Zeiss Ikon Ikonta (521/2 Ucs)

Photos by EC text by Sylvain Halgand. From the collection of Eric Carlhan. Last update 2022-06-16 par Sylvain Halgand.

Manufactured or assembled in Germany from 1938 to 1939.
Index of rarity in France: Rare (among non-specialized garage sales)
Inventory number: 2167

See the complete technical specifications

Chronology of cameras Zeiss Ikon

The Ikonta 6 x 9 vertical cameras were best-sellers for Zeiss Ikon during the 1930s, and to a lesser extent after World War II.These folding cameras can be divided into three major families, which evolved to incorporate technical improvements.

The first family, identified by the code 520/2, is a metal folding camera with a rectifying viewfinder on the shutter and a non-optical double-frame viewfinder on the body. The bellows have a complex shape and are relatively thin. There is no double-exposure prevention feature. There is a wide range of possible shutters and lenses, resulting in numerous potential combinations and variants.

The second generation, starting from 1938, is coded as 521/2. It is characterized by the addition of double-exposure prevention, with the mechanism visible at the base of the winding key. The rectifying viewfinder is eliminated, and the viewfinder on the body is replaced with one featuring glass. The shape of the bellows changes, with the main component becoming curved, giving them a more robust appearance. After the war, the Ikonta 6 x 9 cameras were once again manufactured with few significant changes, retaining the same code.

A vertical Ikonta folding camera with a hood incorporating the viewfinder and a safety system appeared around 1951/52. It is labeled as 523/2 and is sometimes referred to as the Ikonta II.

In each of these three generations, numerous variants in lens and shutter combinations can be found, along with modifications to certain components.

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Not yet translated into English

Cet exemplaire est équipé d'un objectif Tessar 4,5/10,5 cm et d'un obturateur Compur. Le corps est numéroté F24070, ce qui date sa fabrication en 1937/38.