1938 6x9 Zeiss Ikon Ikonta, CLA'd, Freshly Serviced!

Cleaned, Lubricated & Adjusted. Ready for immediate use!

 This is a freshly serviced Zeiss Ikon Ikonta. It folds out to 6x9 cm photos on normal 120 roll film. Bright exposures alive with all the details, lovely colors and rich tonal range that only medium format can provide. When it comes to photography, bigger is better and this camera can produce a large negative that’s more than six times larger than the average 35mm snap shot. The real appeal is that all of this is produced by a camera that folds up into a small package. So whether you're interested in fine grain, rich tonal values or lovely colors, this vintage camera is a great companion and its compact size will never give you a reason to leave it at home.

This camera is a classic Zeiss-Ikon 521/2 Ikonta which was originally designed in the 1930’s. It was produced from 1938 until about 1951. The serial number on this (F28975) indicates that it was produced in late 1937 or early 1938. This camera is based on the legendary Super Ikonta and it shares the many of the same parts. This included the body, leather bellows, struts, doors, pressure plate and many other details. In fact if you look closely at it you can see the two screws on either side of the viewfinder, which were used to hold down the rangefinder in the Super Ikonta models. All of this of course means that it’s a quality camera that’s built to perform. Run some film through this camera and I guarantee you you’ll be happy with the results.  

This Ikonta has been carefully cleaned, lubricated and adjusted. Everything works as it should. The leather bellows are supple and light tight. The view finder is clean and clear. The top-of-line Compur-Rapid shutter works well and all speeds (B & 1sec - 1/400^th) are appropriate. The slow speeds buzz along smoothly and the fast ones are clean and snappy.

The lens is a big impressive f3.5/10.5cm (105mm) Novar lens, which is a classic Cooke design with three elements in three groups. It’s well known for the attractive rendition and bokeh it produces. This Zeiss lens has an excellent reputation in Europe for its lovely bokeh and its soft smooth backgrounds. The glass is in exceptionally fine condition. There are no scratches, just some light cleaning wisps and it’s capable of producing lovely photos with modern color & B&W films. (As with all prewar lenses, we recommend keeping the light behind you for optimal performance.)

All in all a very fine usable 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 that you had a classic camera with you.