A rare complete example of Zeiss Ikon's 540/1 reloadable 35mm film cassette, offered here with its original red metal storage canister. These were made in Germany to Zeiss Ikon's exacting standards for use with the Contax rangefinder and Contarex/Contaflex system cameras, and are increasingly difficult to find as a matched set in this kind of condition.
The cassette is designed for photographers who load from bulk film rolls — a practical, economical tool then and now. It accepts standard 35mm film and fits any camera with a regular 135-format film chamber, making it genuinely usable, not just collectible.
| Manufacturer | Zeiss Ikon, West Germany |
| Model Number | 540/1 (also seen as 540/01) |
| Film Format | 35mm / 135 |
| Construction | Metal and plastic cassette body; metal outer canister |
| Cassette Size | 48 × 27 mm |
| Weight | ~15g (cassette only) |
| Canister Color | Red with black cassette |
| Included | Cassette + original red metal storage canister |
Originally made for the Zeiss Ikon Contax system. Compatible with any 35mm camera that accepts a standard 135-format film cassette, including:
Complete cassette and canister sets in this condition are uncommon. The outer canister is the piece most often lost or damaged over the decades — finding both together, matched and functional, is the ideal configuration for the Contax collector or working bulk film shooter.