Super Ikonta

The Super Ikonta by Zeiss; are there any fellow retro fans using this beast ?

I am interested in the larger images these produced...and any feedback on their nuances would be appreciated. I use mirror less with Vintage lenses, and a Rolleiflex TLR ... film is slower, but still a delight to master. Hence the Super Ikonta.

 

Thanks: Miles

My Super Ikonta C isn't working yet, shutter issues. But I have an Ikonta C, and also Kodak Monitor Six-20. The huge negatives are great. The finders are all wonky at best. Precise framing isn't possible. The lenses are good, I think the Kodak Anastigmat Special is better than the Zeiss Tessar on the Ikonta. (It has rare earth glass, which the Zeiss doesn't.) The Monitor needs a 620 take-up spool, but you can trim the flange on the 120 feed spool. Kodak Monitors almost always have failed bellows. I use a Kodak Service Rangefinder in the accessory shoe of the Monitor.

I've had two Super Ikonta B's. The image quality is great - comparable to a Rollei TLR. I really like the f/2.8 lenses.

The latest models offered a reasonable viewfinder and well coated glass. They are sharp wide open and I find the rangefinder mechanism accurate even with the thin depth of field. I haven't happened to print really large from my cameras, but close inspection of scans makes me confident that you could.

 

These are not modern cameras by any stretch -- but the Zeiss build quality is second to none, and they don't suffer from afflictions common in other folders -- alignment issues, pinholed bellows, etc.

Super Ikonta can cover a lot of ground - Here is an East German version, sold as the Ercona:

• VEB Zeiss Ikon

  
  

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Here is an early 'report' of mine on the Ercona

http://photo.net/classic-cameras-forum/00RdUU

The finders in general are poor at best. I also had a Super Ikonta with a 2.8 Tessar. After a period of disuse .. the shutter now is sticking. Generally Zeiss Ikon had the better bellows. The Super Ikonta B also had the limiting frame counter and while there were seldom problems in the spacing... you did only get 11 exposures IIRC. I also have an earlier 6x9 model with a 6.3 Novar.. but this one has problems with rigidity. Oh ..and I have a pre-war Ikonta A (645) model the double ruby windows often leak light Grr! I also have the Voigtlaender Bessa, and the 50s version Bessa 1. I love the large negs but flatness is often a problem and ..these are not the optics of today, so though stopped down they can deliver, they are generally uncoated pre-war lenses. Well mine are anyway .

I use a Super Ikonta A, 531 as a supplement to my Rolleiflex when I want something really light weight and compact. Since I always crop my square 6 X 6 negatives to horizontal or vertical the 6 X 4.5 negative is functionally the same size. At the small apertures I use the Tessar on the SA appears as sharp as my Rollei's Xenotar in 16 X 20 inch prints. The "alabada" finder on mine is actually in good shape, but it's still very difficult to see the bright line when wearing glasses.

I have a Super Ikonta C (531/2), the 6x9 coupled rangefinder model. It's a really nice, if slow and contemplative, compact medium format travel camera. I'd recommend it if you can be sure you're getting a serviceable one. Mine came to me in good nick other than a lot of haze(? -- or other old schlock) between lens elements, which was easily cleaned out; and very minor bellows pin-holes that were easily fixed with black paint. The albada finder is only slightly dim, so quite usable. I second Robert Marvin's assessment that it is mildly difficult with spectacles, which bump into it and tend to tilt the rear half forward, which makes the lines less visible. At least on my camera, the lens (Tessar 105/3.5) is very good, in fact amazingly good if you consider that it's 80 years old. This camera and its complicated coupled rangefinder must have been considered superb technology when new in '37 (the year mine was built, per a serial number lookup).

--Dave

Hello everyone. This is not addressed to any particular camera, but I think anyone acquiring & using one of the 6x9 folder cameras will enjoy a distinct experience. The negatives are "large" even if you are use to a 6x6. My three 6x9 folders all are in top working conditions (CLA's all) and I have not experienced any "mechanical" problems. These are not cameras for the rock concert, but do excellent work "with rocks". For all but the most extreme case, I use mine with a good quality tripod. On a tripod, one should not have "problems" composing thru each view finder. 400asa films developed in a variety of Pyro chemistries have yielded superb negatives for me. Good filters enhance the visual results. My advice: Go for it! Aloha, Bill

Add on: Ver2.0 is being a bear for an edit. The above negs were scanned on my V600. Same great results. Bill

Now I have photos to hand.

 

One from the Super and one of it.

--Dave

Nice bikes, offensive helmets by Argenticien, on Flickr

 

IMGP5613_50 by Argenticien, on Flickr

I've owned a few Super Ikonta Bs over the years. Currently I own a late BX -- has the coated lens and Synchro Compur shutter. I also own an Ikonta, with range focusing, and also witha Synchro Compur shutter. I'd like to add a late "C" to my collection someday, but can't really afford one these days. So I did the next best thing and picked up a Soviet knock-off. A Moskva 5, in this case. It's kinda funky, but it works well enough, and so far I can't really complain about the pics I've gotten from it.

 

Super Ikonta B with Fujichrome 100

http://michaelmcbroom.com/images/caldwellkoipond1.jpg

 

My most recent find, a Super Ikonta BX with the Syncro Compur shutter, case, and even the owners manual.

http://michaelmcbroom.com/images/super_ikonta_bx_3a.jpg