Super Ikonta 533/!6

[RubenBlaedel]

My dear collegue at work gave me a Super Ikonta 533/16 for x-mas with a tessar 1:2.8 zeiss opton f=80 mm and a synchro compur shutter.
The lightmeter works fine. Overall condition very nice, came with a leather bag and a shade.
Due to it was stuck in transport I only just got it now - but I am as happy as can be.
I had one without a meter and with a rapid shutter 15 years ago but I sold it to an artist friend of mine who "keept on and on" about the camera - I have regretted selling it ever since. He paid me 300 usd then - my collegue paid just 80 USD now and the camera is in much nicer condition - glas being crystal clear and slow shutter times working just right. The finder is a bit dim especially compared to my Leicas - is that normal ??- can the viewfinder be made clearer in any way ?? I think I worked out most there is to now about the different functions but I would be thankfull if there is any advice on what to do and especially what not to do with the camera ? any links to photographies taken with the super Ikonta ?? As I understand it was more a high end amateur camera than a Pro camera - did any known phtographers use it in history ? I think in many ways it is one of the nices MF cameras I have ever handled - do I find any Super Ikonta users here feeling the same way ??
Ruben

[Pherdinand]

80$?? wow, that's a real steal! I am sure you will like the results too, not only using it.

[RubenBlaedel]

If it is not camera threatning bad weather this weekend I will take it for a long walk in the nature :-)
I think I accidently posted the thread under russian rangefinders -I am new to this forum - hope its ok

[taffer]

Well in fact the Russians used and copied some Zeiss designs, some Ikontas among them so I guess it is ok

Welcome Ruben, hope everything is fine, some storms going on there !

[Solinar]

Looks like you have the grand dame of medium format folders. The Super Ikonta BX is steeped in prewar heritage, craftsmanship and post-war politics. After the war, Zeiss-Ikon's only major factory that was notunder Soviet occupation was the factory in Stuttgart. So, with what tooling survived, the Ikontas and Nettars were the first cameras to resume production in the Western Zone.

You may want to have the beomoth serviced before using it, if any of the focusing or film advance mecahisms seem tight or sluggish.

Speaking of the film advance, it has 40 some odd moving parts. To set the first frame, advance the film until the number one appears in the ruby window. Set the film counter to 1 and the film advance will stop automatically for the remaining 11 frames. Do not play with the frame counter when there is no film loaded.

A dim viewfinder is the norm.

All in all, it's the perfect camera for a blustery winter day. All that finely machined aluminum and brass gearing weighs enough to resist even a gale force wind.

[RubenBlaedel]

Thanks Floyd for the tip on the manual - I will bring smal gossen meter along to make control readings.
Andrew all moving items are smooth but not loose - i will load the first film to our instructions! I like the heavy weight of the camera - I can never make up my mind what cameras to bring when I leave home som I am used to carry a lot of kilos. I think a heavy camera helps holding it steady.

[furcafe]

Yes, the finder is always going to be dim, although a cleaning may help a bit, because the prisms used in the focusing mechanism are colored to begin with.

1 advantage of the Super Ikonta BX is that you get a full 12 exposures per roll of 120, unlike the regular B, which only gives you 11 (for reasons unknown).

For more Zeiss Ikon lore & trivia, you might want to ask around the Zeiss Ikon Collectors Group (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZICG/).

[doubs43]

Ruben, your 533/16 Super-Ikonta should produce truly outstanding images. The $80 price is a steal as someone has already mentioned.

I think you'll be very pleased with it. Just don't let anyone talk you out of this one.

Walker

[RubenBlaedel]

Thanks Walker - and yes I am going to keep this one ! I do not want to make the same mistake twice