Two things got me to this post.
- I am long overdue for a blog post about a TTArtisans Lightmeter I bought and had to do a bit of repair on a while ago. Decided this was the camera I would use and even purchased a Zeiss Ikon cold shoe adapter add on from the interwebs for it.
- What finally motivated me to dust this camera off was a 35mmc.com post about a different camera that reminded me of this one. Shared a nonauto return mirror and mild steampunk aesthetic.
Then a few “fun” things happened.
- Could not remember if I had put film in the camera. So I took a quick throwaway exposure and sure enough the rewind knob spun so we have film everyone. What film? No idea. I loaded this film last year when I intended to test the lightmeter before I was distracted. Both the selenium meter and TTArtisans meter were set to 200 so… 200? Nope. It was Portra 400. Luckily Cinestill CS41 provided instructions on how to adjust the development time for just such a scenario.
- While roaming about I felt a lightmeter wobble that I thought was associated with the add on cold shoe or a loose fit on the cold show itself. Nope. Somewhere along the line the screws holding the coldshoe bracket to the TTArtisans lightmeter backed off. Easily fixed when I got home.
Before I continue here is an Instagram post after scanning film run through this camera a while ago.
Do not sleep on these old Zeiss film cameras or lenses. This was taken with a camera that came out in 1954. 1954! With auto absolutely nothing. Has a selenium light meter that still works. And an optional 1.7x zoom adapter. And looks the business and built like a tank.
Here is the photo shared in that post.
This is amazing to me. As stated in a 2021 post where much of this text came from I would put the capabilities of this lens up there with the finest film cameras I have used. Many with names with such rabid fan bases that I will not name them for concern of welcoming the wrath of their adherents.
Sidebar: I have really only ever met two types of photography people.
- Salt of the Earth, brand agnostic, pleasant regardless of skill level, light gathering pyxies with which I could go on rambling with for hours discussing the craft of such as well as any other aspects of this thing we call life.
- Know it all, taking this thing way too seriously, brand adherent, “but rather” blowhards that send me scrambling for the exits when a break in their cadence forms long enough for me to insert a, “Hoo. Look at the time. I have got to get going.”, into the fray.
I am here all day for the former. Not so much the latter.
What is so amazing about what I stated above?
This camera cost me less than $50. Scored the 1.7x adapter for less than that on eBay once I realized it existed.
Here is where I cut, paste, and cull my previous 2017 post on this camera and then present my latest thoughts and sample images afterward.
I never knew this camera existed until I perused KEH.com one day and it showed up. A few factors played a part in a quick and easy decision to purchase it.
- Zeiss.
- It was beautiful in the photos and bargain grade… I love KEH bargain grade. Basically means a great deal if you do not mind some scuffs. If you can find any scuffs.
- It was $49.
- And Zeiss. I am a sucker for anything Zeiss, especially when it has a built-in Zeiss Tessar 45mm f/2.8 lens for $49.
Then I received it. It looks even better in person. Spoiler alert. If you want a shelf trophy that actually takes pictures buy this camera. Here is where I gush a bit. This camera was made in 1954. 1954! (I find it funny that I wrote this cadence in 2017 referencing the year of manufacture and then repeated it in the Instagram post yesterday with no recollection of this. I am consistent it seems.) It is not only good-looking, but I cannot adequately describe the quality of its construction in words or even pictures. Its build quality is phenomenal. On par with the finest film cameras I have held.
According to the interwebs, this camera is a mash-up that was created when a post-war Zeiss was looking to get back up and running.
It does have a mirror box so despite its small size you are actually seeing through the lens when focusing instead of matching focus patches. I have nothing against rangefinders at all, but I must admit that this camera’s split prism is fantastic. One oddity. Once the shutter is depressed the mirror does not return until you cock the shutter again. I have read that it is better not to cock the shutter if you do not plan on using it for a while. Internal wear due to prolonged tension on parts or the like as I understand it.
It has a leaf shutter, which also means that this camera can flash sync all the way up to its top shutter speed (1/500s) if you are so inclined I understand.
Two dials on the bottom release the whole back. You load the spools directly. And the bottom looks just like the Kiev 4 I once owned, even down to the film rewind button, which itself is basically a Russian knock off of the German Contax rangefinder. As one would expect all are better implemented on the Contax.
Also that is not even taking into consideration the also affordable and quite fetching Teleskop 1.7x adapter I mentioned earlier.
Most controls are on the lens. Focus, aperture, and shutter speeds are all tightly clustered on this tiny lens.
A bit fiddly at times, but effective. Because of this shallow lens (when the 1.7x adapter is not on) and short height you get the most pocketable SLR I own this side of the half frame PEN FT (whose body is smaller, but whose 40mm lens sticks out quite a bit more). On the upper right shoulder you have the all business knob to cock the shutter and reset the mirror and pressing the shutter is a wonderfully stiff, mechanical experience.
There is the selenium meter that was added on the Contaflex II (The Contaflex released the prior year was the exact same camera sans light meter) and it does seem to work, but since selenium meters usually last only a couple of decades I tend to use Sunny 16 or a light meter. I consider it to be one heck of a well built all manual camera that requires no batteries to operate.
I have covered build, feel, looks, and use. How about actually taking pictures? Image quality? Here is the thing. This is not just a pretty face. That Zeiss lens pays dividends. Sharp, great colors, and on and on are all there as one would expect from that name.
And here is where I update the post after putting another roll of film through it.
My stated main purpose this time was to test the accuracy of the TTArtisand lightmeter.
And it was a success. Worked so well in fact that it will likely be my new compact handheld meter.
Now on to the images. Some with the adapter and some without.
I will end by saying the same thing I always say but rarely do. I need to shoot with this camera more. And this lightmeter gives me one less excuse.
Happy capturing.
-ELW
Eric L. Woods 