Sold FS: Beautiful, Pocket-sized Medium Format Camera: Zeiss Ikon Ikonta 521

[johnwwyatt]

I have 2 folders and rarely use this one. It is in very good condition. The bellows are light tight, the body is very clean, lens is clean and fungus-free. I recently tested the shutter speeds with an DIY shutter speed tester with the results attached.

These speeds will work well with B&W film which is usually very forgiving.

Asking $175 plus shipping costs.

 

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[Donald Qualls]

A 6x4.5 folder like this is about as compact as medium format will ever get. I've got a Daiichi Zenobia, so don't need this Zeiss, but if you like to be able to carry a medium format without needing a wide strap or a bag, this is a very good one to carry.

 

[hap]

Pre war or post war.? What is shutter?
Thanks

 

[Donald Qualls]

I'd guess pre-War. No visible PC connector on the shutter, originally had 3/8 tripod socket now with 1/4-20 bushing installed.

 

[johnwwyatt]

Thank you, Don, for answering the question. There are no markings regarding the shutter type that I can see.

 

[albada]

Like Don, I think it's pre-war. The shutter is almost certainly a Compur, probably with three blades. The lens is likely to be a triplet, because all Novar lenses I've seen were triplets. A reflection test on the rear element would determine whether it's a triplet or four element Tessar-clone.

Mark Overton

 

[Donald Qualls]

Many triplets of that era were as good as the same age Tessar when stopped down a little -- for f/3.5 like this one, probably f/8 would make the Novar and Tessar indistinguishable on the film. In my experience, a pre-War Tessar is still good about one stop wider than the same speed triplet; otherwise, not much if any difference.

 

[mgb74]

A 6x4.5 folder like this is about as compact as medium format will ever get. I've got a Daiichi Zenobia, so don't need this Zeiss, but if you like to be able to carry a medium format without needing a wide strap or a bag, this is a very good one to carry.

I have one and not only is it compact, but it's very light. Easily pocketable in a jacket pocket.

 

[gone]

The camera is definitely pre world war II, the lens is a triplet, and the shutter is very reliable on these cameras. I've owned a lot of them over the years, they're sturdy and simple cameras and seldom need servicing. The Novar will give nice pics stopped down, the Tessar is more razor sharp and has a shutter w/ faster speeds. These really are amazingly small MF cameras, and you get a lot of pics on a roll of film. The lens on this one seems to be blooming nicely, so it may have a little more contrast.