Nettar-Anastigmat Contessa-Nettel 1:6,3 f10,5 cm Review

Contessa-Nettel AG Stuttgart is a German company, which was formed in 1919 through the merger of two firms — Contessa Camerawerke and Nettel Camerawork. And in 1926, it became part of the Zeiss Ikon. Yet it is known that the company specialized in the production of stereo foto cameras. So, what can we say about the lens? Title “Nettar” had cameras, Zeiss Ikon was issued after 1934, but the lenses of these cameras were already marking “Nettar Anastigmat” with shutter labeled “Zeiss Ikon.” So, that this lens was manufactured before, such lens was mounted on cameras “Contessa Nettel Suevia” and “Contessa Nettel Cocarette,” large film format 6x9cm. They were equipped with a two-blade shutter Derval, B, T, 1/25-1/100 sec.

Contessa Nettel Suevia with Nettar-Anastigmat Contessa-Nettel 1:6,3 f10,5 cm Lenses with this shutter design produced since the second half of the 20s of the last century. Iris diaphragm has 10 blades. I painted the shutter with a permanent marker to give it at least some aesthetic appearance. Optics was in satisfactory condition; it was only necessary to clean the lenses from dust. The back of the lens has a small scratch: the optical design — a Cooke triplet with a diaphragm after the second lens. The lens does not have a coating; I did not yet do it. The front element has a diameter of 18mm. Hard to believe that this baby conceals a frame 6x9cm. I set the lens on my Nikon D3100 through the focusing helicoid. For the lens mount to the helicoid, I made the puck out of plastic stoppers for 20-liter plastic bottles, cutting through the center of the hole for the lens. Coincidentally, the shortest helicoid position just coincided with infinity. I also gave a long hood of a plastic tube that helps a little avoid flare, but the hit was powerless from direct and strong lateral shine. Also, read How to Mount Large Format Lenses on DSLR Camera.

Nettar-Anastigmat Contessa-Nettel 1:6,3 f10,5 cm Sample Photos

So by wearing it on the camera, I went for a morning walk. All photos were a little tweaked contrast; somewhere more, somewhere did not add. All shootings are taken on the wide-open aperture. 

Reproduction of sky color. The colors are not saturated, calm.

Interesting forest sketch and bokeh test.

I found this lens reproduced well autumnal mood 

A distance of about one meter.

Another example of bokeh. Well, some people. Maybe for the 6x9cm frame, it sharp, but on the sensor with a crop factor of 1.5, it behaves as a moderately soft focus. 

To avoid color distortion, you can convert the image to black and white. After all, this lens most likely on black and white film.

Here is such a rare lens. It can be interesting for creative ideas.