Zeiss Ikon Interchangeable Backs and the CONTAFLEX

Elsewhere I’ve written about two 35mm cameras with interchangeable film magazines – the Adox 300 and the Mamiya Magazine 35.

Zeiss Ikon also made two cameras offering the same convenience of using just one camera body with different film types. Unlike both Adox and Mamiya the Zeiss cameras were both SLRs and their backs were accessories rather than requirements. The two were the Contarex and the Contaflex. The Contaflex backs fit some Rapid, Prima and Super models.

The interchangeable backs are beautifully made, as you would expect from Zeiss, and match the quality of the cameras they fit. The first line in the instruction book is:

“A series of interlocks enforces a definite sequence of operation to protect the film against fogging and double exposures – Never use force!”

Loading a film is a bit fiddly, as the film leader must be fed through runners on the spring-loaded pressure plate and then into the take-up chamber. This is necessary as the darkslide has to pass easily over the film.

The darkslide is then inserted and a cover shell is placed over the cassette. The open cover over the take-up spool will rotate into closed position when the back is locked onto the camera. This stays in place and keeps the exposed film light-tight enabling the back to be exchanged at any time. The back has its own frame counter located on the baseplate and it shows the number of unexposed frames remaining. A hole in the cassette chamber allows you so see the plastic cassette spool end, so you know positively when a film is present.

The magazine back is fitted in place of the normal detachable camera back. But first you have to remove the plastic insert and take-up spool from the body. The magazine back can only be removed or attached when the shutter is tensioned and it cannot be unlocked from the camera unless the darkslide is in place. A small catch on the back is pressed in to unlock the darkslide so it can be removed.

It may be conveniently stored on the back by sliding it into the two retaining strips. When a film has been completely exposed it is rewound via the rewind crank on the camera in the usual way.

The leather eveready cases for both cameras have a shape moulded into the rear panel so that they accept a camera with or without a magazine back fitted. A bottom insert is removed and then a hole in the base allows you to see the film counter. The backs were also supplied with their own leather cases, which was handy for storing the original camera back and pieces.

A point to watch out for if you are seeking a back for the Contarex or the Contaflex - while they might look the same they are slightly different sizes and so they cannot be interchanged. The Zeiss instruction leaflet is titled “Interchangeable Backs for Contarex and Contaflex” which is a bit misleading. The Contarex backs measure almost 15cm wide and the Contaflex backs measure 13cm. Another way of identifying each is by the spaces between the chrome reminder plate and the sides – the Contarex backs have a 1cm space, the Contaflex have none. The dark slides also have different widths.

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The Contaflex S Automatic came onto the market in 1970 and was the last in the Contaflex series. Most were chrome but a small number were finished in black paint and they look quite handsome.

Back then it was some ten years after cameras like the Nikon F and the Pentax had been available and the Contaflex still did not have an instant return mirror. Also there were only three convertible front-element lenses available, the Pro Tessars, in 35, 85 and 115mm focal lengths.

These two factors at least would have been a definite sales disadvantage in the 1970s and confined the camera’s appeal solely to the amateur market.

Zeiss Ikon ceased camera production in 1972.

35mm 85mm 115mmm

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