Contura Camera

[P3D Derek Gee <73157.2172@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Sorry about the tardiness of this, but it took me awhile to research...

>There was a Contura for sale.  The guy was asking $3000 and he might
>have sold it for $2000, I am not sure.
 
One of the members of the Detroit Stereographic Society owns a
Contura, and one night he generously brought it to a meeting
for us to admire.  I can actually say I've held one.  I even
focused and pressed the shutter.  The most beautiful 3-D camera 
I've ever seen.  Seemed pretty functional too.  However, unless
you're an obsessed collector who must have every camera ever 
made, there is no way this camera is worth that kind of money.  It
does little better than our Realists, Reveres, and Kodaks.
It's just scarce.
 
According to what I was told, the camera was scheduled to be 
introduced in 1956, after 3-D peaked around 1953-4.  The
camera was indeed designed by Rochwite and styled by
Brooks Stevens Associates.  

It also cost too much to produce for Stereo Corp. to make any
money.  Consequently, the company decided to make around
130 - 150 cameras for the individual stockholders to purchase
at $100 each and then liquidate the company.  The
Contura was not available for sale to the general public.
That's why people are asking $3000 for one.

The story that Harry Poster tells of a cache of parts being found
lately makes sense, as Stereo Corporation would not likely
been able to buy just enough parts for a run of 150.  They probably
would have been forced to buy a higher quantity to make the
parts suppliers minimum order quantities.

The camera I examined was a prototype, indicated by it's X00004
serial number.  It was not all-black as other prototypes have
been described, as it had the chrome detailing of the
'production' cameras.  I believe it is an original camera due
to the engraving of a person's name on the camera with a 
matching name on the case.  The specifications I'm
about to list come from the original manual, which I had the
opportunity to look at.

Specifications:

2 Contura 2.7 'Volar' lenses hand-matched to tolerences of less
than 1 per mille (sic) distortion at the outer zones of picture.
Hard coated on all air-glass surfaces.  Resolving power of lenses
is listed as 'twice the reproduction potential inherent in standard
color film'.  (Whatever that was in 1956?)

Shutter speeds:  1/100, 1/50, 1/25, 1/10, 1/5, and B (ulb)

Apertures: f2.7, f5.6, f8, f11, f16, f22

Rangerfinder focus located toward bottom of camera, as on the
Stereo Realist.  Exposure counter lists number of exposures
remaining.  Shutter is reset during winding and a manual
shutter cock for double-exposures is present.  Flash
attachment mount is like the Revere's.  Leather on camera
body made by the 'famed' A. K. Salz tannery of Santa Cruz.

'Golden Rule' feature allowed user to set the front controls that
were highlighted in gold (Gold Band) in a straight line to take a
picture in sunlight conditions.  'Golden Rule' is obviously the 
'Sunny 16' rule.

Auto Flash feature linked aperture with focus setting.  When
used with SM or SF bulbs on Type F film or 5B or 25B bulbs
with daylight film, 'properly' exposed pictures were guaranteed.
Flash Guide number assumed was 50 for Kodachrome daylight
film and average subjects.  If you wanted to use other types of
flash bulbs you were to set shutter speed at 1/25 and set your
aperture and focus accordingly.  

The Contura I looked at had been recently serviced by Zak.
Note in Mr. Poster's posting that he mentioned they're
usually found in poor condition.  Zak ran a roll of film
through the camera after servicing, but the owner of this
camera still has not yet shot anything with it.  Perhaps
I can get him to do some lens tests...  

At any rate, if you're are a collector of beautiful cameras
or scarce cameras, this one's for you.  The going rate for
this camera according to the guides is $1000 - $1800.  It
does not do anything that a 2.8 Realist cannot, save the
Auto-flash feature and for that, a good photographer can
do that work himself.  So don't feel to sorry for yourself
that you can neither afford and/or have the opportunity to
own a Contura.  If you must have those good lenses, buy a
2.8 Realist and spend the rest of your savings on film!
 
                           Derek Gee
                           73157.2172@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 



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