ZI Super Ikonta A, two red windows

[robert_ante]

I am getting a Super Ikonta A 531 with  two red windows, which I assume are for 120 and 620 film,

but I don’t know which is which. So, looking at camera from the back, which red window is for 120 film?

(Doubt If shall ever use 620. Feeding Medalist is enough bother)

 

[hunter_compton]

120 and 620 use the same film and backing paper, the numbers are in the same locations. 

This camera pre-dates common use of the 6x4.5 track numbers on the back of 120 or 620 backing paper though. Thus, two red windows to use each of the 6x9 numbers twice for the half frame format. Advance the first number to the first window, take the photo, then move the same number to the next window and take another photo. 

[Rick_van_Nooij]

What Hunter says. This is the same way as it is on the Ikonta A 520.

They switched to a single red window on the 531 when 6x4.5 numbering on the backing paper became common.

 

[robert_ante]

So is the camera in question a 520? Or were some 531s made with two windows?

[kmac]

18 hours ago, robert_ante said:

So is the camera in question a 520? Or were some 531s made with two windows?

The 520 has no rangefinder, so if the camera you're getting has a rangefinder, then it's a 531

There's currently eight 531s with twin red windows for sale on eBay at the moment, so obviously some were made, yours included.

Happy shooting with it.

[robert_ante]

Thanks all. For me, two windows would be a distraction, so I am exchanging for later camera with only one red window. 

[bonsignore_ezio]

"hus, two red windows to use each of the 6x9 numbers twice for the half frame format. Advance the first number to the first window, take the photo, then move the same number to the next window and take another photo. "

 

This is correct, but it should be pointed out that in order to use the camera to take half-frame (6x4.5cm) photos, you first have to insert the appropriate mask into the film gate. Otherwise, the procedure as described would produce double exposures.

[kmac]

12 hours ago, bonsignore_ezio said:

This is correct, but it should be pointed out that in order to use the camera to take half-frame (6x4.5cm) photos, you first have to insert the appropriate mask into the film gate. Otherwise, the procedure as described would produce double exposures.

The 531 doesn't have a mask, it's a 4.5x6 camera to start with. The two red windows on the rear of a 531 are for films with backing papers that only had 6x9 numbers.

When later backing papers included the extra frame numbers for 6x6 and 4.5x6, as well as the 6x9, the 531 with two red windows still had to use the 6x9 numbers because they were the only numbers the red windows would line up with, which was pretty obvious since the cameras were already configured that way.

[bonsignore_ezio]

Thanks for the correction. i was thinking in terms of the earlier 530.