GAS Sanity Check

[mtnbkr]

I need a sanity check before I let my GAS open my wallet. I try not to be an equipment hoarder and only buy what I will use.

I've stumbled upon a local seller offering a nice Zeiss Ikon Ikonta 521/2 6x9 camera with the 105/4.5 Novar lens and Prontor shutter. Judging by the pictures, this camera is in fantastic cosmetic condition. The seller did say the slower shutter speeds can be sticky, but otherwise it appears to be in find condition. Price at $80 is less than I've seen for other examples in much worse shape. Glass appears clear, and the paint, leatherette, and bellows are in great shape.

Other than an occasional roll through my Brownie box camera, I'm not really a medium format shooter so I decided I was going to stay away from "proper" MF unless I could get something like a 6x9. I shoot primarily 35mm and mostly with a 50mm lens. My intended use case for this camera would be environmental and landscape photography off a tripod and using natural lighting. Scanning my negatives will be challenging with my current set up and I have no way to print them at home. Normally I send my negatives or scans out for printing. Speaking of printing, most of my printing is only up to 8x10, but I could go larger for a particularly nice shot.

Contact printing for tests before doing proper prints could be an option.

So, is it worth the additional effort and hassle?

This is the camera in question:

Chris

 

[Pieter12]

GAS is not a sign of a rational mind. It is an affliction, with only two known cures: buying more equipment and bankruptcy. A spousal intervention is sometimes effective, too.

 

[koraks]

It's a very personal call, of course. But the camera does look in absolutely fantastic condition, that's certainly the case!
You could always give it a go, see if it works for you. If it doesn't, you could easily resell it and recoup the cost (and then some).

Personally, I wouldn't use it much, to be honest. Too much hassle and the guess-focus approach doesn't mesh with me. But that's personal. 6x9cm negatives are grand, though.

 

[mtnbkr]

GAS is not a sign of a rational mind. It is an affliction, with only two known cures: buying more equipment and bankruptcy. A spousal intervention is sometimes effective, too.

Unfortunately for me, SWMBO is often an enabler.

It's a very personal call, of course. But the camera does look in absolutely fantastic condition, that's certainly the case!
You could always give it a go, see if it works for you. If it doesn't, you could easily resell it and recoup the cost (and then some).

Personally, I wouldn't use it much, to be honest. Too much hassle and the guess-focus approach doesn't mesh with me. But that's personal. 6x9cm negatives are grand, though.

Yeah, it's certainly nice. I am a bit concerned about the scale focus aspect, but considering how I plan to use it, it shouldn't be a big issue. Most of my shots will be at or near infinity with the aperture stopped down a bit.

I forgot to mention, the camera has been film tested. The shots she shows look overdeveloped or overprocessed, but there aren't any issues that I'd blame the camera for.

Chris

 

[k.hendrik]

her with this camera.. is worth any hassle

BUY the Zeiss Ikon Ikonta and start shooting

 

[4season]

I have the 6x4.5 + Tessar version of that camera. Love the compact size when folded, don't think it's particularly "fun" to use, and yet it delivers the goods. Scale focusing and the simple finder don't seem to be much of a hinderance, but then again, I'm not shooting at very close range, and the aperture is almost always set to f/8-f/11. Used to adore 6x9 format when I was still making wet prints, as the 2:3 aspect ratio is a good fit for 11x14" paper. But film was cheaper in the early aughties, and 6x9 cameras burn through it in no time.

 

[film4Me]

521/2s are overpriced on ebay, $150 to $250 bucks. The sold listings are showing no one wants to pay any more than the $80 you're proposing to pay. That should reduce the GAS anxiety a bit. The Novar I believe is a 3 element lens, so the aperture is best stopped right down, landscapes at least f22, otherwise there might be softness around the edges. Years ago I read a test done between the Novar and Tessar. The Tessar naturally came out on top, the Novar was consistently softer opened up at the wide open aperture settings, but not bad at small openings. I have a Tessar 521/2 and it produces great pics, and so can a Novar, but as stated, it must be closed right down.

I use an accessory pocket rangefinder, I find it essential for anything closer than 50ft, remembering of course to set the focus ring accordingly. It also helps to get the exposure right. I also use a tripod for landscape, with cable release. The shutter buttons on those old folders are nearly always a bit dicky.

 

[BrianShaw]

That will be a lot of fun. A fair price, especially if you have the skills to overhaul it. I’d jump on it…

 

[MattKing]

I like mine - seen here among some cousins of sort. It actually permitted me to send the Kodak Tourist to another home:

The lens on mine is dated from 1939.
One example of what I've done with mine:

Memorial Bench - October 2024

• MattKing
• Oct 30, 2024
• 1

A newly installed memorial bench facing toward one of my favorite sites in the North 40 Lands...

I have used scale focusing a fair bit over the years, and am comfortable with it.

 

[mshchem]

Sure. If you want an old (very old) camera. I'd hold out for a Fuji 6x9

 

[mtnbkr]

Sure. If you want an old (very old) camera. I'd hold out for a Fuji 6x9

At more than 10x the price. I'm sure the Fuji is a nice camera, but I can't justify that expenditure.

Chris

 

[Tel]

Sanity is over-rated

 

[Dave Lusby]

I have three Zeiss 6X9 cameras and love them all. One has a coated Novar, and at f/8 and smaller it really delivers the goods, especially for landscapes. Go for it, use 400 speed film and the fastest shutter speed.

 

[Ian Grant]

Personally I'd look for a camera with a Tessar, or clone. One downside of these older folders is reading the frame numbers through the red window(s). I have an Ikonta 520, I struggled with the faint markings in Ilford film, it was the same with my Ensign Selfix 820>

By chance at a camera fair I was offered a Zeiss Supoer Ikonta B 533/16, it has a Zeiss 80mm f2.8 T (coated) Opton Tessar in a Synchro Compur,with a coupled rangefinder, light meter (still accurate), and automated loading, it's a very practical camera, and near mint. A bargain at £40 just under $55.

The automated loading is similar to more modern medium format cameras. I would try and find a camera with a rangefinder, and a coated lens, looking at sold eBay listings they can be found around the $80 mark.

Ian

 

[pbromaghin]

The 6x6 version of that camera was my entry into medium format. I now use a very similar voigtlander 6x9 in the same way as you have described. For that kind of use, which doesn’t require high precision, there are really no drawbacks to the Novar lens, scale focusing and popup framing. It is actually so much less fiddling around that I sold my Super Ikonta. 6x9 with the 105mm will yield about the same content as 35 with the 50mm, but spread over almost 6x the area. If you’ve never shot medium format, you will be shocked at the level of detail.

GAS is a form of short term insanity. A good camera that fills a need at a good price is not GAS.

 

[OAPOli]

I'll propose a counterpoint because this forum is bad at fighting GAS

I don't like folders. Inexpensive, but heavy, poor ergonomics, leaky bellows and generally flimsy construction. For a first medium format I recommend a simple TLR. Rolleicord or its multiple clones.

 

[chuckroast]

I need a sanity check before I let my GAS open my wallet. I try not to be an equipment hoarder and only buy what I will use.

I've stumbled upon a local seller offering a nice Zeiss Ikon Ikonta 521/2 6x9 camera with the 105/4.5 Novar lens and Prontor shutter. Judging by the pictures, this camera is in fantastic cosmetic condition. The seller did say the slower shutter speeds can be sticky, but otherwise it appears to be in find condition. Price at $80 is less than I've seen for other examples in much worse shape. Glass appears clear, and the paint, leatherette, and bellows are in great shape.

Other than an occasional roll through my Brownie box camera, I'm not really a medium format shooter so I decided I was going to stay away from "proper" MF unless I could get something like a 6x9. I shoot primarily 35mm and mostly with a 50mm lens. My intended use case for this camera would be environmental and landscape photography off a tripod and using natural lighting. Scanning my negatives will be challenging with my current set up and I have no way to print them at home. Normally I send my negatives or scans out for printing. Speaking of printing, most of my printing is only up to 8x10, but I could go larger for a particularly nice shot.

Contact printing for tests before doing proper prints could be an option.

So, is it worth the additional effort and hassle?

This is the camera in question:
View attachment 425445

Chris

Asking this here is like going to an AA meeting and asking if anyone would like a drink

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

80 bucks?? Satisfy the GAS!
@MattKing that's a beautiful photo you took at North 40!

 

[MattKing]

Thanks Andy.
Friends gave the camera to me - I helped them a bit with all the photographic equipment and materials that came to them from his now deceased uncle - and that camera was one of things in amongst that.
I made a point of giving them a framed print I made of that shot, to have as a remembrance of that uncle, and my gratitude.
And my friend who restores cameras gave it a once over too - and it is working really well!

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Thanks Andy.
Friends gave the camera to me - I helped them a bit with all the photographic equipment and materials that came to them from his now deceased uncle - and that camera was one of things in amongst that.
I made a point of giving them a framed print I made of that shot, to have as a remembrance of that uncle, and my gratitude.
And my friend who restores cameras gave it a once over too - and it is working really well!

Is this the same friend who worked on Barry's Hasselblad magazines? If so, you'll need to introduce me to him... does he do RB's?

 

[rulnacco]

Wellllll, I understand the appeal of getting into medium format--particularly 6x9, which is toward the upper end of medium format in size--for cheap. But given its limitations, I'm not sure that's the camera I'd want to make that leap with.

I'd suggest maybe considering a Mamiya Press camera, particularly the Universal. There's actually an apparently nice example with a 6x9 back on eBay at the moment, and it's on sale right now.

It *is* more expensive, but not by such as big a factor as the Fuji mentioned above. And I have one, and can vouch for it producing very good images. It also allows you to have accurate and precise focus, be able to use interchangeable lenses, have faster lenses available, be able to shoot different formats with the same camera (with the appropriate back), and be not too awkward or annoying to handle (although it's not nearly as svelte and nimble as a TLR or Hasselblad, certainly--but it can shoot a much bigger image). It is definitely larger than the Zeiss, and doesn't fold up. It's got its drawbacks, most definitely, but I like mine and it doesn't have nearly as many caveats as the Zeiss.

 

[mshchem]

At more than 10x the price. I'm sure the Fuji is a nice camera, but I can't justify that expenditure.

Chris

Yes it's difficult to satisfy GAS with the price of gas (petrol) and everything else these days! I managed to skirt being murdered by my spouse, the WideluxX order window is closed

 

[mshchem]

Wellllll, I understand the appeal of getting into medium format--particularly 6x9, which is toward the upper end of medium format in size--for cheap. But given its limitations, I'm not sure that's the camera I'd want to make that leap with.

I'd suggest maybe considering a Mamiya Press camera, particularly the Universal. There's actually an apparently nice example with a 6x9 back on eBay at the moment, and it's on sale right now.

It *is* more expensive, but not by such as big a factor as the Fuji mentioned above. And I have one, and can vouch for it producing very good images. It also allows you to have accurate and precise focus, be able to use interchangeable lenses, have faster lenses available, be able to shoot different formats with the same camera (with the appropriate back), and be not too awkward or annoying to handle (although it's not nearly as svelte and nimble as a TLR or Hasselblad, certainly--but it can shoot a much bigger image). It is definitely larger than the Zeiss, and doesn't fold up. It's got its drawbacks, most definitely, but I like mine and it doesn't have nearly as many caveats as the Zeiss.

These are nice cameras!!!

 

[mtnbkr]

I'm meeting with the guy tomorrow. Due to the sticky slow speeds, he has agreed to $65.

Chris

 

[runswithsizzers]

I recently bought a Zeiss Icon Nettar 517/2, but mine is a cheaper model and has the lower spec'ed f6.3 Novar lens and a basic Vario shutter (3 speed + B). I think mine looks a little cleaner than yours, and has proven to be in great working condition. I paid $75 from a camera shop with a 30 day return policy.

I was deliberately looking for a basic triplet lens, so no regrets, there.

The camera is a real jewel, and it makes me smile every time I open it. The scale focusing is a PITA, but maybe it will get easier with more experience. So far, only 1 roll completed -- scans posted here: https://garywright.smugmug.com/Photography/Kodak-Tri-X-120-Feb-Mar-2026.