Zeiss Ikon Contessa - Found My Everyday Rangefinder

Colorado CJ · 01-09-2017, 01:55 PM - **2 Likes**

Well, I think I found my new EDC (every day carry) rangefinder, a Zeiss Ikon Contessa 35.

I bought it from eBay for $49.00. The shutter needed cleaning, but everything else was excellent, the meter still works and matches up to my Gossen Luna Pro F. The rangefinder is BRIGHT and contrasty, it's very easy to focus. Has a great Zeiss Opton T Tessar 45mm f2.8 lens. The Contessa is built extremely well also, typical Zeiss quality. It's one of the nicest built cameras I own.

The best thing is its size. When folded, the camera is TINY!

Here it is next to my Gossen Luna Pro F

And next to a can of pop

**Cascadilla** · 01-09-2017, 02:06 PM

Congratulations--you're lucky you got one with a working meter. I too have been impressed by the small size and great finder. Enjoy!

**BigMackCam** · 01-09-2017, 02:21 PM

That's a beautiful camera, and a great price considering the condition. Congratulations!

foto guy · 01-09-2017, 07:48 PM

Nice find!

Colorado CJ · 01-10-2017, 08:04 PM - **2 Likes**

Well I processed my first roll tonight. These are just quick snaps from around the yard and walking around as I was waiting on tires being installed on my truck. I shot a roll of Tri-X and developed it in Pyrocat MC for 13 minutes.

I like what I see! The meter worked well, even shooting directly into the sun. The rangefinder is very accurate. The lens is plenty sharp, even wide open, and there isn't really any flare to speak of.

**UncleVanya** · 01-10-2017, 10:22 PM

Nice shots with a nice camera.

**arnold** · 01-10-2017, 10:29 PM

Originally posted by Colorado CJ

Well I processed my first roll tonight. These are just quick snaps from around the yard and walking around as I was waiting on tires being installed on my truck. I shot a roll of Tri-X and developed it in Pyrocat MC for 13 minutes.

I like what I see! The meter worked well, even shooting directly into the sun. The rangefinder is very accurate. The lens is plenty sharp, even wide open, and there isn't really any flare to speak of.

Good shots. The camera has similarities with a Retina II. These folders are very compact.
The Retina 1A is smaller and a good street shooter.
[IMG]

[/IMG]

**BigMackCam** · 01-11-2017, 01:18 AM

Originally posted by Colorado CJ

Well I processed my first roll tonight. These are just quick snaps from around the yard and walking around as I was waiting on tires being installed on my truck. I shot a roll of Tri-X and developed it in Pyrocat MC for 13 minutes.

Those shots turned out very well... That's a beautiful F100, too

Colorado CJ · 01-11-2017, 07:41 AM

Thanks everyone.

I do have a Retina IIa, just got it yesterday in fact. Won it for $29.00.

While I like the IIa, the build quality just isn't there compared to the Contessa. The IIa feels kind of hollow, less robust compared to the contessa.

I fully plan on loading the IIa with some film and testing it out once I clean it up, but for right now, my vote definitely goes to the Contessa.

The IIa and Contessa are near identical in every dimension when they are closed though. I'll take some photos of them next to each other and post them here later today.

redrockcoulee · 01-13-2017, 01:05 PM

Originally posted by BigMackCam

Those shots turned out very well... That's a beautiful F100, too

I had to go back and look at the photos as I never saw one of a Nikon film camera. Guess I so used to of F150 and F350 to have even thought you were referring to a truck. I now feel a little dumb.

**arnold** · 01-14-2017, 08:24 PM

Originally posted by Colorado CJ

Thanks everyone.

I do have a Retina IIa, just got it yesterday in fact. Won it for $29.00.

While I like the IIa, the build quality just isn't there compared to the Contessa. The IIa feels kind of hollow, less robust compared to the contessa.

I fully plan on loading the IIa with some film and testing it out once I clean it up, but for right now, my vote definitely goes to the Contessa.

The IIa and Contessa are near identical in every dimension when they are closed though. I'll take some photos of them next to each other and post them here later today.

While I have no experience with your Zeiss Ikon Contessa 35, most other Zeiss range finder models did not appear well made to me, and despite my looking, could not find one to my liking. You must have a Stirling example if you regard it more solid than the Retina 11A. Let us know how the 6 element Xenon lf2 lens works for you. I was unable to pick a difference from the Xenar 2.8 on some of my other Retinas, just a stop more light.

01-09-2017, 01:55 PM - 2 Likes	#1
Colorado CJ Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Colorado Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,429	Zeiss Ikon Contessa - Found My Everyday Rangefinder Well, I think I found my new EDC (every day carry) rangefinder, a Zeiss Ikon Contessa 35. I bought it from eBay for $49.00. The shutter needed cleaning, but everything else was excellent, the meter still works and matches up to my Gossen Luna Pro F. The rangefinder is BRIGHT and contrasty, it's very easy to focus. Has a great Zeiss Opton T Tessar 45mm f2.8 lens. The Contessa is built extremely well also, typical Zeiss quality. It's one of the nicest built cameras I own. The best thing is its size. When folded, the camera is TINY! Here it is next to my Gossen Luna Pro F And next to a can of pop

01-10-2017, 10:29 PM	#7
arnold Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,293	Originally posted by Colorado CJ Well I processed my first roll tonight. These are just quick snaps from around the yard and walking around as I was waiting on tires being installed on my truck. I shot a roll of Tri-X and developed it in Pyrocat MC for 13 minutes. I like what I see! The meter worked well, even shooting directly into the sun. The rangefinder is very accurate. The lens is plenty sharp, even wide open, and there isn't really any flare to speak of. Good shots. The camera has similarities with a Retina II. These folders are very compact. The Retina 1A is smaller and a good street shooter. [IMG][/IMG]

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Help to recognise Zeiss Ikon folder.	Mr_Radzins	Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands	9	02-11-2014 12:21 PM
Zeiss Ikon Contaflex Rapid	Hayob	Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands	4	10-16-2012 08:45 AM
For Sale - Sold: [US] Zeiss Ikon Ikophot Exposure Meter	bulbexposure	Sold Items	2	02-21-2010 03:25 PM
For Sale - Sold: Contax-D Zeiss Ikon M42 Film Body	photobizzz	Sold Items	2	12-24-2009 12:57 PM
Zeiss Ikon Value??	Rmpjr7	General Talk	5	09-01-2009 07:08 PM

01-09-2017, 02:06 PM	#2
Cascadilla Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Upstate New York Posts: 25	Congratulations--you're lucky you got one with a working meter. I too have been impressed by the small size and great finder. Enjoy!

01-09-2017, 02:21 PM	#3
BigMackCam Digitiser of Film Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: North East of England Posts: 20,647	That's a beautiful camera, and a great price considering the condition. Congratulations!

01-09-2017, 07:48 PM	#4
foto guy Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Vernon, Connecticut Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 292	Nice find!

01-10-2017, 08:04 PM - 2 Likes	#5
Colorado CJ Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Colorado Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,429 Original Poster	Well I processed my first roll tonight. These are just quick snaps from around the yard and walking around as I was waiting on tires being installed on my truck. I shot a roll of Tri-X and developed it in Pyrocat MC for 13 minutes. I like what I see! The meter worked well, even shooting directly into the sun. The rangefinder is very accurate. The lens is plenty sharp, even wide open, and there isn't really any flare to speak of.

01-10-2017, 10:22 PM	#6
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,385	Nice shots with a nice camera.

01-11-2017, 01:18 AM	#8
BigMackCam Digitiser of Film Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: North East of England Posts: 20,647	Originally posted by Colorado CJ Well I processed my first roll tonight. These are just quick snaps from around the yard and walking around as I was waiting on tires being installed on my truck. I shot a roll of Tri-X and developed it in Pyrocat MC for 13 minutes. Those shots turned out very well... That's a beautiful F100, too

01-11-2017, 07:41 AM	#9
Colorado CJ Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Colorado Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,429 Original Poster	Thanks everyone. I do have a Retina IIa, just got it yesterday in fact. Won it for $29.00. While I like the IIa, the build quality just isn't there compared to the Contessa. The IIa feels kind of hollow, less robust compared to the contessa. I fully plan on loading the IIa with some film and testing it out once I clean it up, but for right now, my vote definitely goes to the Contessa. The IIa and Contessa are near identical in every dimension when they are closed though. I'll take some photos of them next to each other and post them here later today.

01-13-2017, 01:05 PM	#10
redrockcoulee Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Medicine Hat Posts: 2,306	Originally posted by BigMackCam Those shots turned out very well... That's a beautiful F100, too I had to go back and look at the photos as I never saw one of a Nikon film camera. Guess I so used to of F150 and F350 to have even thought you were referring to a truck. I now feel a little dumb.

01-14-2017, 08:24 PM	#11
arnold Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,293	Originally posted by Colorado CJ Thanks everyone. I do have a Retina IIa, just got it yesterday in fact. Won it for $29.00. While I like the IIa, the build quality just isn't there compared to the Contessa. The IIa feels kind of hollow, less robust compared to the contessa. I fully plan on loading the IIa with some film and testing it out once I clean it up, but for right now, my vote definitely goes to the Contessa. The IIa and Contessa are near identical in every dimension when they are closed though. I'll take some photos of them next to each other and post them here later today. While I have no experience with your Zeiss Ikon Contessa 35, most other Zeiss range finder models did not appear well made to me, and despite my looking, could not find one to my liking. You must have a Stirling example if you regard it more solid than the Retina 11A. Let us know how the 6 element Xenon lf2 lens works for you. I was unable to pick a difference from the Xenar 2.8 on some of my other Retinas, just a stop more light.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
	Search this Thread: Advanced Search