Zeiss Super Ikonta C 530/2 tessar 1:3.8 f=10.5cm

CameraGuy34 · Aug 10, 2023

Hello all, I have a zeiss super ikonta c 530/2 F 3.8. Model number is Y 68464 on the case. The number on the lens is 4017860. I had a few questions regarding this camera such as the year it was manafactured as well as if its rare. Don't see too many online that is f 3.8. It came with a brass mask on the inside and i was wondering if that was original or if the previous owner made it. Any information will be helpful. Thank you.

Dan Daniel · Aug 10, 2023

I'm a bit confused. Photos have serial #1566154. This is 1934. You write number 4017860 which last 1960s.

Carl Zeiss serial numbers - Camera-wiki.org - The free camera encyclopedia

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Insert looks to be handmade later. Original would have some stamped elements for indexing and film location, and be black anodized or painted.

You use the 6x4.5 mask by moving a number from one window to the next before moving to the next number in the first window, etc. For full pleasure of120 film, try 6x9 (remove mask) at first.

Lens designs were changing fast in the 1930s. 4.5, 3.8, 3.5, etc. It probably comes up as rare because not many cameras from the first half of the 1930s are still around.

If the rangefinder is either off or dark, you can still do scale focusing and get good results. A nice 'pure' camera when Zeiss was making some of the best.

CameraGuy34 · Aug 10, 2023

hello yes the serial number on the lens itself states that number however the number on the side back behind the dial to adjust shutter speed has that number. not the actual lens itself. sorry still learning the names of everything. but rangefinder is in working condition and clear. but thank you for your response. yeah the mask looked like someone made it but it works

Dan Daniel · Aug 10, 2023

The number on the side of the shutter is the serial number for the shutter itself. This listing gets the same year 1934 for yours.

Compur serial numbers - Camera-wiki.org - The free camera encyclopedia

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Zeiss is one company. Dreckel, which made Compur shutters, is another company. Many cameras of this era were assembled from parts made elsewhere. E.g., Rolleiflex cameras had Compur shutters, Zeiss lenses. Or Schneider lenses. And a body casting made by someone else, etc.

Oh, best to take a flashlight and go into a closet. Wait a few minutes, put flashlight inside body by opening the back, and turn it on. Look at the bellows, especially the folded corners, for light leaks.

Donald Qualls · Aug 11, 2023

Dan Daniel said:
Look at the bellows, especially the folded corners, for light leaks.

Absolutely a good idea. A bellows that's 90 years old almost certainly has some corner pinholes. I've fixed those with black masking tape (works okay, converts pinhole image overlays to very light fog), liquid electrical tape (my experience left the bellows sticky and added too much thickness), and small patches of the thinnest latigo leather (black) that I could find at the Tandy store. These last are still in good shape twenty years later, so that's what I'd recommend if you have a choice. Others have used white glue mixed with black acrylic artist's paint, or just black fabric paint, with reported good results.

CameraGuy34 · Aug 11, 2023

I went into the closet and shined a bright flashlight into the bellows and tried to find a single pinhole from the light shining through but nothing thankfully. there was a spot that was a spot that was patched up.

Donald Qualls · Aug 11, 2023

CameraGuy34 said:
there was a spot that was a spot that was patched up.

Nice! Zeiss used actual leather at least through 1948 (I don't have any newer ones). It holds up best and takes patches best. A very light treatment with leather treatment or neat's foot oil every year or so will help the leather last another century.

henryvk · Aug 11, 2023

CameraGuy34 said:
I went into the closet and shined a bright flashlight into the bellows and tried to find a single pinhole from the light shining through but nothing thankfully. there was a spot that was a spot that was patched up.

In my experience, unfortunately, just doing the flashlight is sometimes not enough to find all pinholes. Make sure to be in a perfectly dark room and give your eyes a few minutes to adjust before checking the bellows.

If you shoot a test roll and make sure to expose the camera to daylight for a while from all angles you'll now for sure.

That being said, I'm on my second Ikonta and the bellows seem to hold up very well.

CameraGuy34 · Aug 11, 2023

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henryvk said:
In my experience, unfortunately, just doing the flashlight is sometimes not enough to find all pinholes. Make sure to be in a perfectly dark room and give your eyes a few minutes to adjust before checking the bellows.

If you shoot a test roll and make sure to expose the camera to daylight for a while from all angles you'll now for sure.

That being said, I'm on my second Ikonta and the bellows seem to hold up very well.

okay thank you for the help. I just shot a roll and sending it off to be developed so hopefully all good. this forum has been very helpful.

CameraGuy34 · Aug 11, 2023

Donald Qualls said:
Nice! Zeiss used actual leather at least through 1948 (I don't have any newer ones). It holds up best and takes patches best. A very light treatment with leather treatment or neat's foot oil every year or so will help the leather last another century.

well it's a good thing I'm a leather worker so I will keep that in mind to use on the bellows for patch work

Zeiss Super Ikonta C 530/2 tessar 1:3.8 f=10.5cm

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