Zeiss Mess Ikonta (524/16)

[Jerevan]

Just wanted to share my latest camera, an old Zeiss "Mess" Ikonta, which I got for $64 including shipping. It looks wonderful but focussing the lens feels a bit dry so I will send it off for a CLA. The camera has the Zeiss-Opton Tessar, which I didn't know at the time of purchase.

[Colman]

Looks nice. The logo markings are cleaner than mine.

[Windscale]

For this price it is a steal. I can't quite see the shutter. Is it a compur? The bellows look good. Get it CLAed asap and have fun.

[FallisPhoto]

Originally Posted by Jerevan

Just wanted to share my latest camera, an old Zeiss "Mess" Ikonta, which I got for $64 including shipping. It looks wonderful but focussing the lens feels a bit dry so I will send it off for a CLA. The camera has the Zeiss-Opton Tessar, which I didn't know at the time of purchase.

Too nice for me. I like restoring them.

[Jerevan]

The shutter is a Synchro Compur. No oil on the blades and none of the shutter speeds hesitates. Only superficial bright marks on the chrome and the lens is clear. The RF is a bit dim, but it may be from grime, I haven't cleaned the windows. Bellows look tight and supple if a bit dusty.

The weather around here has been too grey and rainy so I haven't had the time to try it out yet. Looking forward to use it alongside my trusty Sekonic L398.

I need to source a filter and a hood for it, and that'll take some time, I suppose...

[Windscale]

I used to go out in grey days using a homemade Kodak CC20Y filter and used slow colour ASA 50 film. Your grey day will come alive but you do lose one stop in filter factor. The CC20Y is a kind of yellow and came in a square sheet which I cut into a circle and stuck in a 49mm filter. An ordinary yellow warming filter may do roughly the same trick. It's fun.

[ZeissFan]

The camera takes 35.5mm filters, which thread to the outside of the lens. The filter is a push-on filter, but I don't recall the size -- A35.5, I believe.

It's a great camera. Congratulations.