SUPERB! 1936 Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta 6x9, Tessar lens with leather case. CLA’d, Freshly Serviced!

Cleaned, Lubricated & Adjusted. Ready for immediate use!

This is a freshly serviced Super Ikonta 6x9 rangefinder camera.  It has a built-in coupled rangefinder that never leaves you guessing about the distance or the focus. It’s a lovely vintage camera that easily slips into a jacket pocket or a backpack and yet folds out to take 8 beautiful 6x9 exposures on normal 120 roll film. Bright exposures alive with all the details and lovely colors that only medium format or larger can provide. When it comes to photography, bigger is better and with this camera you can create a negative that’s about 6 times larger than the average 35mm snapshot. So whether you’re interested in large prints, fine grain, rich tonal gradations or lovely colors, this camera will do all of that and may just become your favorite photographic companion.

This camera is the hard-to-find transitional model and was only produced for a very short period. Its serial number (B7982) indicates it was produced in Germany in 1936. It was one of the most expensive cameras in Zeiss-Ikon’s production line at the time. Everything about it exudes exclusivity and quality, so naturally it’s fitted with the finest shutter of its era, the Compur-Rapid. Additionally, it also received a faster Carl Zeiss 3.8/105mm Tessar. This lens was introduced along with this camera as a faster variation of their already excellent f4.5/105mm Tessar… Simply stated, this was the finest 6x9 camera that money could buy in 1936.

This is my favorite prewar version of the classic 6x9 Super Ikonta. If I didn’t already have one in my personal collection, I’d keep it! This model features an exposure interlock housed in a black lacquered cover located under the film advance knob (later versions had the usual chrome plated housings) and a more elaborate shutter release linkage below the shutter. Additionally, there is a lovely machined black and chrome decorative disk next to the rangefinder that echoes the look of the film advance knob. The bottom side of the camera has these same disks (which have a much finer finish than later versions) in chrome. Overall, the camera sports the expensive professional look of the period which favored a black design with chrome accents. (Please see photos.) It’s the perfect camera for an artist, a landscape photographer or WWII reenactor interested in historical photography.

 Also nice to know, is that this camera is also capable of producing 6x4.5 negatives if you have a suitable reduction mask in your collection. (Mask not included.)

This 87 year old camera is in excellent condition and ready for immediate use. The fine Moroccan leather covering is lovely. The Zeiss-Ikon logo on the rear is clean and clear. The bellows are soft, supple, and completely light tight. Everything’s been carefully cleaned, lubricated and adjusted.  The top-of-the-line Compur-Rapid shutter works smoothly, all speeds (B & 1 sec - 1/400^th) are appropriate. The slow speeds buzz along smoothly and the faster ones are clean and snappy. The coupled rangefinder array has been cleaned and the rangefinder image is easy to see, easy to use and never leaves you wondering about focus or distance. To top it all off, the viewfinder was disassembled, and the faded silver coating was chemically removed to convert it into a clear optical viewfinder that’s much easier to use than the original. (More information about this topic via the link at the bottom of the description.)

The lens is a Carl Zeiss f3.8/10,5 cm (105mm) Tessar. (The more common 4.5/105 Tessar was a bit slower and of course less expensive.) The Tessar is a superb design with four elements in three groups. This lens is very clean and clear. There are no scratches, no cleaning marks and it’s capable of producing lovely photos with modern color and B&W films.

Also included is a used original Zeiss-Ikon brown leather case.

All in all, a wonderful classic camera. Load it with your favorite film and keep it handy for that perfect shot you’ve been looking for. You know the one... the one with the perfect Ansel Adams light breaking through the dark storm clouds that leaves you wishing you had a classic camera with you.

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Here are some examples of what you can expect from this camera. These photos can be found in our Example Gallery and were shot with cameras acquired from us:

https://www.petrakla.com/pages/1934-super-ikonta-c

https://www.petrakla.com/pages/1934-zeiss-ikon-super-ikonta-c-another

Albada Viewfinders info: 

https://www.petrakla.com/pages/albada-viewfinders

Search terms: 105mm, 10,5cm Tessar, Compur, medium format, rangefinder camera, 120 film, authentic WWII, WW2, reenactor, reenactor, signal corps, USAAF, war correspondent, war photographer