Zeiss Icon Ikonta 523/16 Shutter cocking indicator problems

yooper · Feb 4, 2014

Good evening:
I have an Ikonta 523/16 with a film advance issue: After I have loaded for film and advanced to frame number one, the red/white color indicator does not completely change to white, and I have to advance the film a tiny bit more in order for the shutter to be active. This results in uneven frame spacing on the film. Any ideas?
Eric

ntenny · Feb 4, 2014

As a workaround, you can fire directly fron the shutter; the advance lock only affects the linkage from the body. If the problem only affects frame 1, maybe the annoyance of having to reach around the front and feel for the little lever is acceptable---if it persists through the roll, it seems like much more of a pain in the neck.

-NT

gone · Feb 5, 2014

ntenny gave you good advice. I can only add that these cameras were designed for film that was not as thin as today's emulsions and paper backing. On my Super Ikontas I had to wrap the take up spool w/ some masking tape to build up the diameter a little, then tape the film leader to that when loading it w/ film. Presto, perfect film spacing. That top mechanism probably needs cleaning. You can try a little lighter fluid dribbled in there or disassemble it and do it that way.

Peltigera · Feb 5, 2014

You can also fire using a cable release which is easier than getting at the shutter bar on the shutter housing.

If the camera is new to you, try dry-firing the shutter and pretend winding a few dozen times (obviously with no film present). I had a Franka Solida with this problem but it went away after about 30 minutes of dry-firing.

ntenny · Feb 5, 2014

momus said:
I can only add that these cameras were designed for film that was not as thin as today's emulsions and paper backing. On my Super Ikontas I had to wrap the take up spool w/ some masking tape to build up the diameter a little, then tape the film leader to that when loading it w/ film. Presto, perfect film spacing.

Was that one of the late ones without a red window? It seems like with a red-window camera the frame spacing is determined by the frame numbers on the backing, not the camera mechanics.

-NT

Peltigera · Feb 5, 2014

The 523/16 is an ordinary Ikonta, not a Super Ikonta and, yes, it relies on the numbers on the backing paper for frame spacing.

Building up the diameter of the take-up spool will make the problem worse as you would require less rotation of the winding key to advance the film and Yooper is already having to wind too far to reset the interlock.

yooper · Feb 5, 2014

Thank you very much !

pbromaghin · Feb 5, 2014

I think what you are looking at is not a cocking indicator, but the multiple exposure preventer that keeps the shutter linkage from tripping the shutter until the film has been advanced. On my older 531/16 it clicks after about 1/2 turn of the crank, which is about 1/3 of a frame. It should have clicked way before you ever got to the first frame.

yooper · Feb 5, 2014

Thanks everyone for the great solutions. I love the Ikonta.
Eric

elekm · Feb 11, 2014

You might be able to take care of this yourself. As others said, this has to do with the double-exposure prevention on your Zeiss Ikon (not Icon) Ikonta.

If you are handy at all with tools, you should remove the top deck and simply clean the double-exposure prevention mechanism. I think it's simply a flap of metal (that is painted red or orange) and a spring. You probably just need to squirt a small amount of lighter fluid on the spring and then clean it with a paper towel.

You might as well clean the viewfinder glass while you have the top off.

Zeiss Icon Ikonta 523/16 Shutter cocking indicator problems

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