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Zeiss Ikon Contessamatic E

The Zeiss Ikon Contessamatic E was produced between 1960-63. The most full featured of the Contessamatic family of cameras, this compact 35mm camera has a coupled rangefinder and coupled selenium cell light meter. The meter has readouts in both the viewfinder and on the top of the camera. It features a non-interchangeable Zeiss 50mm f/2.8 Tessar lens and has the ability to manually set shutter and aperture on the barrel of the lens. The Contessamatic E typically has a Prontor SLK Spezial leaf shutter that has a top speed of 1/500. It is an excellent, compact 35mm rangefinder camera, if interchangeable lenses are not a requirement.

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Zeiss Ikon Contessamatic E

Zeiss Ikon was responsible for a number of nifty cameras in the 20th century. Their line of Contessamatic cameras from the 1960s is a prime example. These cameras were meant more for the consumer market, with fixed lenses, coupled light meters, and more automatic settings of correct shutter and aperture. They are compact, fast, and easy to use. Anytime you can pick one of these up, we'd recommend it. ⁠

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The Contessamatic E was the first of the Contessamatic family to include a rangefinder. This is where the camera gets the "E" in its name, after all. The German word for rangefinder is "Entfernungsmesser" which combines the words "Entfernungs," "distance" in English, and "Messer" which is normally "knife" but can also mean "meter," in this context. Though thinking of a rangefinder as a "distance knife" works quite well, too.⁠

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Anyway, like a lot of cameras from this era, this Contessamatic E came in to us having not been touched in decades. As such, the slow speeds were all sticking and the selenium cell light meter was dead. These two things sadly rendered the camera unfit for consignment, given its lower value even in perfect working order.

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One last thing to share. When we research these cameras we typically make a point to read their original instruction manuals. The last line of this camera's manual explains, "On all photographic matters, your photo-dealer will be pleased to give you advice and service, free of charge." We love the philosophy of this closing statement, mildly presumptuous of Zeiss Ikon or not. It is one of our business philosophies - if you ever have questions, curiosities, problems or the like, you can always count on us to give you the best answer we can, free of charge.

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Blue Moon Camera and Machine llc

sales@bluemooncamera.com
(503) 978-0333
(503) 978-0370
8417 North Lombard Street
Portland, OR 97203

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Zeiss Ikon Contessamatic E

Zeiss Ikon Contessamatic E

Blue Moon Camera and Machine llc