This post is more of podcast and point of view style article (if you watch the video). It’s two stories involving two Zeiss cameras, the Contaflex and the Contarex.

You can read, listen or watch the video in this post

Video

In regards to the new Zeiss ZX1 I ask myself why Zeiss stopped making cameras ? I talk about the incredible Contarex and its failure and the Contaflex too. The video is a point view style story with film images taken while bike riding around Vienna between lockdowns here in Austria. Pictures are taken with the Zeiss Ikon Contaflex with the 35mm adapter on Kodak Ultramax ASA 400 35mm film and self developed.

Let’s begin…

There are too many cameras made by Zeiss from the last century especially when include their sister companies such as  Cosina, and Voitglander. Which is to be expect with a history that goes back over 110 years. While recently they have released their first digital camera the ZX1 after announcing it some time ago. But this is a story about why Zeiss stopped producing film cameras.

First off, I myself, am not a collector of cameras, I much prefer to load them up and shoot film. So this where my story begins.

Recently I discover a Zeiss Ikon Contaflex from my father-in-law. At first I took no real notice of it. I thought it’s another cheap Agfa or Voitlander camera from the time. I guess about a year later while the camera hung by its leather everready case in my make shift cellar darkroom. I thought it might be interesting to look at once again – a closer look to see was the camera any good.

Noticing the lens had an aperture of 2.8 and under further inspection, it was branded by Carl Zeiss. A name synonymous with making glass for cameras. The camera in question turn out to be no other than the Zeiss Ikon Contaflex – the Super edition. Top of the range. Admittedly I was impressed, this wasn’t a typical flee market type camera at all!

This is how and what got me started on this path. I was familiar with the former east block medium format beasts such as Pentacon Six and Kiev 60. Both these machines share, Carl Zeiss Jena lens using the same mount. But I was shooting mainly 35mm these days and not 120.

Field of View

I was enjoying using my Olympus OM-1 immensly, I had started now shooting with the Zeiss Ikon Contaflex Super. I picked up a inexpensive lens adapter, a Carl Zeiss no less, which turned my 50mm Contaflex into 35mm field of view.  Very familiar in fashion to the way the modern digital Fujifilm X100 series lens adapters works.

I like 35mm but I do prefer wider. I went on a search for 24mm. As I really enjoy shooting 24 for some reason, probably it’s how I see when  combining both views from left and right eyes.

I found a 24mm Zeiss lens and a camera similar to the Contaflex called the Contarex. I bidded on the auction from a private seller on Ebay. It was over a couple of days. I increased my bid now and then to keep ahead. Thinking maybe the camera and lens would go for a mere 400. I bidded up to 525 euros until I had to let go. Certainly glad, I hadn’t won as it was a bit to rich for me. It was out of my budget.

The Last Camera – Contarex

This got me thinking why did this camera and lens reach over a 1000 euros. In fact the sold price of the auction seemed reasonable in comparison to other sales of the Contarex with or with added 24mm Zeiss lens when I started researching into the matter.

It seems that Contarex models was the last real camera that Zeiss ever made. An incredible feat of engineering. A camera for professional with supreme glass. A beautiful design and functioning camera. So why was it Zeiss’ biggest failure ? Was its astronomical price that keep advanced users away. Was it the competition from the other side of world, such as Nikon ?

Actually I figure it was a mixture of both – why Zeiss stopped making cameras. Unfortunately I believe the main reason was professionals. They couldn’t afford to have their camera failing. The Contarex is handmade with thousands of pieces. It is extraordinary in operation and extraordinary in construction. The difficulties in disassembling and assembling the camera lead to costly repairs and wait times. The world’s fine camera and lens suffered from uber-engineering. The end effect was to be the demise of Zeiss’ camera business in 1971.

The Contarex is an amazing instrument however it’s not something you would use on a daily basis or even on a weekly basis. It’s a collectors piece unfortunately not a camera to shoot film. It’s simply too valuable and dedicate to use.

By the way, if you are shooting with this camera regularly, I would love to know your experience and thoughts on it.

The Conclusion

While the Contaflex was the forerunner to the Contarex. The Contaflex might well be a better choice if you want a Zeiss Camera with Zeiss glass without the worries. If you wish to avoid the high costs and heart break that could happen when the Contarex does fail. That being said a Contarex is an awesome camera as well as the Contaflex. I still don’t have a Contarex to review or more importantly to shoot film with it. In the end of the day – shoot film on whatever camera works in the morale of the story here.

Camera Wiki Contrex I and Conaflex

Mike Eckmann Contarex Bulleye

Bernd K. Otto https://lenspire.zeiss.com/photo/en/article/a-compendium-of-the-history-of-zeiss-cameras

Contaflex Images