Photographica Pages

An online guide to collectable cameras and related stuff

Zeiss Ikon Contaflex Super (Old Style)

1959 saw the introduction of the Contaflex Super. Like the Contaflex Rapid, it has an interchangeable 50/2.8 Tessar, rapid wind lever, built in accessory shoe and accepts the interchangeable film magazines. But it also had a built in coupled exposure meter. The selenium cell was located on the front of the camera where the Contaflex name normally would appear, so the name (in script like the contemporary Rapid and Prima) was moved to the top of the shutter face. The camera also has a distinctive wheel on the front of the camera just below the rewind knob which no other model had.

This model is often referred to as the Contaflex Super Old Style as Zeiss replaced this camera in their line-up with another model they called the Contaflex Super New. The original Contaflex Super was discontinued in 1963.

This camera has a front cell interchangeable 50/2.8 Tessar, and can accept the earlier 35/4 and 85/4 Pro-Tessars, as well as the later 35/3.2, 85/3.2 and 115/4 Pro-Tessars. It can also accept the Steritar B, M1:1 macro lens and the adapter to use the monocular.

The Contaflex Super Old Style.