Zeiss Ikon made nice cameras and lenses. The contessamat se has a coupled rangefinder, a light meter, a snappy
prontormatic 500 shutter and a 2.8, 45mm Pantar lens. All features work well on this particular unit. not bad
for a 60 year old.
Most 35mm cameras feature a button that you need to push prior to rewinding your film. Not so with this
camera. You press down the switch on the left and the rewind crank pops out. it’s the sort of unusual
feature that makes collectors happy. And bores the hell out of the rest of the world.
Quality manufacturers such as Zeiss rarely compromised their name even when they made “budget” cameras.
The Contessa line of cameras are good examples of that concept.
