Contaflex (TLR)
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German TLR ( ) | |||
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35 mm | Contaflex | Flexilette | Optima Reflex | ||
3×4 | Pilot Reflex | ||
4×4 | Baby Rolleiflex (1931) | Baby Rolleiflex (1957) | Karma-Flex | ||
6×6 | Altiflex | Amplion Reflex | Brillant | Flektar | Flexo | Flexora | Flexora II | Flexora III | Foth-Flex | Ikoflex 1 | Ikoflex II | Ikoflex Ia | Ikoflex Ic Ikoflex Favorit | Karma-Flex | Mentorett | Montiflex | Peerflekta | Perfekta | Photina Reflex | Plascaflex | Reflecta | Reflekta | Reflekta II | Rica Flex | Rocca Automatic | Rocca Super Reflex | Rolleiflex | Rolleicord | Rollop | Superb | Superflex | Trumpfreflex | Vitaflex | Weltaflex | Wirgin Reflex | Zeca-Flex | ||
6×9 | Superfekta |
Contaflex, 1935 TLR image by PASPEY on Flickr (Image rights) |
The original Contaflex is a 24×36 TLR introduced in 1935 by Zeiss Ikon, preceding the Contax II and III models. The name was reused from the 1950s for a range of 35mm SLRs with leaf shutters, see Contaflex (SLR).
The original Contaflex has the same type of metal focal plane shutter as the Contax I. It also has a built-in but uncoupled selenium exposure meter under its name plate. It was the first camera in the world with a built-in light meter.
The viewer lens is a Sucher-Objektiv 8cm f:2.8 giving a magnified image for the angle of view of the 50mm standard lens. Two lines are drawn on the viewing screen to indicate the 85mm and 135mm frame. The focusing is done by a lever around the viewing lens. The finder incorporates an automatic parallax compensation with focusing. A big button on the right side is used both to wind the shutter and to set the shutter speed. The rewind button is on the left side.
The Contaflex has a special lens mount, incompatible with the rangefinder Contax models. The range of lenses includes:
- Biogon 3.5cm f:2.8, with a special right angle finder
- Orthometar 3.5cm f:4.5
- Sonnar 5cm f:1.5
- Sonnar 5cm f:2
- Tessar 5cm f:2.8
- Sonnar 8.5cm f:2
- Triotar 8.5cm f:4
- Sonnar 13.5cm f:4
The Contaflex was one of the most expensive cameras of its time. It introduced features that paved the way for the Contax II and Contax III rangefinder models. But it did not really indicate the way forward, and was more an experimental model. Only a few were sold and today its rarity still makes it a very expensive camera. The lenses made for it are especially scarce.
Links
In English:
- Contaflex TLR at Pacific Rim Camera
- Zeiss Contaflex Twin Lens Reflex with many photo, by Innovative Cameras 135, Massimo Bertacchi
- Contaflex TLR at www.earlyphotography.co.uk
- Marriage, John. "History of the 35mm Twin Lens Reflex".
- Patent for the Contaflex TLR
- Patent for Photoelectric Exposure Meter in the Contaflex TLR
Zeiss Ikon Classic Cameras |
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Contax | Contaflex (TLR) | Super Nettel | Nettax | Tenax II | Tenax I | Ikoflex | Super Ikonta
Contax S | Contaflex (SLR) | Contarex | Icarex | SL706 |