What does Color Dial and Black Dial Mean?
There are basically two variations of both the postwar IIa and IIIa cameras. The first IIa and IIIa cameras produced after the end of W.W.II, starting in 1951 had flash synchronization built into the camera. This was a first for Zeiss since both the II and III pre war camera models had no flash synchronization capability. The type of flash synchronization used on the early IIa and IIIa camera bodies was relatively simple and was mechanical. An accessory electronic switch was required to connect to the camera. It screws into the little flash synchronization socket provided on the upper back of the camera. This switch provided the electrical components for flash synchronization and provided the PC type female electrical socket to connect the flash unit to. The shutter speed selector dial on the Contax IIa and IIIa models having mechanical flash synchronization have black paint filling all of the engraved shutter speeds. This is why these cameras are referred to as “Black Dial” models. Th
