Zeiss Contax 1 Accessories

All the Contax I accessories shown here are hard to find today, but don't let that fool you.  For its time, the Contax 1 had a very sophisticated camera system!

The "Reproduction Stand" was designed for 1:1, 1:1.5, 1:2, 1:3 and 1:4 shots via interchangeable mask on the base board and different extension combinations.  Amazingly enough, its looks much like a certain Leica repro outfit of the 1950's.  hmmm.    The Contameter ingeniously allowed focusing at either 8, 12, or 20 inches with full parallax correction. The viewer sat atop the camera while a close up lens was used on the camera lens.

With its removable back, the Contax could have precision ground glass focusing for close-ups  -- but only with the film removed.   With a fixed back, contemporary Barnack Leicas could offer no such accessory.

Plate exposures with ground glass focusing was also available for scientific work.  With a fixed back, contemporary Barnack Leicas could offer no such accessory.  

Later a similar back was made for the Contax II and III, though the idea was not continued post war.

Zeiss had a special 35mm projector for the Contax.  With its long microscope history, Zeiss made sure the Contax 1 offered an extensive microscope system.

The Contax copy stand could even be used with indirect behind the subject lighting. 

The Magniphot enlarger offered the best available enlarging, using the Contax's own 50/2 or 50/3.5 camera lenses.  It used a condenser  with a glass pressure plate to hold the film flat and had a tall 34" column.

Revised: September 13, 2017 .  Copyright � 1998-2002  Stephen Gandy. All rights reserved.    This means you may NOT copy and re-use the text or the pictures in ANY other internet or printed publication of ANY kind.  Information in this document is subject to change without notice.  Other products and companies referred to herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies or mark holders.