Made by Pentacon in Dresden Germany from 1949-1951. WWII caused much disruption to Zeiss and the story of the relationship between Zeiss and Pentacon is an interesting one. McKeown discusses it briefly in The Book.
The Contax-S and the Rectaflex were the first 35mm prism SLR’s. The Contax-S actually holds the earlier patent date. The Contax-S has a sync connection in the tripod socket. My camera is a later model as it has a self-timer. The metal finishing is dull on this later Contax-S. It’s a fairly rare camera.
That little button on the back of the camera switches the shutter speed selection between high and low shutter speeds. The big button on the top right is the shutter speed selector. Film is advanced via the knob on the right. The knob counts frames and is used to zero the count too. I like the placement of the shutter release button on the front of the camera.
The shutter is loud and buzzy, but all speeds work well on this heavy old classic.
In New England’s late January you can sometimes pick up the first hints of spring. Most people don’t notice it. Being a hater of winter, I’m tuned in. After two weeks of bitter, bitter cold, a windless sunny day in the upper twenties can make me stop in my tracks – and feel spring.
Summer turns into Fall quicker as you get older.
Fish-eyed Contax “S”
I really like this Contax S. I like the placement of the shutter release and the way the shutter sounds. The camera is a good size for my hands. I hadn’t used it for a while so I screwed on a Zenitar 16mm lens and walked into the woods.
Gate 3a and Gate 5 – Quabbin
Kodak Gold 200