ZEISS/IKON 524/16 MESS IKONTA.

[anthonymarsh]

Is this model with OPTON TESSAR rare? I have checked E-BAY for weeks and have found only five, one with OPTON TESSAR.

[Greg M]

"Opton" was the name West German Zeiss used until around 1954 when the lens plant at Oberkochen was opened and West German Zeiss changed the name on their lenses from "Opton" to just "Carl Zeiss", so the lens dates from approximately the early 1950's.

I wouldn't call any of those cameras "rare". The later, better quality lens/shutter bodies (Tessar and later Synchro Compur shutter) are units users look for, and collectors want, but they want them in truly nice condition, which most are not and I'd venture a guess most trying to pass one along on eBay don't have any idea what the condition of what they are selling is really in, or they do and that's why it's an "as-is" with no return option.