Zeiss Ikon Contina II Monoblock / IIc

Kodak is known for recycling model names in a confusing manner, using similar sames over different style cameras with secondary version suffixes. Kodak marked most models with particular names to keep them recognizable, so the madness had some order. Zeiss has gone the other way, using the same name over different models, marked only with the legacy name without mentioning the Version, which can make a collector cry. I had six very similar Contina models hovering on my bench, all marked ‘Contina’ only,  which, at some stage, I thought was a Zeiss conspiracy to confuse me.

The camera described here as the Contina II Monoblock is a classic Zeiss fool’s trap. There is hardly any specific data about it. Kerkmann refers to it as IIa, McKeown calls it II Rigid, and The Carl Zeiss Kamera-Register mentions on the fly an interim IIa, with a kind of matching description. Online, I saw this model described as Contina IIc. Go figure.

The original Contina II comes up as a klapp model, a rangefinder, and no meter.

The camera described here looks like its successor, the Contina IIa. The bodies of both models are almost identical. The meter system and the viewer’s front and back windows differ.

The Contina II monoblock has a larger viewer, a pronounced front window frame and a round back window.

Just for good measure, the same body comes with two lens assembly versions. I have no information about the model names, so I will name them Contina II Monoblock Version I and Version II. On the Camera-Wiki Contina page, both models are shown side by side, named Contina IIa, which I think is wrong. The same name mix appears on other online pages. See both cameras below and the Contina IIa described on another page on this site. Please see the images of both versions. Any information about the models is welcome.

Common to both, the trigger is in the middle of the frame counter dial, which is within the lever winder ring. To reset the frame counter, push the black ring surrounding it in the arrow direction.

The meter has one position, no slotted cover and two positions as on the IIa.

• Set the film speed DIN or ASA on the inner ring.
• Open the meter cover.
• Set the desired shutter speed.
• In the meter curved lens, where the meter needle meets the lolipop, read the matching ‘f’ stop.

The side-mounted synch selector, X/M, is combined with position V, for the self-timer.

Differences in the lens barrel:

• In Version I, the dials on the lens assembly are self-explanatory. On the shutter speed ring is the synch selector, X/M, combined with ‘V’ for the self-timer.
• In Version II, a space exists between the lens base plate and the first dial. Here, the shutter speed and the aperture value details are locked together to retain a fixed EV. To change, press the fin at the side of the aperture dial and set it as the meter recommends.
• The EV is marked in red on the aperture dial.

Both versions are not widely seen for sale, perhaps as they were described above as interim models. Both look like the Contina III, but a closer look shows the differences, primarily as there are fixed lenses, as opposed to the Contina II, which has a removable lens. For the collector, it is a keeper. Once available, it is inexpensive and will look good on the shelf or as an able shooter.

Contina IIa and Contina II Monoblock images

Contina II Monoblock versions

Version I images

Version II images