Zeiss Ikon....Any good?

[Dave Dawson]

What do I mean by is a Zeiss Ikon any good?

I have no doubt that in 'their day' they did an excellent job at good quality postcard sized b+w prints and with the vast improvements in film emulsions they can probably produce good quality larger prints.

My question really is.....How good is the lens?

Advice appreciated. Cheers Dave

 

[Mike Wilde]

To further fuss things up, there is a rather large period of time over which this vendor made various mf folders, and perhaps non-folders. I have used one (a 6x9) with an uncoated tessar lens, that worked very well stopped down below f/8 for b&w work. There were other lens options that I came across when I was researching what this camera was before bringing my neighbours camera back to life.

 

[Mark Antony]

I think the Tessar was pretty good especially the coated version. I have a 1930's model heading my way, should be here by the week end, it'll be uncoated but good for B&W.
I think the later coated Tessar is probably good enough that with care you'll get results comparable with modern cameras, I have reservations about film plane flatness- but that will have to be checked.
Here is a little review with some images from a Super Ikonta C (6x9)
Dead Link Removed

 

[jp80874]

See http://www.cameraquest.com/zikontc.htm

John Powers

 

[Jeff L]

My 50mm CZ Opton Sonnar 1.5 is very sharp, so is my 50mm CZ Jena 2.0. The Sonnar 85mm has a great rep, though I have never used one. I do have the Jupiter copy and got a decent one that produces sharp photos. The Planar 75mm on my Rollei, (and Tessar from 1937 Rollei) came from Zeiss of that era and they're great too. All produce very sharp prints and enlargements. I am always pleasantly surprised and pleased the quality of my old Zeiss lenses.

 

[JPD]

Carl Zeiss makes lenses, Zeiss Ikon made cameras. Far from all Zeiss Ikon made cameras use Carl Zeiss lenses. Novars, for example, weren't made by Zeiss.

 

[elekm]

There is no simple answer to this.

First off, let's eliminate the new 35mm rangefinder system (the Zeiss Ikon) by Carl Zeiss AG.

Next, the question you ask is much too broad, because Zeiss Ikon produced cameras in a number of formats from a period starting in 1926 and extending to 1972.

As JPD points out, Zeiss Ikon produced cameras but made no lenses. Lenses were supplied by Carl Zeiss and some third-party makers. Carl Zeiss, conversely, never made cameras -- just lenses ... and still doesn't.

Zeiss Ikon made cameras in these formats: Plate, sheet film, 120, 127, 116, 35mm and 126, as well as movie cameras, and possibly others that I've missed.

They made highly sophisticated cameras such as the Contaflex twin-lens reflex and Contarex 35mm SLRs. They made simple box cameras, folding cameras, Instamatics. They made medium format cameras, cameras for pros and amateurs and studio photographers. Cameras for people will little money (Box Tengor and Nettars), cameras for those with money (Contaflex, Contax, Contarex), microscope cameras. They even made enlargers.

This reply is getting much too long.

With just a few exceptions, nearly all of their cameras were made to a high standard -- choice of materials and workmanship -- than their competitors. It's very common to find a Zeiss Ikon camera that can be restored to excellent working condition.

So, yes, a Zeiss Ikon camera is good. There are only a handful of cameras that I feel didn't quite meet the standards of Zeiss Ikon. Overall, however, they're excellent cameras.

 

[Paul Goutiere]

I'm quite fond of the Zeiss Super Ikontas. The 6x9 "C" version can create spectacular images, then fold into a pocketable package. My favorite user is the 6x6 "B" version, a tad bulky but built like a truck jack and also produces spectacular images. Always use lens hoods.

Is Zeiss Ikon any good?? For more recent camera standards like Mamiya, Rollei, Hasselblad etc. it's a push, but if you like the idea of using cameras of this vintage they are just fantastic.

 

[André E.C.]

"Zeiss Ikon....Any good?"

I own one Zeiss Ercona (the East German version of the Stuttgart made Ikonta 523/2) from the late 1950's with a coated Jena Tessar 105mm. Yes, it's indeed a fantastic camera.


Cheers


André

 

[steven_e007]

Carl Zeiss makes lenses, Zeiss Ikon made cameras. Far from all Zeiss Ikon made cameras use Carl Zeiss lenses. Novars, for example, weren't made by Zeiss.

Absolutely.

You are talking about a big amalgamation of companies that existed in (for a time) in two countries for many decades. They made thousands of models of cameras throughout the price range from budget to top class pro equipment and sported many different lenses from many different manufacturers.

Maybe you can narrow it down a bit? What sort of cameras and lenses are you thinking about?

I personally own several Zeiss Ikon folding cameras and I would say they are excellent. Indeed, I am sometimes at a loss as to why some other folders (such as Agfa) seem to attain cult status when the equivalent model from Zeiss Ikon wil invariably be cheaper, be in much better condition and will usually work fine without any attention even after 50 years. Zeiss Ikon cameras rarely need new bellows, new lens grease and a CLA before they can be used. Isolettes nearly always need all three.


But... if you are thinking about a camera other than a folder...? :confused:

 

[Francis in VT]

Dave;
When I was stationed in RAF Fairford in the Fifties Lancelot Vining was the big name with
his Contax camera. Then he acquired a Voigtlander Prominent.

Francis in VT

 

[Dave Dawson]

Sorry that my question was far too vauge....I was interested in a 6x6 folder and from what has been put on here it is apperent that the versions (supers) fitted with the Tessars are the ones to go for.

Thanks to all who contributed.

Cheers Dave

 

[jp80874]

Dave,

One other information source might be helpful in sorting the many choices.
http://www.certo6.com/cam/ikonta.html
He also repairs and sells from his home or eBay with a good reputation.

John Powers

 

[Mark Fisher]

The best built camera I own is a Zeiss Ikon Contaflex 35mm.....a mechanical work of art. I used to have a Leica and, honestly, the ZI was far more amazing mechanically. Up to at least 8x10 (haven't gone higher) and stopped down a little, I've found it incredibly sharp with its Tessar lens. Is it as sharp as a modern lens? I doubt it, but I'm not sure I care.

 

[Andrew Sanderson]

Film flatness -not always what you think.

I think the Tessar was pretty good especially the coated version. I have a 1930's model heading my way, should be here by the week end, it'll be uncoated but good for B&W.
I think the later coated Tessar is probably good enough that with care you'll get results comparable with modern cameras, I have reservations about film plane flatness- but that will have to be checked.
Here is a little review with some images from a Super Ikonta C (6x9)
Dead Link Removed

Sometimes the film flatness problem is actually an 'opening the camera too quick' problem. The bellows can suck the film forward, so I let mine out slowly and have never had a problem. My Zeiss Ikon Nettar 6x6cm has an excellent lens, but my Zeiss Ikon 6x9cm has a dreadful lens.
Andrew.

 

[elekm]

I've not experienced a problem with film flatness. Far more important is whether someone has dropped the camera.

I have a decent number of Zeiss Ikon cameras, and as I mentioned before, for the most part, they are exceptionally well made.

Regarding the Tessar in the Contaflex, you'd be hard-pressed to find a sharper lens at f/8 and smaller.

Like the other Zeiss lens designs, it was much copied by other camera makers.

You know what they say, (lens design) plagiarism is the sincerest form of flattery.

 

[jp80874]

.... but my Zeiss Ikon 6x9cm has a dreadful lens.
Andrew.

If I may ask, which lens is that? Do you feel the problem is that particular lens or all examples of that model lens? Why do you think that way?

Thank you,

John Powers

 

[steven_e007]

Sorry that my question was far too vauge....I was interested in a 6x6 folder and from what has been put on here it is apperent that the versions (supers) fitted with the Tessars are the ones to go for.

Thanks to all who contributed.

Cheers Dave

Well... the Tessar has a reputaion for being a better lens than a Novar - and being a 4 element lens rather than a 3, that is as expected.

BUT!

I have cameras with both lenses.Certainly at full aperture you can easily see the difference, the Novar shows a little light fall off at the edges.The Tessars show none at all. Stop them down to f8 or f11 and you'd be very hard pressed to tell them apart even at a big enlargement.

Because Tessars are very desireable and Novars aren't. (BTW, I have heard the Novar is a Rodenstock lens, although I have never seen solid proof) cameras with Tessars command high prices. Cameras with Novars are available at very low prices.

So... yes, the Tessar may be better, but the Novar is still excellent in most situations and definately a much better bargain IMHO.

A Super Ikonta, coupled range finder and coated Tessar, CLA'ed in good nick could cost hundreds of dollars.

You can pick up a basic working Zeiss Nettar 6 X 6, no rangefinder, no meter and a Novar lens, for less than £10, $15, 15 Euros, whatever. It is worth buying one at that price just to prove to yourself that the Novar isn't a bad lens!

 

[elekm]

Zeiss Ikon held the rights to the Novar and the Pantar names, which is why you'll never see either lens on a non-Zeiss Ikon camera, unless it's been transplanted. Production of the Novar was handled by third-party lens makers (as Zeiss Ikon had no lens fabrication capacity), including Rodenstock, Steinheil and others.

The Novar is a decent lens. Wide open, it tends to be sharp in the center and soft in the corners, which as I said before lends itself for use as a portrait lens. Stopped down, it's a very sharp lens.

The Tessar was the premium lens.

One of my first folding cameras was the Ikonta 520/2, a 6x9 camera.

 

[cooltouch]

I've owned a Super Ikonta B and a Super Ikonta BX (6x6 folders), both with the later Synchro Compur shutter and the coated lens. Like an idiot, I sold them. I look back at the slides and negatives I took with them and find that they are quite sharp and contrasty.

I would recommend you look for one that has the coated optic. They seem to have a bit better contrast than the uncoated lenses. If flash sync is important to you, then you should hold out for one with the Synchro Compur shutter. They're not all that common, but they show up on the used market from time to time.

-M

 

[JPD]

I own one Zeiss Ercona (the East German version of the Stuttgart made Ikonta 523/2) from the late 1950's with a coated Jena Tessar 105mm. Yes, it's indeed a fantastic camera.

Yes indeed. I once bought an Ercona and an Ercona II within the same month, and they both had the coated Tessar. I adjusted the focus on both and tested them. Very sharp results, with excellent contrast. Much better than any uncoated Tessar on a folder I've tried. I later sold the Ercona "I" and kept the II and bought filters for it (Luckily the 37mm slip-on filters also fit many more cameras that I later bought!).

Another good thing about the Zeiss Ercona is that they were made in East Germany, and can be had for much less than the West German Ikontas. Yet, the lenses are equally good, if not better.

They are 6x9 folders, but can be used with a mask to shoot 6x6.

Something to remember is that old folders are seldom (or never?) as good as a twin lens reflex (TLR). Most folders have front cell focusing lenses, but a TLR like the Rolleiflex focus with the whole lens unit. The front assembly on a Rolleiflex is a lot sturdier than the front standard on a folder. A TLR is heavier and can't fit in a pocket, though.

 

[Dug]

Ikonta Super 6X6 folder Tessar lens

I took the Ikonta Super with me to Cambodia as my "pocket camera". It was a fantastic performer. Ignore the line from the crappy scanner in the attached image

 

[viridari]

I hope it's a good camera; I just dropped coin on the big auction site for a Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta 533/16 with a 2.8 Tessar (coated) & Synchro Compur shutter.

 

[Paul Goutiere]

I hope it's a good camera; I just dropped coin on the big auction site for a Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta 533/16 with a 2.8 Tessar (coated) & Synchro Compur shutter.

It's a good camera.

 

[k_jupiter]

I hope it's a good camera; I just dropped coin on the big auction site for a Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta 533/16 with a 2.8 Tessar (coated) & Synchro Compur shutter.

It's a good caamera if the focus hasn't been screwed with (double helix focus mechanism), and no one has dropped it in the last 50 years or so.

I have made some nice photos with Novar lens that contrary to popular belief, you can't tell the difference between it and a TLR.

You should like the 6x6 format of your new camera.

tim in san jose