How shooting with Zeiss Ikon Contina made me realize I am spoiled...
When I started out on my own in photography it was already the 90s so I really didn’t know how good things were at the time since I got a second hand Yashica SLR that was manual focus, but had Program mode for exposure control.
My Photography Journey: Starting in the 90s
When I started out on my own in photography it was already the 90s so I really didn’t know how good things were at the time since I got a second hand Yashica SLR that was manual focus, but had Program mode for exposure control.
Once I got that camera it was a whole new world of photography since up to that point I had only owned the little “point and shoot” cameras that you could get for about 40$ at the time. Turns out those simple little cameras were a god send in technology compared to just a couple of decades earlier where we had cameras like the Zeiss Ikon Contina.
The SLR, being semi-automatic in nature, was like giving a driver of race cars his first stick shift car after driving automatics. It was a level of control that was hard to understand at first but soon became something that I looked forward to. This was because the rest of the exposure was being handled by the camera and I could easily confirm focus on the SLR as I was literally looking through the “taking lens” when focusing. All of this and I loved it, it was a very “connected” way to shoot and for the first time, I really wanted to get out and shoot photos. Sometimes it just takes the right tool to get the job done!
Why I Still Shoot Vintage Manual Cameras (Occasionally)
Given everything I've said about how difficult the Contina is to use, you might wonder why I bother at all. Here's the honest answer:
It's Meditative: When I take the Contina out, I'm forcing myself to slow down completely. Every frame requires thought, measurement, estimation, and commitment. There's no rapid-fire shooting, no checking the back screen, no instant gratification. It's almost zen-like in its deliberation.
It Builds Skills: Shooting manual cameras makes you better at photography fundamentals: understanding exposure, reading light, estimating distances, pre-visualizing shots. These skills translate to better photography with ANY camera.
It Creates Appreciation: This is the big one! After shooting the Contina, I pick up my modern cameras and feel genuine gratitude for autofocus, auto exposure, instant feedback, and all the conveniences. Instead of taking these features for granted, I appreciate them.
It's Different: Sometimes you just want a different experience. Shooting digital all the time can feel samey. Film is different. Manual exposure is different. Range focus is VERY different! The variety keeps photography interesting.
The Results Are Unique: The Zeiss Tessar lens renders differently than modern lenses. Film looks different than digital. The whole aesthetic is its own thing. Sometimes you want that look!
BUT (and this is important): I'm not saying everyone should shoot vintage cameras, or that old is better than new, or any of that gatekeeping nonsense. Modern cameras are objectively superior in almost every way! I shoot vintage cameras occasionally because I enjoy the experience, not because I think it makes me a "real" photographer. Use whatever camera makes you happy and helps you make the photos you want to make!
The 8-Step Shooting Process (No Automation!)
You see, the Zeiss Ikon Contina has none of these things. It doesn’t do anything for you automatically…at all. Here is the operational sequence to take a photo…
Find the scene you want to shoot.
Meter the light in the scene with the light meter.
Set the aperture based on film ISO.
Set the shutter speed also based on film ISO.
Guess the focus distance and set it on the lens.
Second guess yourself on focal distance and do it again…
Fire the frame and advance the film.
Repeat…at least once since you probably missed focus…lol.
Notice how you have to guess the focus. That is because there is no way to visually confirm it other than looking at the numeric distance numbers on the lens and hoping you are good at range estimation. You literally have to rely on the range focus system and shoot stopped down if you really need the photo to be in focus, that is the only real way of getting it…well that and a tape measure…
The Contina is NOT a rangefinder! It's a viewfinder camera with range focus. Big difference in usability! A true rangefinder like a Leica M-series or a Canonet makes focusing so much easier because you can actually SEE when you're in focus. With the Contina? You're just guessing and hoping!
Oh and that is a cold shoe on the top, not a coupled hot shoe so you have to use a sync cable that connects to the front of the camera to fire a flash module and I am not sure that is even a thing anymore…
The technology has advanced so much that we are to the point now where the camera has to focus PERFECTLY on the nearest eye of a moving subject…and that subject doesn’t even have to be a human either. On top of that we now expect the CAMERA to follow that subject while it and maybe even ourselves are moving and maintain that perfect focus as well! Isn’t it amazing how far the technology has evolved in less than the period of my mother’s lifetime?
Getting the Contina: Winchester England Story
So when I came into possession of the Contina, I was in Winchester England. We had found it at one of those public junk sales. Back home we call them Flea Markets. You know, where anut Gerty brings our her little figurines and next to her is a guy selling his ratty comic book and then another person is selling home made bread… and so on. It was sitting among several vintage cameras at one fella’s booth and it just caught my eye. It was really reasonably priced…or so I thought, so on my way back through the market, I just paid the guy for it. I didn’t know if it worked properly or not so I sent it home with my daughter as she was traveling home sooner than me. Once back home I proceeded to search out a reputable camera repair shop and sent the machine up to them for a full service. This also took a while as a lot of these shops are now “one man” operations and if they do good work, there is a backlog. So I finally get the camera back and take it out for its maiden voyage to shoot a roll of Ilford HP5 and see what the lens could produce. This was also to test for light leaks to make sure it didn’t need light seals either, so in that vain, I shot the first roll kinda haphazardly and then had it developed and scanned so I could check for light leaks. To be honest, I really liked the scans and that is what I used here and in the video below as well.
Well, I was impressed to be quite honest about it . To lack any semblance of automation, this little camera came away with a surprisingly high number of keepers in my book. Now, I am not talking about Pulitzer prize winning “keepers” but rather properly focused and exposed photos. I did use my handheld Sekonic light meter a lot that day, making adjustments to the camera as I went along to keep the exposure where I hoped it would make good photos.
I did have 400 speed Ilford HP5 in the camera so the maxed out shutter speed of 1/300 second was my only real choice when the sun was out fully. I then ran the aperture all the way down to make up for it so the images would be close to correctly exposed. I figured out once I got the camera back from service that it was designed for film from an era where there was no 400 speed film…yet.
Anyway, after spending the day with this camera I learned what it meant to be spoiled by the technology that we have today. It is akin to them getting this camera back then and the people doing wet plate talking about how good the new people have it. LOL. There really isnt anything new under the sun… Well, I still enjoy the little camera and I take it out on occasion for some “me” time where I will be by myself and just immerse myself into the activity of shooting with little camera.
Camera Specifications
Zeiss Ikon Contina (Type I or II, depending on your model):
Manufactured: 1950s (West Germany)
Lens: Zeiss Tessar 45mm f/2.8 (4-element design, excellent sharpness!)
Shutter: Prontor-SVS or Vario, 1 second to 1/300 second
Focus: Range focus (scale focus), manual distance estimation
Viewfinder: Simple optical viewfinder (not coupled to focus)
Film: 35mm, 24 or 36 exposure
Flash sync: Cold shoe + PC sync port (requires cable)
Exposure: Fully manual (no built-in meter)
Body: Folding design, collapses for compact storage
Weight: Approximately 400-500g depending on model
Current used price: $50-200 (plus CLA service recommended)
Film Used:
Ilford HP5 Plus 400 (black and white)
Would recommend ISO 100 film for better exposure flexibility given the 1/300 max shutter speed
Accessories Needed:
Handheld light meter (essential!)
Film (obviously!)
Flash sync cable if using flash
Patience and good distance estimation skills! lol
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Frequently Asked Questions About Range Focus Cameras and the Zeiss Ikon Contina
What is a range focus camera and how does it work?
A range focus camera (sometimes called scale focus or zone focus) doesn't have any system to visually confirm your focus! You literally have to estimate the distance to your subject and set that number on the lens barrel. The Zeiss Ikon Contina has distance markings on the lens (measured in feet and meters), and you set the focus by guessing how far away your subject is. No rangefinder patch, no split-image focusing screen, no autofocus... just you, your eyes, and hopefully some good distance estimation skills! If you're off by a few feet? Well, your photo might be out of focus. That's why I mentioned using a tape measure in the post... haha. I was only half kidding!
Is the Zeiss Ikon Contina a rangefinder camera?
Nope! This confuses a lot of people. A rangefinder camera (like a Leica M-series) has a coupled rangefinder mechanism where you see two overlapping images in the viewfinder, and when you focus, those images align. The Contina doesn't have this. It's a viewfinder camera with range focus (scale focus). You're just looking through a simple optical viewfinder that shows you the frame, but it doesn't help you focus at all. The viewfinder and the focusing mechanism are completely separate, which makes focusing much harder!
What's the difference between a cold shoe and a hot shoe?
A hot shoe has electrical contacts built in so when you slide a flash onto the camera, it automatically connects and fires when you press the shutter. A cold shoe is just a metal bracket on top of the camera with no electrical connection. The Zeiss Ikon Contina has a cold shoe, which means if you want to use flash, you need a sync cable that plugs into the front of the camera body and connects to your flash unit. This is old-school flash sync from the 1950s! Modern hot shoes are SO much more convenient (and that's an understatement).
Why is the Zeiss Ikon Contina so difficult to use?
Because it doesn't do ANYTHING for you automatically! Let me break it down: (1) You have to meter the light separately with a handheld meter, (2) You have to set both aperture and shutter speed manually based on your meter reading, (3) You have to guess the focus distance and set it manually with no visual confirmation, (4) You have to advance the film manually after each shot, and (5) You have to keep track of how many frames you've shot since there's no fancy frame counter that resets automatically. Modern cameras do ALL of this for you automatically, or at least make it way easier. That's what I mean when I say I'm spoiled!
Can you actually get good photos with the Zeiss Ikon Contina?
Yes! I was honestly surprised by the keeper rate from my first roll. The Zeiss Tessar lens on the Contina is actually really good glass from the 1950s. If you take your time, use a light meter, shoot stopped down a bit (f/5.6 or f/8 helps with focus), and carefully estimate your distances, you can absolutely get sharp, well-exposed photos. The lens renders beautifully on film. BUT, you have to slow down and be deliberate about every single frame. This isn't a camera for street photography or fast-moving subjects unless you're some sort of range-estimation superhuman! For static subjects, architecture, landscapes, and portraits where your subject isn't moving? It works great if you take your time.
What film should I use in the Zeiss Ikon Contina?
I used Ilford HP5 Plus 400, which is a great general-purpose black and white film. However, here's the thing: the Contina's max shutter speed is only 1/300 second, which means it was designed for SLOWER film. Back in the 1950s when this camera was made, ISO 400 film didn't exist yet! Most film was ISO 100 or slower. So with ISO 400 film in bright sunlight, I was constantly maxed out at 1/300 and f/22 (smallest aperture) just to keep from overexposing. For this camera, I'd actually recommend ISO 100 film (like Ilford FP4 or Kodak TMax 100) so you have more flexibility with your exposure settings in bright light. Or just embrace shooting at small apertures... which actually helps with the whole focus guessing problem! lol
How much does a Zeiss Ikon Contina cost?
They're pretty affordable on the used market! You can find them anywhere from $50 to $200 depending on condition and whether they've been serviced. I sent mine out for a full CLA (clean, lubricate, adjust) service, which cost me about $100-150, so factor that into your budget if you buy one that hasn't been serviced recently. These cameras are 70+ years old, so getting them professionally serviced is pretty much essential if you want them to work reliably. The shutter speeds drift over time, the lubricants dry out, and the aperture blades can get sticky. A good CLA makes a huge difference!
Where did you get your Zeiss Ikon Contina serviced?
I sent it to a reputable camera repair shop that specializes in vintage cameras. (I don't remember the exact shop name offhand, but there are several good ones that work on vintage folders and rangefinders.) The CLA took a while, but they did a great job. The shutter speeds are accurate now, the aperture blades work smoothly, and everything functions as it should. If you're looking to get a vintage camera serviced, ask around in the film photography communities on Reddit or the Rangefinder Forum... people there have great recommendations!
Is the Zeiss Ikon Contina good for beginners learning film photography?
Honestly? Probably not as your FIRST film camera! lol. It's too challenging for someone just starting out because of the range focus system and completely manual operation. I'd recommend starting with something that has either (1) a coupled rangefinder for easier focusing (like a Canonet or Olympus 35RC), or (2) an SLR with a viewfinder focusing screen (like a Pentax K1000 or Canon AE-1). Once you're comfortable with manual exposure and film basics, THEN the Contina becomes a fun challenge. It'll teach you to really think about every single frame and appreciate how much modern cameras do for us!
Why do you still shoot with the Zeiss Ikon Contina if it's so difficult?
Great question! Because sometimes I enjoy the challenge and the "me time" aspect of it. When I take the Contina out, I'm forcing myself to slow down, think about every frame, and engage with photography in a more deliberate way. There's no chimping on the back screen, no instant feedback, no spray-and-pray... just careful consideration of each shot. It's almost meditative in a way. Plus, it's fun to use camera gear from a completely different era and appreciate how far technology has come. That said, I'm NOT shooting the Contina exclusively or even regularly! It's an occasional thing when I want that experience. For everything else? I'm absolutely using my modern cameras with autofocus and metering and all the conveniences! haha
BONUS QUESTION: What's the biggest lesson you learned from shooting the Contina?
Appreciation for modern technology! Seriously. After spending a day with this camera, manually setting everything and guessing focus on every single shot, I came home and picked up my Nikon Zf and was like "Holy crap, this thing focuses ITSELF and exposes ITSELF and even follows moving subjects!" We really are spoiled by what modern cameras can do, and that's not a bad thing at all. The Contina taught me that "the good old days" weren't always that good... at least when it came to camera technology! lol