Zeiss Contessa

[Camera - Film - 35mm - Rangefinder - Folder]

Zeiss Contessa

This camera is a wonderful example of Zeiss quality. It’s a 35mm folder (bellows), a jewel in chrome, steel and brass. The craftsmanship is absolutely superb, very well finished. In my opinion, by far, the best 35mm folder ever made.

The lens is a classic single coated Tessar 45mm F2.8. It also has a coupled coincidence telemeter and an uncoupled selenium light meter.

The viewfinder is a bit dark but reasonably good and the rangefinder spot very clear. It’s small but quite heavy. I prefer it much more than any Kodak Retinas, including the IIIC.

This one is in my family since the 1950s. It belonged to my grandfather, then my mother and now it’s mine. Yesssss my precioussssssssssssss =)

The only drawback is the selenium light meter and you should expect a very high failure rate at this age. Selenium meters doesn't last forever. Just forget about the light meter because it's very unlikely to be working properly. Take a hand light meter and be happy instead of frustrated.

Oh, the shutter cocking mechanism is not coupled to the film advance. You need to do it manually. The camera prevents double exposures.

Lens: Zeiss Tessar 45mm F2.8 single coated, 4 elements
Shutter: Synchro Compur (B, 1s - 1/500s) with X-Sync
Film type: 35mm
Filter: 27 mm snap in filters