Zeiss-Ikon Super Ikonta - 1930s Medium Format 6x9 Rangefinder
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- Опубліковано 25 сер 2024
- #filmcamera #photography #filmphotography #film #camera #cameras #antique #zeiss
Super Ikonta C is one of my oldest working cameras at 90 years old. Producing 8 6x9cm exposures on a roll of 120 film, it has the potential for some great images. Stay tuned to fined out if it lives up to it's storied name.
If you're in the USA and have one of these that needs repair, I recommend Zacks Camera Repair.
zackscamerarepair.com
Your content is very easy to watch. It's simple and premium and same time. Good work!
Many, many thanks for the kind words! I do appreciate it!
An excellent presentation of the 1930s Super Ikonta. I enjoyed it. Parallax errors are common with that type of finder when shooting close-in. I own two 6x9 folders.
The one thing not mentionrd with regards to 6x9 medium format is many advanced amateurs made contact prints back in the day - which yielded a whopping 2-1/4 by 3-1/4 print -
Many thanks! I do believe that if I was familiar enough with the camera I’d learn to adjust for parallax - or at least get it in the ballpark of what I intend. And thanks for mentioning the deal about contact-printing. That’s absolutely true. Nice, BIG, crisp prints like these are definitely a selling point for 6x9 shooters. I recall many years ago shooting with an Agfa Billy-Clack 6x9 but not having any way to mount the neg in an enlarger. So I just did contact prints - which were no less than impressive. Cheers!
I agreed with you that the colour photos came out really well and I enjoyed the double exposure. Your final monochrome photograph did get a wow from me for what it's worth. I'm not quite ready to try out 120 film, but I do think you have sparked an interest in me to try.
Thanks for the kind words! And, let me just say that if you’re thinking about jumping into medium format with a Super Ikonta - unless someone has given it to you for free (that would be nice, btw) - I’d go for a different camera. Don’t get me wrong, this camera can be fantastic. But, it’s so un-modern that I personally think it’s a bit hard to use. It took me 3 hours to shoot 16 photos. It’s just not very user-friendly. My recommendation for an entry-level medium format camera would be one of the TLRs from Yashica. They’re well-made, have good optics, and are simple to use. My definition of “entry-level” is a camera that performs like it should and can produce great images. Not a plastic “toy” like a Holga. The Yashica’s have a great reputation.
I love folders. Best design ever made....especially for medium format. A 6x9 negative from something I can put in my pocket...epic. The best camera that was never made would have been a 6x9 Agfa Super Isolette. The Super Isolate was the rolex of folders to me but it is 6x6 only. A format I never got on with. I have a Bessa II which is the best 6x9 I have used. I love that camera and the images are outstanding. I have yet to use the Zeiss. It is definitley on my list.
Ooh that Bessa II sounds nice! I had the opportunity to buy one of those for about $70 USD back in the early 90’s when nobody cared. Apparently I didn’t either. I should’ve bought it. I’ve also looked at the Super Isolette every so often. It’s on the list. Cheers!
@@vintagecameradigest If I knew that they would become so desirable today, I would have bought as many as I could have back in the day when you couldn't give them away!
Would’ve been a good investment, no doubt!
Gorgeous photos from an old marvel! I'm still a little scared to dip my toes into analogue after ten years of digital, but your videos make it look so easy. I might get bitten by the film bug soon enough :) Keep up the great work!
Many thanks! As far as making it look easy, video editing is a wonderful thing. With that no one has to see the bumbling around and cursing under my breath that usually accompanies these shoots 😁. Especially this one!
I do encourage you to try film again. I think you’ll find it can provide satisfaction in ways digital just can’t. Cheers!
Thank you, it's an important knowledge to share, loved your channel
Thank you! And thanks for watching!
After seeing several, if not all of the videos, you posted I got a general idea of your workflow - spot light meter, incident light meter and so on - what I would really like to see is a video on film processing - the results you show are always consistent regardless of the choice of film - thanks in advance
Others have also asked about this, so I’ve been playing around with a few ideas on that for a while now. It’s on the list!
Love your videos. I have a Super Ikonta 530 /16, which gives a six by six cm format. It has the viewfinder located in the top rear, slightly to the left of center. I find this a much better arrangement, although requiring a little more parallax compensation. The boundaries are quite precise. I agree that the results for color film are surprisingly good despite the uncoated lens. This model also has double exposure prevention built in, but the "always wind on" or "never wind on" methods will be adequate if you make it a rigorous habit. I actually like this rig for handheld shooting more than in tripod use. I have also read that the shutter does not have intermediate speeds, although I'm not 100% certain. Of course, the apertures are usable at the intermediate values, so I generally use that to compensate. My light meters all have both the old-time and conventional shutter speeds indicated, so that helps as well. Keep up the great work! Andy
The idea of using this camera without a tripod is a good one, I think. Without the tripod as extra gear, this is a wonderful medium format shooter that collapses down to something you really could fit in your (slightly larger than normal) pocket. The shutter switch would be a little fiddly to get to - at least on mine since the secondary release is inop - but a cable release might solve that problem. Also, good to know that about the shutter speeds. That would’ve been my initial guess, since that’s the case with most cameras. But it was fun to entertain the thought. Also, may I ask what light meters you use that have the older markings as well as the modern? Might be something I’d like to add to my gear. Thanks for watching!
I have one just like that, a 530/2 purchased for $35 at a antique shop. It worked from the start and I use it regularly.
I wish I’d have found this one for $35 :-)) That’s a great deal, for sure!
i actually really like the double exposure a lot more. It looks surrealist
I think you’re right. And the color film really makes the point. It might be my favorite of the whole bunch, lol.
My late grandfather, who was born in 1912 and passed away in 1980, owned a Zeiss Ikonta, and I have most of his negatives from the 1940’s to the late 1960’s. I can remember him taking photos of me and my mum and dad, when I was a toddler. Anyway, I don’t know what film he used (probably Ilford or Selo), but the negatives are very sharp and have good contrast. Unfortunately he didn’t take any photos during his time in the army, during WW2. He was a Sargeant in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.
So cool that you have the memories of that. Is that Ikonta still around? If so, you need to give it a try.
@@vintagecameradigest Sadly, my grandmother sold it for a meagre £10. I would have loved to have been able to use it and cherish it. I do have his Kodak Retinette 1A though, thankfully.
Sorry the Ikonta got away. But at least you have that nice little Kodak. Those are fun!
Yay thanks for the color photos :). And wow I am quite shocked to be honest .. That camera takes some pretty nice photos .. Yeah not sure id make it my every day shooter lol. I am with you on the whole SLR spoiledness lol.
Shooting with this camera is almost like large format. Except with LF, you’re not guessing at composition. It was a tough shoot, but a good lesson in patience. Glad you liked the color film :-) I’m making it a point to shoot more color when the situation demands it. So, thank you for that encouragement!
The great discipline of ancient cameras! Always good to get in the click, roll habit!
You know it! It’s funny though. I kinda like that double-exposed shot more than the rest, lol.
Wonderful images and wonderful camera.
Many thanks!
I am glad you serviced this camera and is alive and well again :) It is true you have to go wider and crop a bit. As i just love 1930s cameras i learned to live with that.
As for double explosures this is another tricky thing to connsider, but i follow the routine of winding the film before each exposure for a reason.
Even 35mm folders, if not equiped with an air escapment system, when you unfold them (for example Plaubel Makina has an air espape system) they present a considerable amount if sunction to the film, and this might move it out of focal plane. 6x9s are much more prone to that of course.
That’s quite interesting and something that’s never occurred to me. But it absolutely makes sense. Many thanks for that tip!
Great! But i also would like to see portraits made on each old camera that you use, not only views and objects, it gives another point of view on this cameas, on lenses.
I definitely agree! And I do plan on working portraits into some of these reviews. I’m also thinking about going back to some of the cameras that have already appeared here and doing portrait sessions with them, as well. It’s overdue, for sure. Thanks!
Great photographs!
Watching you compose, meter and shoot your photos took me back to the first video I watched by you, “Why shoot film”?
The intrinsic value of the photograph taken when this camera came out was VERY high! Film and processing but the time required to make a photo was minutes not seconds like my iPhone. Watching the sun and shadows you had a couple hours in two rolls or 16 exposures. That’s a commitment! If you were using an extinction meter imagine how much longer?!
The color images were excellent!! Love Ektar!
Thanks for the video.
My feelings exactly! This shoot was a prime example of being committed to the image. And that’s leaving out all the time I set up for a shot before determining it wasn’t worth the film, so I moved on. And yes, you’re about right - I think it was about a 2 1/2 hour shoot for 16 images. And even I was surprised by how long it took. This was definitely a lesson on patience, and it really pointed out my shortcomings in that regard.
When shooting with old cameras. I use a digital camera in shutter priority to address the different shutter speeds. The modern meters give perfect exposure and a preview. This really helps me. Thanks for your great and most informative videos.
That’s an excellent way of using digital photography to assist in analogue. There’s definitely a benefit of being able to check the histogram when determine exposure.
after decades back to analog, owning a Zeiss Ikon Ikonta 521/2 and just shot the first rolls (anxiously waiting for the result 🙂) GREAT video! Keep up the good work!
Thanks! Nothing like the excitement of waiting for the results. I think the suspense associated with that is what keeps me doing this :-))
Welcome back. Color was a perfect choice. I actually liked the double exposure. Great video as always
Thanks! I sorta liked it, too - maybe even more than the others, lol.
Great video! I have one. I just use TMax 100 and Sunny 16 rule. Perfect exposure. Fun camera to use.
It is fun. Challenging at times, but fun, yes. And a good conversation-starter, too!
@@vintagecameradigest people are always very interested. How long did Zack’s take to cla your camera?
Once I got it to them it took about 3 weeks. BUT, he has such a waiting list, I had to wait a few weeks before sending it in. But, I literally couldn’t find anyone else to even look at it. I found maybe 3 or 4 leads online. But when I emailed them none ever got back to me.
@@vintagecameradigest thanks! Faster than Leica 😎
Absolutely fantastic
Thank you!
As always, great review! I’ve been looking to buy an Ikonta, but all the models and combinations make it so confusing that I’ve yet to pull the trigger.
There are tons of them! And the way Zeiss-Ikon badged the models (530/2 for example on this one) isn’t a very good descriptor. It assumes you already know how/why they’re named in such a way. Camera-wiki.org is a great resource to learn more about the individual models of these and any other camera in the world. Lots of great info. Good luck on your search!
thanks for an interesting episode. i share the same experience with folding mf 120 film cameras from 30s. they are cool but bit tricky to handle.
I think everyone should try it at least once - if for no other reason than to get some perspective on how far photography has come. This was absolutely an exercise in patience.
I've got to get you to shoot with a Werramatic. It has paralax correction and frame lines for 35mm, 50mm and 100mm lenses. It is a sweet, compact and unique 35mm camera. Let me know when you want to give it a whirl.
Super Ikonta cameras of the 50's and 60's had better view finders, at least more accurate than these old beasts with their pop up "guesstimate" finders. I have that problem with my Welta Perle!
Yes, this camera represents state of the art for 1930s. So, I’m glad to have had the experience. But I don’t see it becoming the one I reach for that often. I’ll let you know about that Werramatic. Sounds like a cool camera!
Just wondering where you are getting some of these older cameras? Nice to see you shoot some color film in this episode!
This particular one belonged to a cousin of a friend of mine. Apparently the cousin had it most of his life, and after he passed away my friend knew I’d love it. Most of my collection, though, comes from eBay. And I’ve been really lucky that most of them have not been total duds.
@@vintagecameradigest Nice friend!
So i am really new to the channel. Found you while researching the bronica s2a before i bought it. I have a bunch of folding cameras like this that are mostly shelf displays right now. I dont really use them because i am so nervous about light leaks from the bellows. I dont know if u have covered this in a past video but i would love to know a way to identify light leaks in these style cameras without having to sacrifice a roll of film in this economy. If it is in a past video let me know and i will go back and give it a watch. great channel and really glad i found it as i am getting back into shooting film.
Glad you found the channel! I don’t have a video on the topic of checking the bellows, BUT I use a rather simple method. Take the camera and a small light source (flashlight or torch) into the darkest room you have. Open the camera back and put the light inside the bellows. If there are any pinholes in the bellows, it’ll be easy to see them. Hope you’ll try some of those cameras out. You may be surprised!
@@vintagecameradigest thank you. I have a really nice Voigtlander Bessa 6x9 that i really wanna give a shot. I think it is from the early 30s so it would be amazing to be able to get something out of a like 80 year old unit.
Yes it would!
NICE , how you get scanned your photos 6x9 ? seems very good scanned . Regards
I just have the Russia copy, the Moskva V. But I think, it`s hard to find the right composition with the fiewfinder. So I changed to Fuji 690 and Horseman 6x9.
Yes, it’s tough with that viewfinder. But I guess that was standard for the time period. One of these days I’ll get around to trying one of those Fuji rangefinders. They do look like something I’d appreciate.
Hi, did you cover the film number window to prevent fogging?
I did not. Both of these films were ASA 100. Would it have made a difference with a higher speed film? It’s possible. And something I’ll need to test at some point.
May I know of what brand and model of film you are using in this video?
For this video I used Kodak Ektar 100. Thanks for watching!
I'm underwhelmed by mine after maybe a dozen rolls of film. IMHO, the Voigtlander Bessa models are easier to use and produce better results in B&W (I don't shoot color).
I’m going to give this one a while before I make up my mind. I have one of the Bessa cameras that’s about this same age. But it doesn’t have the rangefinder. I’d love a Bessa II, though.
@@vintagecameradigest If you'd like, I'll loan you my pre-war Bessa, Bessa I and Bessa II. Let me know-
I’ll definitely keep that in mind. Many, many thanks!
@@vintagecameradigest At your service.