Zeiss Contarex question

TrueLoveOne · Expire: 2013-12-24

These things happen when people know you play around with old camera gear, lenses and so on. This is how i got a Zeiss set on my table, not just any camera, but a real Contarex with a Tessar and a Distagon lens!

The owner's question was quite simple: could i check for him if it all works and what is it worth?

All seems pretty okay, the body is used but not too bad, the lenses are fine. There is one big problem however: i cannot get the back off. It's one of those backs you can change with the film still inside. And this is exactly where i think the problem is: there is no dark-slide!

Does anybody here know how to get this back off without the use of the dark-slide? I know from my Koni Omegaflex that you cannot remove a film-back without that slide, so i guessed this would be the same.

I'd like to get it off to check the camera further and put it's normal back on, which i have available.

Thanks in advance!!

Here's the set:

Zeiss Ikon Contarex Super by René Maly, on Flickr

Elmar Lang · Joined: 11 Apr 2012 Posts: 103

Actually, you should insert the steel slide, and have the shutter cocked. This should be the only way to take the interchangeable film-back off the Contarex.

It's interesting, that it comes with the less common, wonderful, Tessar 5/2,8 and the interesting Distagon 25mm.

It shouldn't impossible to find someone with a Contarex back and temporarily use its slide.

E.L.

TrueLoveOne · Expire: 2013-12-24

Elmar Lang · Joined: 11 Apr 2012 Posts: 103

Hello,

sorry to say, the interchangeable film backs of the Contarex and Contaflex cameras, although being identical in their function, loading etc., are of different size, thus the steel slide of the Contarex back is larger than the Contaflex's one.

E.L.

TrueLoveOne · Expire: 2013-12-24

Indeed, just discovered that last week!