 |
 | Home | Contact Us | FAQ | Search & Site Map | Link to Us |
 | Sign In | Join | Other 45 Sites in Network |
| PhotoKB HomeDiscussion Groups Digital Photography Digital PhotoDSLR CamerasZLR CamerasPoint & Shoot CamerasFilm Photography 35 mmLarge FormatMedium formatDarkroomFilm and LabsOther EquipmentPhoto Technique Nature PhotographyPeople PhotographyTechnique GeneralGeneral Photo Topics General TopicsAustralian PhotographyUK PhotographyDirectoryPhoto Clubs |
Photo Forum / Film Photography / Medium format / May 2007Late '40s Zeiss Ikon Ikonta
Hi all, my first foray into MF: I've picked up a Zeiss Ikon Ikonta (at last one for my vintage collection that uses film I can get!) I'll get a film and run it through it, but does anyone have any experience with one of these things? Any tips on getting the best out of it. It has a Novar-Anastigmat f/4.5 75mm lens and Compur shutter, body release, no meter or rangefinder. Probably a variety of 521. What a beautifully made piece of kit these old German cameras are. > Hi all, > my first foray into MF: I've picked up a Zeiss Ikon Ikonta (at last > one for my vintage collection that uses film I can get!) > It has a Novar-Anastigmat f/4.5 75mm lens and Compur shutter, body > release, no meter or rangefinder. Probably a variety of 521. Lucky you! I just so happens I just recently bought a Zeiss Ikon Ikonta 521/2; I haven't received it just yet, though. Looking forward to it... > I just so happens I just recently bought a Zeiss Ikon Ikonta 521/2; > I haven't received it just yet, though. Looking forward to it... Well, I got it now and it seems to be working. I'll know better when I've shot and developed the film I put in it. It took a moment to figure out how everything works. The size is VERY convenient. However, are there any separate small rangefinders I could use with it? :) ..of course I could just take along a half-way modern 35mm camera and use it for measuring distance and light... >> I just so happens I just recently bought a Zeiss Ikon Ikonta 521/2; >> I haven't received it just yet, though. Looking forward to it... [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > ..of course I could just take along a half-way modern 35mm camera > and use it for measuring distance and light... >> I just so happens I just recently bought a Zeiss Ikon Ikonta 521/2; >> I haven't received it just yet, though. Looking forward to it... [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > ..of course I could just take along a half-way modern 35mm camera > and use it for measuring distance and light... Well, there are rangefinder devices like these which clip onto the accessory shoe of a camera: http://tinyurl.com/yscmdg http://tinyurl.com/2dgrek And light-wise, nothing beats a good hand held light meter, of which there are many in the marketplace. Get one which you can wear around your neck with a suitable lanyard/strap. Then too you can just go with the guesstimate route. For distance, you can pace the distance. Or figure out about how many body lengths between the camera and your subject. If you are six feet or so, multiply by 6. If five feet or so, multiply by 5. If five and a half feet or so, multiply by 5.5. And exposure wise, if outdoors use the good old reliable "sunny 16" rule of thumb. You can get light meters like this: http://www.cameraquest.com/voivcmet2.htm .....maybe you can get a used VC1 meter. They are a bit bigger than the VC2 but you can get it a lot cheaper You can also get some classic rangefinders to mount in the shoe. Voigtländer made some classic ones. They are probably a bit expensive as they are collectible. You can get other similar products. I also have some called "Watameter". Think they are a lot cheaper. They looks like this: http://cgi.ebay.com/WATAMETER-SUPER-Rangefinder-w-Closeup-Scale-Germany_W0QQitem Z220108426838QQihZ012QQcategoryZ4702QQcmdZViewItem >> I just so happens I just recently bought a Zeiss Ikon Ikonta 521/2; >> I haven't received it just yet, though. Looking forward to it... [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > ..of course I could just take along a half-way modern 35mm camera > and use it for measuring distance and light... This version of Watameter is the "standard" one which can measure from 1 to infinity: http://cgi.ebay.com.sg/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190084719409 > You can get light meters like this: > [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] >> ..of course I could just take along a half-way modern 35mm camera >> and use it for measuring distance and light... > Hi all, > my first foray into MF: I've picked up a Zeiss Ikon Ikonta (at last one > for my vintage collection that uses film I can get!) > I'll get a film and run it through it, but does anyone have any > experience with one of these things? Any tips on getting the best out of > it. > It has a Novar-Anastigmat f/4.5 75mm lens and Compur shutter, body > release, no meter or rangefinder. Probably a variety of 521. > What a beautifully made piece of kit these old German cameras are. Oh meant to ask: is the Novar-Anastigmat colour corrected? I'd presume so, but does anyone know? > Oh meant to ask: is the Novar-Anastigmat colour corrected? I'd presume so, but > does anyone know? It certainly is, most lenses had been colour corrected already before WWI as it was almost as important for BW as it is for colour photography. I cannot find any good examples with the Novar but Schneider-Kreuznach Radionars are quite similar, and here is a shot with a 4.5/105 extracted from a 1938 6x9 MF folder camera and mounted on EOS 350D, the frame size here is 14.8 mm x 22.2 mm: http://galactinus.net/vilva/retro/eos350d_radionar_files/scrad2767_s.jpg and a 100% crop from the same, about 3.5mm x 5.2 mm: http://galactinus.net/vilva/retro/eos350d_radionar_files/scrad2767_crop.jpg Nothing much wrong - ignoring the lowish contrast of an uncoated lens. Veijo > my first foray into MF: I've picked up a Zeiss Ikon Ikonta > > I'll get a film and run it through it, but does anyone have any > experience with one of these things? See if you can determine the exact model. Do a Google search on "Zeiss Ikonta". There are many links to websites with pictures of the different models. With a little luck, you'll be able to determine your model. Zeiss made many different models of Ikonta, in different formats (6x4.5, 6x6 and 6x9 at least) over a period of decades. I am the lucky owner of a Zeiss Super Ikonta A (Model 530) made around 1932. See 8th photo down at this page: http://www.pibweb.com/ross/Campix/Zeissikon.htm (Get out your red/blue 3D glasses, and click on the photo!) Uncoated Zeiss Tessar lens, 75mm f/3.5, and Compur shutter, with 6x4.5 format. Folded, it fits in the back pocket of a pair of Levi's! > Any tips on getting the best out of it. The shutters in Ikontas often suffer from slowness, which is most evident at the slowest speed. Check it at 1/2 and/or 1 second. It is a problem that can be fixed by having the shutter cleaned. I'm looking into getting my Ikonta serviced. So far, I've found Ken Ruth's camera repair site (http://www.baldmtn.com). I'd like to know of other options, if anyone has recommendations. > What a beautifully made piece of kit these old German cameras are. Yes, it's amazing, isn't it, what camera manufacturers were able to do so long ago. Jay Ts > See if you can determine the exact model. Do a Google search > on "Zeiss Ikonta". There are many links to websites with pictures > of the different models. With a little luck, you'll be able to > determine your model. I mistyped the model: it's a variety of 531. That's all I could get to by searching the web. It's very much like a Super Ikonta 531 but without the rangefinder. > Zeiss made many different models of Ikonta, in different > formats (6x4.5, 6x6 and 6x9 at least) over a period of decades. 6x4.5 > I am the lucky owner of a Zeiss Super Ikonta A (Model 530) made around > 1932. See 8th photo down at this page: > http://www.pibweb.com/ross/Campix/Zeissikon.htm > (Get out your red/blue 3D glasses, and click on the photo!) > Uncoated Zeiss Tessar lens, 75mm f/3.5, and Compur shutter, with > 6x4.5 format. Folded, it fits in the back pocket of a pair of Levi's! Ooo Tessar. >> Any tips on getting the best out of it. > The shutters in Ikontas often suffer from slowness, which is most > evident at the slowest speed. Check it at 1/2 and/or 1 second. > It is a problem that can be fixed by having the shutter cleaned. Ok cheers. I'll run a film through to see what gives. Of course it'll be a test for my meter too. ;-) > I'm looking into getting my Ikonta serviced. So far, I've found > Ken Ruth's camera repair site (http://www.baldmtn.com). I'd like > to know of other options, if anyone has recommendations. >> What a beautifully made piece of kit these old German cameras are. > Yes, it's amazing, isn't it, what camera manufacturers were able to do > so long ago. >> See if you can determine the exact model. Do a Google search on "Zeiss >> Ikonta". There are many links to websites with pictures of the >> different models. With a little luck, you'll be able to determine your >> model. > > I mistyped the model: it's a variety of 531. Did you determine the model number by reading off the camera, or by matching your model to a photo on the web? On my 530, the model (catalog) number is on the back, just next to the hinge, stamped into the leather. Also, my model says "Super Ikonta" on the front next to the handle. Does your model have a similar stamp in the leather? If so, exactly what does it say? IIRC, "Super" means it has rangefinder focusing. All the 531 models I found are Super Ikonta (actually, in 6 x 4.5 format, Super Ikonta A). Just to check, you said that you have: Lens: Novar 75mm f/4.5 Shutter: Compur (not Compur Rapid or Synchro Compur?) no rangefinder film format 6 x 4.5 Correct? One more thing about "things that often go wrong". Check that when the camera is opened, and the bellows fully extended and the lens clicks into place, that the lens is parallel to the film plane. This can go out of alignment, and if it's very far off, don't bother putting film in the camera until you have it fixed. If you dare, you may be able to do this adjustment yourself. Jay Ts >>> See if you can determine the exact model. Do a Google search on "Zeiss >>> Ikonta". There are many links to websites with pictures of the >>> different models. With a little luck, you'll be able to determine your >>> model. >> I mistyped the model: it's a variety of 531. > Did you determine the model number by reading off the camera, > or by matching your model to a photo on the web? On my 530, [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > has rangefinder focusing. All the 531 models I found are Super Ikonta > (actually, in 6 x 4.5 format, Super Ikonta A). I couldn't find it, but I'll have a look by the hinge when I get home. Thanks. Reviewing my online research I was probably right about it being a 521, actually an A521, but I'll check it. > Just to check, you said that you have: > Lens: Novar 75mm f/4.5 > Shutter: Compur (not Compur Rapid or Synchro Compur?) > no rangefinder > film format 6 x 4.5 > Correct? Yes. > One more thing about "things that often go wrong". Check that when > the camera is opened, and the bellows fully extended and the lens > clicks into place, that the lens is parallel to the film plane. > This can go out of alignment, and if it's very far off, don't > bother putting film in the camera until you have it fixed. > If you dare, you may be able to do this adjustment yourself. Cheers. It *looks* OK but I don't know if there's any way to be 100% certain without sophisticated measuring equipment. The mechanism certainly works cleanly and precisely. Thanks mate. >> One more thing about "things that often go wrong". Check that ... >> the lens is parallel to the film plane. > > It *looks* OK but I don't know if there's any way to be 100% > certain without sophisticated measuring equipment. Don't worry about it then. Mine was *way* off, like about 5 degrees. The way I check is to line up the back on a grid, such as graph paper for example, and see if the front of the lens mount lines up parallel with other lines on the grid. I don't think it will ever be exactly right in a folding camera, but of course it should be nearly parallel. Another thing to check: Open the lens to it's widest f/stop, put the shutter on B (do not cock the shutter first!), then press the shutter release to open the shutter, and **slowly** let go. Does your shutter close all the way, every time? Mine doesn't, which I think means it needs some cleaning. But it's no problem if I release the shutter quickly. Jay Ts >>>One more thing about "things that often go wrong". Check that ... >>>the lens is parallel to the film plane. [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > > Jay Ts Ah right. No, this one seems perfectly healthy. I've ordered a couple of films now so we'll see what it will do. I foundthe model number: 521. It doesn't say A but it is a 6x4.5 so I guess it is. Anyway, thanks. <SNIP> > The shutters in Ikontas often suffer from slowness, which is most > evident at the slowest speed. Check it at 1/2 and/or 1 second. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > Ken Ruth's camera repair site (http://www.baldmtn.com). I'd like > to know of other options, if anyone has recommendations. Jurgen Kreckel of Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania, USA http://www.cleanimages.com/Article-MediumFormatInYourPocket.asp (Just a suggestion--I've never had any work done by the man, nor do I know him.) -- www.mattclara.com >> I'm looking into getting my Ikonta serviced. So far, I've found Ken >> Ruth's camera repair site (http://www.baldmtn.com). I'd like to know [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > http://www.cleanimages.com/Article-MediumFormatInYourPocket.asp (Just a > suggestion--I've never had any work done by the man, nor do I know him.) Thanks, Matt. I'd zipped by his site once, but dig into it enough to realize he's able to strip an old folder down to the metal frame and put it back together, along with the usual CLA on the shutter and lens. Jay Ts > Hi all, > [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > What a beautifully made piece of kit these old German cameras are. I've got one with RF and uncoated f/2.8 Tessar, front element focus, and no flash sync. I inherited it from my late father in law. I used it a lot in the mid 80's but retired it from active use because the lens, while sharp is of quite low contrast, making images which print pretty Blah even on contrasty paper. Be VERY careful with the film advance and when setting the frame counter. The mechanism has a "glass gear" If you strip it there are no replacement parts left in the know world. > Hi all, > [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > What a beautifully made piece of kit these old German cameras are. I have 3 different versions of Ikonta 523/16 (6x6). One is with Novar 75/4.5 with Prontor SV shutter (shutter needs CLA). Two other with Tessar 75/3.5 (coated). One Jena and one Opton. Both with Synchro Compur. Both Tessars are very good and the Compur shutters are a bit better than Prontors. What enhanced my picture quality was an adjustmen of the pressure plate. You can pull out the plate and bend the springs so you get a good pressure. It is very important. Often people forget that the springs gets "loose" after more than 50 years. 5mm or air space behind the plate is fine. If you find one with a coated Tessar.......buy it. My costed about 50 USD and they are like new. Max > > Hi all, > [quoted text clipped - 26 lines] > > Max I thought the Opton was a deluxe version of the Tessar (but perhaps it is a different design). Was it any better than the Tessar? >> > Hi all, >> [quoted text clipped - 32 lines] > I thought the Opton was a deluxe version of the Tessar (but perhaps it > is a different design). Was it any better than the Tessar? Both are Tessar's. Which are the better one is a open issue I think. Some says the Opton Tessar is the best other says that the Jena is the better. They are probably close to be similar. The lenses are made in two different places. The Jena is made in Jena and the Opton in the factory in Oberkochen after WWII. I found some Zeiss history here: http://www.company7.com/zeiss/history.html <..,> >> I thought the Opton was a deluxe version of the Tessar (but perhaps it >> is a different design). Was it any better than the Tessar? They are the exact same design. > Both are Tessar's. Which are the better one is a open issue I think. > Some says the Opton Tessar is the best other says that the Jena is the > better. It depends on time, too. In those days lensmaking still required lots of skilled hands, and Jena had them. Only management moved to Oberkochen. They had to train new workers to the production lines. Jena could continue with old products, but they had later problems in developing new ones, and maintenance of the production equipment. So early Optons may be inferior to Jenas, but later it changed. > They are probably close to be similar. > The lenses are made in two different places. The Jena is made in Jena and > the > Opton in the factory in Oberkochen after WWII. Actuallly early Opton Tessars are rumoured to have been assembled using lens elements from Jena, until Oberkochen could ramp up their own production. -- Lassi > I found some Zeiss history here: > http://www.company7.com/zeiss/history.html |
Reply to this Message |
 Sign In
 Join
 My Latest Posts My Monitored Threads My Blog My Photo Gallery My Profile My Homepage Start New Thread Enable EMail Alerts Rate this Thread
|
©2008 Advenet LLC Privacy Policy - Terms of Use
This website includes both content owned or controlled by Advenet as well as content owned or controlled by third parties.