarizing filter do exactly??? I got this new Contrapol filter...it is blueish sort of I guess...

:)

[Brian]

That is a Serious Case!

A Polarizing Filter: reflected light, and a lot of light from the blue sky, is "Polarized"- the light rays are all moving in (about) the same direction. When you hold a Polarizing filter at 90degrees to that light, most of it is canceled out. So colors become darker, less washed out.

Take the filter outside, hold it to your eye, and rotate it around. Look up at the sky, in the portion away from the Sun. What you see is what you'll get with the SLR. Not so easy to use on an RF.

I need to upload some of my airshow pictures, taken with a 300mm lens and a Polarizer. Really brought out the colors of the Stearman PT-17's.

[Shahin]

Hi, I am new here and I own a contaflex IV myself and love everything about it. It is heavy and loud and takes very good pictures.
I have only one question. I was offered a Contaflex S in very good condition but the lightmeter has not been checked for 50EUR.
Do you think that this is a good offer? I can send the camera back within 2 weeks if it does not work.

what do you think :D

[Brian]

That is a good price. I'm used to them selling for that 20 years ago. Things are going up for the German classics. Buy it, try it- see if you like it.

[Shahin]

I bought it and now I am waiting for it to be delivered.
I love old Contaflex cameras because of the nice picture quality
the loud shutter and the whole feel of the camera.

I own a contaflex IV for about 4month and adore it ! I hope the
Contaflex S to be amazing as well :)


(sorry for my poor english I am from Germany )

[Brian]

Your English is wonderful, I wish I could read/write German.

I suspect the Contaflex S is going to be a great camera. The Tessar on it is wonderful. My Tessar from 1932- still yields nice results.

[Shahin]

Thank you :)

I ordered it and can`t wait for it to be delivered tomarrow :D I will post some pictures
I just finished my first roll in my Contaflex IV and the results are great, I am very amazed that an old camera like the contaflex is so much fun.
Since I have the Contaflex my Yashica MG-1 is out of use, as well as my digital camera.


I think that the pictures with the S will be better than with the IV becuase of the more precise lightmeter.

[Contarama]

I have been off in Nikon land lately but I still cannot help taking the Contaflex out from time to time because it is just fun...call it Fahrvergnügen I guess lol. I think my Nikons are way noisier than my Contaflex! And there is something about the precision of the ZI that I can't quite pin down...maybe it has something to do with coming from Stuttgart...:D

I am very happy to see more Contaflex users on the board...I think the cameras from ZI of that era are some real sleepers nowadays and since I first starting getting into them just over a year or so ago I have watched the prices creep slowly but steadily upwards.

I have some bad links in my previous posts I am going to try and update everything soon and fix that.

[Shahin]

Yes you are right, they are great fun and they take brilliant pictures.
The prices are going up as well, I boght my contaflex IV for 40EUR a few month ago
in fantastic condition with a almost new bag ... now a dealer in Hamburg offered
me 60EUR for it and that means he would probably sell it for about 80 EUR I think.

That is good news and still I have to say that they are much cheaper than other
quality cameras from that era and the price will contunue to go up.

:D

[Contarama]

OK I fixed my links in the previous posts...here are a few more recent shots of the Contaflex...I am going to update my gallery and fix some links in my old Nikon thread tonight hopefully!

http://i1107.photobucket.com/albums/h400/Contarama/Contaflex.jpg

http://i1107.photobucket.com/albums/h400/Contarama/ContaflexCaseFilmShot.jpg

[Brian]

That is a pretty outfit.

With as much as you love the Contaflex- have you ever looked at the ContaREX? Maybe worth checking into.

[Contarama]

Dang Sweeney you are faster than a noct-nikkor man...lol

Once I get the Nikon stuff lined out yeah I have been thinking about the Rex...

Can you say Sonnar? Planar? :)

[Contarama]

If the 'Flex is this mean I can only imagine what the 'Rex is capable of...:cool:

http://i1107.photobucket.com/albums/h400/Contarama/BruceLee.jpg

[Brian]

Mostly- more choice in lenses, and faster optics. And much more expensive!

Might be interesting for you to pick up a Contax RF. Prices are down, and F1.5 lenses are easy to be had.

[Brian]

And yes- Faster than a Noct-Nikkor.

Canon 50/0.95's, two of them. And a Voigtlander 50/1.1 in M-Mount.

[Contarama]

The Flex is...so...flexible I guess! hahha

Here is a simple shot...1 meter Proxar close up on the 50mm Tessar...note what it did to the background...

And this is a low fi Walgreen's scan that is shrunk no less!

http://i1107.photobucket.com/albums/h400/Contarama/Bonsai.jpg

[Contarama]

The Contax is another dream of mine but I think I would buy a Contarex first...

Have you taken a look at what the Rex lenses do attached to a micro four thirds yet?

[Shahin]

It has been a long time since i posted a comment here but since i red this discussion
and the fract that i own a contaflex s with a lot of equipment i love the way there is
as comparisson between the contaflex and the contarex.

What i found out, using both is, that the Contaflex S is still a brilliant Camera that can
deliver fantastic results even compared to more modern analog and digital cameras.
The extra lenses on the contaflex are very special and the also deliver fantastic results
actually i have printouts of photos i shot with my 50mm Tessar bigger than 3m² and they
are still fantastic.

HOWEVER

The Contarex is, the better camera, in terms of lenses and picture quality, ONLY if you
are a very professional photographer. The Contarex is in my oppinion not a camera one
can use for normal shots on hollidays, because it is very big and very heavy and the
most important thing is, that it is VERY VERY expensive compared to the Contaflex or
the new Zeiss Ikon Camera.

That in fact stops me from buying one, for years. The fact that even in Germany they
cost more than 1700,00EUR makes it a camera that we have to compare with almost all professional analog cameras and a lot of digital cameras.

For me, this does not work, as fantastic the Contarex is, it is not better than the new
Zeiss Ikon as long as it costs MORE .


Comparing the Contaflex to other analog cameras and some digital cameras in the same
priceleague, one can see that there is almost no cheaper way to get your hands on
a beatifully build and extremely reliable camera that is small and easy to carry around.
In addition to this, it takes very brilliant pictures and the extra equipment is very easy
to get your hands on.


I hope that this is helpful for you :D


Beste Grüße

Shahin

[paullypaulc]

Here is what I have so far of the camera system I am trying to put together. I am off to a real good start with a nearly mint Super that came with tons of official paperwork and functions flawlessly as far as my beginner eyes can see. I still have several important pieces to find yet but I am working on it! Someday I hope to be able to connect it to my Zeiss Jena microscope.

i cant beleive i found someone with same setup i have the sytraight 8x30b monocular there are 2 models the straight is super rare my camera is the contaflex super bc with super rare serial# i think i have the very 1st nr 23-0206 i am gonna auction it off soon i inheritad it,how did u find ur case? i really would like to talk with u,write back,ive been searching u are the only other person ive seen with this case

[Contarama]

I sold the system for 400 bucks on Ebay last month...made big bucks on the Zeiss microscope...getting ready to buy some Nikkors... :)

That case came from Canada BTW and included the instructions. It was a weird numbered case as I also had a Contaflex Super Price list and the Compartment case number was different in that listing...Personally I believe there were two maybe three different Compartment cases made all of them for Contaflexes from model I and IIs through the Super and into the Super BC and such...all of the literature I had with regard to the monocular never mentioned the straight tubed monocular but they definately exist as I have seen two (I have only seen two or three of the other type).

I probably should have held onto the system because it was perfection just utterly simple and precise with any kind of film.