First Roll Through an 80 Year Old Camera - Zeiss Super Ikonta 6x9

[Colorado CJ]

I received a new (to me) camera the other day, an 80 year old Zeiss Super Ikonta 6x9. These cameras have a cult like status and are usually very expensive. I've wanted one for a long time, but they are just too pricey.

Last week I lucked out and grabbed one for a little over $100.00, they run upwards of$300.00 or more usually. Its in pristine condition and the shutter is very accurate.

Anyway, as with all my photo gear, I usually head out to the mountains for field testing. It was a nice warmer day, around 30 degrees, with very still air. I did some hiking and photography with my new Super Ikonta

Keep in mind, these were all taken my an 80 year old camera! The camera even has an uncoated lens. All shots were hand held so they could have been better if they were shot from a tripod.

Overall I am very pleased with this camera. It is simple to use, and by the looks of the first roll, is a real keeper. A pocketable 6x9 medium format camera! I think I might sell my RB67 as it is huge compared to the Zeiss Super Ikonta.

Anyway, enough talk. Here are the photos. For those interested, these were shot on Across 100 film rated at 50 ISO and developed in Pyrocat MC for 13 minutes.

I scanned in with a flat profile, then adjusted the contrast to my liking.


Zeiss Super Ikonta Test Roll 1 by Andrew Marjama, on Flickr


Zeiss Super Ikonta Test Roll 2 by Andrew Marjama, on Flickr


Zeiss Super Ikonta Test Roll 3 by Andrew Marjama, on Flickr


Zeiss Super Ikonta Test Roll 4 by Andrew Marjama, on Flickr

[RSalles]

Hi Andrew,

Fully usable, Chuck Norris approves!


Seems to me the shutter is working properly as the exposure seems good. Lens also... What lens came with the Super?
A more open landscape with a better/defined light and probably you'll be able to test with a filter or two.
Good companion, congrats for the acquisition,

Cheers,

Renato

[Colorado CJ]

Thanks! Yeah, it was pretty overcast all day, so the light wasn't the best.

The camera came with a 105mm f3.8 Tessar lens in a compur rapid shutter.

The camera itself looks near new. The leather is nice and unscratched and it only has and couple of very small wear marks in the paint where it sat on its back.

Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta C by Andrew Marjama, on Flickr

[Peter De Smidt]

Very nice photos! I have a Super Ikonta, but alas mine needs some repair.

[RSalles]

Beautiful lady!

Cheers,

[Jac@stafford.net]

Last week I lucked out and grabbed one for a little over $100.00, they run upwards of$300.00 or more usually. Its in pristine condition and the shutter is very accurate.

You stole it! I have a lot of Super Ikontas. Kept buying the next one better over many years and they accumulated. Very sweet camera, and one of the most expensive of its era for good reasons.

It is rare to find one with an Albada viewfinder intact (if it had one), and the post-wwii Synchro shutters are rare. And spendy!

[jp]

If the shutter worked reliably in snowy temperatures, it's a keeper.

[alanbutler57]

Great results from a habit forming little camera. I was brave enough to take the lens apart on my 6x9 Super to clean some haze and simply love the images it produces. A few weeks ago I picked up the 6x6 version that, like your's looks brand new but with a film advance problem. So I boxed it and my 6x4.5 Super with it's broken viewfinder spring off to Jurgen at Certo6: http://www.certo6.com/

Wouldn't you know it, my 6x9 developed an issue with the linkage between the shutter release button and shutter while the other two were away. Now that they are back and working flawlessly I'll be sending the 6x9 to Jurgen. Great work, great communications and reasonable rates to repair and maintain these little engineering marvels.

[tuco]

Nice score and excellent pictures.

[Joe O'Hara]

Yeah, the Ikonta's a keeper.

I like your back yard, too ;-)