#contaflex

Time for a spot of camera history. This is a Contaflex TLR and was released by Zeiss Ikon in 1935. What is important about this camera is that despite it looking like a medium format camera it is actually a 35mm camera. But more significantly it was the first camera in the world with a built in light meter. And not only that, it also has interchangeable lenses. This camera is an engineering masterpiece and a fascinating piece of camera historical. Thanks for reading. #camera #filmcamera #zeissikon #zeisscamera #contaflex #contaflextlr #japan #japancamerahunter #camerazen #shootfilm (at Matsuya Ginza) https://www.instagram.com/p/CiCHZvIu7S4/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Zeiss Ikon CONTAFLEX TLR + Sonner 50mm F1.5  1935

© Daniel Espinoza

Centenario del nacimiento de uno de los personajes más polémicos y talentosos en la historia de la arquitectura y el urbanismo de la Ciudad de México Don #mariopani #mariopanidarqui #35mm #contaflex #zeissikon https://www.instagram.com/p/CNApmH3DEia/?igshid=1ka347dgp2hbo

Three cameras important to me, left to right. My Grandfather’s Contaflex, my first camera that I bought in 1979, Minolta SRT 201 and my Mamaya C3 TLR that I bought in 1982 and used through college and the 1980s and at TWS. #skatephotography #contaflex #minoltasrt201 #mamiyac3 #transworldskateboarding #shootmorefilm #photographybooks #skateboardinghalloffame #jgrantbrittain #jgrantbrittainphotos #grantbrittain https://www.instagram.com/p/B_upEZMFS-0/?igshid=1pjr5lwj3ud2x

I was digging through boxes of cameras trying to find 2 cameras I was missing and found my Zeiss Ikon Contaflex Super from 1959. I didn’t own it then, I’ve only owned it maybe 4 years. As I was playing with it and the wierd yet interesting method it uses to keep exposure in sync, looking through the VF, etc, I was reminded that this camera has survived wars, seen everything the world has offered good and bad, and has had many peoples eye’s peering through the eyepiece over the ages. I am just one of possibly dozens or more owners. This is how to make stuff. 1959 camera not only still works perfectly including the light meter, but the only real issues are just paint coming off and the leather of the case having issues at high use spots. Besides that it’s a beauty. Zeiss made this line of rangefinder styled SLR’s with the mirror system and used the existing popular open back design seen in many rangefinders including Leicas. Then lots of other cameras using the same tech started appearing and suddenly it’s 2017 and time has passed by and caught back up. Little did they know back then that cameras would get crazy popular, instant would take over for a while, 35mm and 126 would be all the craze (there’s a 126 Contaflex actually) and then digital would reign... but it’s day would come as 2014-2015 rolled around and film started coming back. We now have a strong film base to pick from to shoot our fun old vintage gear. That to me is pretty damn cool.

San Diego, California 2017