Camera Talk

Thank you, all.
I was looking the 616 version of this as well, maybe one day it comes across.

At least 4 years since I got something interesting. Now, I may have bagged a folding Contessa 35 and a Contaflex for a very reasonable price in a local site. Will update when the cameras arrive.

The folding contessa is beautiful, and the lightmeter works in a 95% of the cases if you use Mr Elek's solution:
http://elekm.net/zeiss-ikon/repair/meter-repair/

Cameras arrived, very dirty. Will try some cleaning in the weekend. The Contessa looks like a solid rival to Retinas of the period.

I got mine from a Photrio member, he used it and took good care of it, who wanted to trade for something else
Price was reasonable and camera is in good shape (even the tripod-bushing protector is in place)
I didn't know there were 2 versions of the camera, but after some reading I got V1

Contessa 35 v1

Lightmeter was cleaned as per the procedure I posted above and it's worked just fine

Seller’s picture of the pair:

the contalfex looks rough
The contessa looks ok
Wish you luck!

titrisol wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 15, 2022 10:59 am

the contalfex looks rough
The contessa looks ok
Wish you luck!

Thanks! I thought the same. In fact the Contaflex is not as bad as it looks. An interesting weekend ahead.

As long as the glass is clean (no old fungus) it should be OK
The Contessa is mechanically complex but magaeable
The Contaflex is out of my league

Well, here is the pair after a primary outside cleaning.



The Contessa is a 1951 model (s/n starts with T), with a Zeiss-Opton Tessar 45/2.8 lens and Synchro-Compur shutter.

The Contaflex is a late model, a Super BC from about 1971, with a Tessar 50/2.8. Both shutters and film transport mechanisms work; however, both lenses and viewfinders are dirty as politics. No fungi are visible, but who knows what lies beneath the dirt.

I hope both cameras will eventually become users. Now, a trip to the tech for a professional CLA. Hope to post again when these two come back.