Zeiss Ikon was formed in 1926 by the amalgamation of Ica, Contessa-Nettal, Ernemann and C.P. Goerz. Initially, Zeiss Ikon caried on making all the cameras previously made by the constituent companies but in 1929, Zeiss Ikon rationalised production. Most of the old cameras were abandoned and a few new models introduced. Intitially, the flagship wasContinue reading “Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta”
Tag Archives: Zeiss Ikon
Pentacon F (Contax F)
This is a ground breaking camera. This was the first modern 35 mm SLR camera (in the S version). SLR cameras have been around for a very long time and there were many SLR cameras that used glass plates rather than film. There were also earlier 35 mm SLR cameras – the Kine Exakta isContinue reading “Pentacon F (Contax F)”
Ica Icarette 1 (A)
This is an Icarette camera made by Ica in Dresden, Germany. It is a model 1 which was introduced in 1912 but I cannot tell if it is a type 495 (the original, model A in the USA) or type 496 (later version that can also take glass plates, model B in the USA). IcaContinue reading “Ica Icarette 1 (A)”
Contina IIa
Zeiss Ikon’s Contina camera was a long lived and varied series of cameras. The series started as the Ikonta 35 which was a post-war version of the 120 format Ikonta adapted to take 35 mm film. This camera became two series of cameras – the Contessa and the Contina; the first Contessas and Continas wereContinue reading “Contina IIa”
Ikonta 520
This is a medium format camera (i.e. takes 120 film) from Zeiss Ikon. It is a half-frame camera – 6 x 4.5 cm negative – which is half of a standard 120 frame of 6 x 9 cm. The body serial number tells me it was made in 1932. Ikonta 520, front view lens:Continue reading “Ikonta 520”
Zeiss Ikon Contessa LKE
Zeiss Ikon Contessa LKE Zeiss Ikon Contessa LKE This is a fairly simple compact camera along the lines of Zeiss Ikon’s other Ikonta derivatives, the Contina family. It is small enough to fit comfortably in one hand – 115mm wide by 85mm tall by 35 mm thick (75 mm thick including the lens). Continue reading “Zeiss Ikon Contessa LKE”
Zeiss Ikon Ikoflex
Zeiss Ikon Ikoflexes are close copies of Rolleiflexes. For some reason, they do not have the good reputation of the Rolleiflexes even though they use the same lenses and shutters – both, incidentally, made by Zeiss subsidiaries. My specimen is an Ikoflex II and has a lens serial number that dates from mid 1936 andContinue reading “Zeiss Ikon Ikoflex”
Zeiss Ikon Contina Ic
Not a lot I can say about this camera. It is mid-range amateur – well above the Box Brownie and well below the likes of the Contaflex. The standard of manufacture is what you would expect of Zeiss Ikon – solid, heavy, works well – perhaps a bit over-engineered. It was not cheap – theContinue reading “Zeiss Ikon Contina Ic”
Zeiss Ikon Tenax I
This camera is unlike my other Zeiss Ikon cameras in that it was aimed at the middle of the amateur market – above the box Brownie brigade but below the Contaflex, Ikoflex, Ikonta market. The Tenax I came out in 1938 (actually started retailing in early 1939) just after the Tenax II. They are bothContinue reading “Zeiss Ikon Tenax I”
Zeiss Ikon Icarette
The Icarette (sometimes mistakenly called a Jcarette because of the fancy “I” used) is a very old line of cameras, first produced by ICA before the mergers that formed Zeiss Ikon in 1926. ICA itself was formed in 1909 by an amalgamation of Carl Zeiss Jena and others. My Icarette has a lens serial numberContinue reading “Zeiss Ikon Icarette”
John's Cameras. A collection of interesting and old cameras. 