Contarex Super

The Contarex Super is a SLR camera from Zeiss Ikon. It was offered from 1967 and was the successor to the rare Contarex Professional. In total, fewer than 10,000 Supers were built.

Lens

The bayonet system of the Contarex Super, marked by a red dot for alignment, enables the use of various interchangeable lenses.

A common standard lens is the Planar 1:2/50 mm with automatic flash support. The range extended from wide-angle lenses such as the Distagon 1:4/18 mm, the Distagon 1:2.8/25 mm and 1:2/35 mm to telephoto lenses, including the Olympia Sonnar 1:2.8/135 mm and 1:2.8/180 mm, the Olympia Sonnar 1:4/250 mm, and the Mirotar 4.5/500 mm and 5.6/1000 mm. The Vario-Sonnar 1:2.8/40-120 mm zoom lens is particularly noteworthy.

Manual focusing is done via a split-image indicator and a fine focusing ring or, depending on the focusing mat used, also via a ground glass screen. Neither zone focus nor autofocus are available.

Lens-specific parameters such as focal length, light intensity and filter thread vary depending on the model. The Planar 1:2/50 mm, for example, has a focal length of 50 mm, a light intensity of 1:2 and uses the B 56 bayonet for filters. For close-ups, auxiliary lenses and a bellows device are recommended.

Exposure settings

The semi-automatic exposure control of the Contarex Super is based on a CdS cell in the camera housing, which measures the amount of light entering behind the lens. Aperture and shutter speed can be set manually.

The exposure times range from 1/1000s to 1s and also offer the “B” setting for long exposures. The aperture range varies depending on the lens used.

Flash system

The flash system of the Contarex Super is designed for various flash units. A hot shoe with M contact and an additional flash sync socket enable connection.

Colored markings on the shutter speed ring help you choose the correct sync time: white (1-1/30s and “B”) for electronic flash and fast flash lamps (class M), yellow (1/60s) specifically for electronic flash units and orange (1/125s – 1/1000s) for long-burning flash lamps (class FP).

The correct aperture is calculated using the guide number of the flash unit and the object distance.

Additional functions

The self-timer offers a delay of around 12 seconds, shorter intervals can be set using intermediate steps. In addition to the tripod thread, the Contarex Super offers other functions such as a film type indicator, the option of using data strips to label images in the date field and the ability to replace the focusing mats.

A Fresnel screen with split image indicator and microprism ring, a screen with a screen center, a clear screen with grid lines and a special screen for the Distagon 1:4/18 mm are available.

Film recommendations

The Contarex Super is compatible with a wide range of films, including black and white, color negative and color slide films for daylight, artificial light and flash photography. A good film for color photos is the Kodak Ektar 100*.

The film speed (DIN and ASA) is set manually. Automatic DX coding is not available. The number of images per film depends on the respective film format.

Brief operating instructions

1. Select the desired lens and attach it to the bayonet by turning it until the red dot clicks into place.
2. Insert the film, close the back and set the film speed (DIN/ASA) according to the film pack.
3. Select the desired exposure time on the shutter speed ring and set the aperture on the lens. Use the exposure meter to determine the correct exposure.
4. Focus on the subject by turning the distance ring on the lens until the image in the viewfinder is sharp.
5. Press the shutter button to take the picture. Then cock the shutter for the next picture using the quick release lever.