Zeiss-Ikon Contaflex

Cameras of Ansel Adams

Ansel is known to have owned a Contaflex II and a Contaflex IV. These were very similar cameras, though the II had a fixed lens and the IV allowed for an interchangeable elements in front of the leaf-shutter.

The image below is from a short movie showing Ansel preparing for a day of shooting in the field. The camera is a Contaflex II, which can be identified from the lens and the meter-cover, which distinguishes it from the Contaflex I. His also has the detachable cold-shoe as does ours above.