Contax S (1949–1951/52)
The Contax S was the world's first 35mm SLR with an eye-level pentaprism viewfinder. Zeiss Ikon in Dresden introduced it in 1949. The "S" is thought to stand for *Schnell*, possibly for the instant return mirror, which was activated by the shutter release. Development began in 1947 under Wilhelm Winzenburg. The camera was a direct descendant of the pre-war Contax line, produced by the East German VEB Zeiss Ikon after the company was split. Production was taken over by VEB Zeiss Ikon in Dresden around 1951-52, though some sources extend production to 1956. Very few were made, and the camera is now a rare and popular collector's piece.
The body is die-cast and the shutter is a metal focal-plane type, with speeds from 1 second to 1/1000 plus B. It uses the standard M42 screw mount, and the standard lens was the Tessar 50mm f/2.8 (some sources list a Tessar 5cm f/3.5). Focusing is done with a central split-image rangefinder in the viewfinder. Exposure is fully manual and uncoupled. Shutter speed is set on the camera body, aperture on the lens. One quirk users note is that the camera has two separate dials for shutter speed and film speed. The take-up spool is standard M42 type, and it loads with regular 35mm cassettes.
The Contax S is sometimes called the Contax F, and it served as the basis for the later Pentacon F. The Pentacon F is essentially an updated Contax S. The later Contax D, E, and F models followed in succession, each adding features like a self-resetting mirror, a built-in selenium meter, and automatic diaphragm. A common misconception holds that the Contax S was built in the USSR as the Kiev. It wasn't. It was built in Dresden and is the basis for the Pentacon F, not the Kiev.
Modern users report the camera is a genuine pleasure to shoot. The damped shutter and butter-smooth release are frequently praised, as are the excellent Tessar lenses. The film advance is a smooth throw, and the camera is not as heavy as its all-metal build might suggest. The main weakness is the pentaprism. It is a separate unit, not sealed from the film chamber, so dust can get in. The prism coating also degrades with age, and the silvering can go bad, which makes the viewfinder hazy and difficult to use. The cloth focal-plane shutter can develop problems if the camera has not been serviced. Repairs are possible, but parts are no longer available from the manufacturer. High Fidelity (September 1953, p.54) even featured the Contax in a piece on Columbia Records engineer Fred Plaut, noting the camera was as familiar to Columbia recording artists as the microphone.
Collector prices range from roughly $200 to $400 depending on condition. It is a heavy, sturdy camera with few plastic parts, and it takes standard M42 lenses.
eBay Listings
As an eBay Partner, we earn from qualifying purchases. This helps support our independent vintage technology research.