Couple of Zeiss Ikonta questions

vlad883 · Jul 30, 2014

I have a 521/16. It has the Opton Tessar lens and a Compur Rapid shutter. I emailed Zeiss and they said the lens was made in 1938. First question is that seems kinda early for this model. Second question is on some types of film the roll is loosely wound when I take it out. I have Other folders and this isn't an issue. The camera is in great condition. Thank you for any input.

Two23 · Jul 30, 2014

Opton Tessar was made in West Germany, i.e. after WW2. If the lens is coated, it's almost definitely post WW2. I don't think the people your emailed know what they're talking about. The 521/16 was made 1948-1953. It has to be a post war camera. Would have helped if you gave us the lens serial, and a photo of it.

Kent in SD

summicron1 · Jul 31, 2014

if the rolled film on the take-up spool is loose, you can add some resistance to the system by sticking a little bit of sponge in the supply side, just thick enough so that it rubs against the roll as it unwinds. This will make the take-up side a bit harder, but makes the film wind tighter.

In any event, always unload in dim light.

vlad883 · Jul 31, 2014

Ikonta 521/16

Here are the numbers:

Body G 46151. Lens 2314093. After the name Carl Zeiss it says Jena.

summicron1 · Jul 31, 2014

jena means post-war, East German. Nothing wrong with that at all.

JPD · Jul 31, 2014

No, it's pre-war. 1938. Carl Zeiss Jena cannot be Zeiss-Opton, which was in Oberkochen and not in Jena.

West German Zeiss restarted the serial numbers after the war, and the lenses were marked Zeiss-Opton for a while, and then Carl Zeiss. The serial number 2314093 would have been used in 1955-57 or thereabouts, when the lenses were marked Carl Zeiss. Never with Jena.

Peltigera · Jul 31, 2014

The camera was made in 1938. The lens serial number is from that year (all pre-1945 Carl Zeiss lenses were marked Jena as well as post -1945 East German Carl Zeiss lenses) - see here for a time sequence of Carl Zeiss serial numbers.

The body number - G 46151 - is also from 1938 although Zeiss Ikon restarted the alphabet once they reached Z but other G body numbers would have been very early 1920s (too early for an Ikonta) or the 1960s (too late for an Ikonta).

The Compur shutter serial number will confirm the date - here for a time sequence of Compur serial numbers.

Andy38 · Jul 31, 2014

In the 1920's, G body numbers were used for ICA models ; letters continued from 1926 as Zeiss Ikon, with L.

As for Carl Zeiss + Jena, here are some post-WWII, with T for coated lenses :

elekm · Aug 1, 2014

The original post and subsequent post contradict each other, because the lens cannot be marked "Carl Zeiss Jena" and "Zeiss-Opton" at the same time. It's either one or the other.

Also, you will never see "Carl Zeiss" on the body or "Zeiss Ikon" on the lens (although you do see it on filters and supplementary lenses). Carl Zeiss and Zeiss Ikon operated as separate entities.

Peltigera · Aug 1, 2014

Yes, Mike, Carl Zeiss made the lenses and Zeiss Ikon the cameras - with the exception of the Werra made by Carl Zeiss Jena on the banks of the river of the same name.

vlad883 · Aug 6, 2014

My mistake

I apologize for the Opton remark. I must of had two cameras out that night. Thanks for the replies.

Couple of Zeiss Ikonta questions

Attachments

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency