Contax AC Control Box from 1979
May 28, 2022 19:46:16 GMT
on May 28, 2022 19:46:16 GMT
Last Edit: May 28, 2022 19:47:49 GMT by biggles3
It had been quite a while since the Contax AC Control Box had been fired up for action so today it was plugged into the mains and switched on - and it's still working perfectly after nearly 45 years!
AC Control Box
Those with good knowledge of the Contax Real Time System will have spotted that the camera attached to the 250-Back and W-6 motor drive is not a Contax RTS but a RTS Fundus. In the background is a RTSII with a W-3 winder and Zeiss 50mm f1.4 Planar. But the star of this little group is that big box of electronics from over 40 years ago... It is currently set to take 3 photos in 10 hours, 13 minutes and 10 seconds. As you can see, it is providing power to the motor drive and the camera as it's been fitted with the tiny Power Adapter for the motor drive.
The 100mm f3.5 Sonnar on the main assembly was a rare commercial flop for Zeiss when it was released as it fell into a sort of no-man's land between the 85mm and 135mm lenses. As Zeiss already offered the truly outstanding 100mm f2 Planar, why would you buy a Sonnar with a smaller aperture? Well, what a surprise, time moves on and it is now a cult classic. People like its compactness and it has always produced excellent results. It now costs more to buy a second hand copy than you'd have paid for it originally. As for its big brother, the 100mm f2, you'll need a mortgage...and a very strong lens mount.
And yes, I'll be sorting out those leathers on the 250-Back shortly...
AC Control Box
Those with good knowledge of the Contax Real Time System will have spotted that the camera attached to the 250-Back and W-6 motor drive is not a Contax RTS but a RTS Fundus. In the background is a RTSII with a W-3 winder and Zeiss 50mm f1.4 Planar. But the star of this little group is that big box of electronics from over 40 years ago... It is currently set to take 3 photos in 10 hours, 13 minutes and 10 seconds. As you can see, it is providing power to the motor drive and the camera as it's been fitted with the tiny Power Adapter for the motor drive.
The 100mm f3.5 Sonnar on the main assembly was a rare commercial flop for Zeiss when it was released as it fell into a sort of no-man's land between the 85mm and 135mm lenses. As Zeiss already offered the truly outstanding 100mm f2 Planar, why would you buy a Sonnar with a smaller aperture? Well, what a surprise, time moves on and it is now a cult classic. People like its compactness and it has always produced excellent results. It now costs more to buy a second hand copy than you'd have paid for it originally. As for its big brother, the 100mm f2, you'll need a mortgage...and a very strong lens mount.
And yes, I'll be sorting out those leathers on the 250-Back shortly...
