The Contarex by Zeiss Ikon:
...the introduction!
From the beginning the Zeiss Ikon cameras and lenses were famous for their progress and quality. The Contax (rangefinder with changeable lenses) as well as the Contaflex (SLR with only 4 interchangeable lenses due to construction, a 1:1 lens and a 8x30 monoscope type lens) Series were big successes. But at this time the aim was to construct a camera with the advantage of both worlds: the interchangeable lenses of the Contax and the advantages of the SLR Contaflex. The result was the Contarex I (Bullseye) which was first introduced at the Photokina in 1958. But the Contarex was not just a merger between the Contax and the Contaflex, Zeiss Ikon implemented a lot of new features some of them were specifically invented for the new Contarex. Zeiss Ikon also invested a lot of Marketing effort and money for the introduction of their new flagship.As an example, there was the Contarex-Express, a train, converted into a mobile demo-room, that drove around in Germany and could be visited in all major cities. Also the marketing concept was very progressive. The target group of all marketing activities were wealthy people.
But who were the buyers of this camera system? Most interesting, the main group of Contarex buyers were NOT professional photographers but entrepreneurs, engineers, architects, traders, scientists, physicians and wealthy amateurs!
Perhaps this was one of the reasons because the Contarex line was not produced in larger quantities and buttom line never was a financial success for Zeiss Ikon. The price for a camerabody plus 50mm standard lens was as high as several average monthly salaries at the time of introduction in 1958.
...the technology
The Contarex should become the best and most precise camera the world has ever seen. The diaphragm in the lenses for example runs on a ball-bearing with 72 steel balls, for the assembly of a camerabody approx. 4000 steps with special tools (tolerances of up to 0.001 mm) were necessary! All these specialities made shure, that the camera could be used on extreme climatic circumstances. But of course, the price for this system was incredibly high. Here some of the most important features at the time of introduction:- SLR with cloth shutter up to 1/1000 sec.
- six interchangeable lenses with Contarex bajonett mount from 21mm to 250mm
- Standard lens 50mm f2 Planar with focussing range from 30cm to infinity
- Built-in Selen lightmeter (Bullseye) coupled with time and diaphragm
- fast film advance mechanism
- interchangeable backs
- fast film rewind mechanism
- brilliant, parallax free viewfinder
- flash synchronisation
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