What is the View Lens serial number? Classic Zeiss Jena serial numbers: 400,000's 1921-1923 4,000,000's mid 1950's. 1929 shown as the change to Compur Rim set shutters, about serial number 97,091. The Compur Rapid is a rim set shutter., 125,883 1st Contax lens, 1931. 1,890,000 switch to chrome finish, 1936. Zeiss has refused to identify the exact number produced. The most popular estimate circulating on the Internet is about 100 with some as high as 300 which are. Manufactured by Zeiss Ikon AG., Stuttgart, West Germany Model: c.1954, Zeiss catalog number 533/24, 2nd version, (produced between 1953-55) Folder 35mm film camera Engraving on the front cover: Zeiss Ikon, Contessa and stamp in the front cover Zeiss logo Lens: Tessar Zeiss-Opton T, 45mm f/2.8, four element, coated filter thread 27mm, slip-on 28.5 mm, serial no.857474 Aperture: f/2.8-f/22. The serial numbers don't quite line up on the chart for Carl Zeiss Jena lenses for 1938, but I think that may be a bit of a typo. However going by the chart and making an assumption on my part, I would say it looks like the date of manufacture might be approximately 1938 +/- a year or two. The camera maybe older than I thought. In addition to the medium-format folding cameras presented above, Zeiss Ikon also produced a small range of 35mm folding cameras. The Ikonta 35, model number 522/24, had started production shortly after WWII and was a viewfinder camera with a front-cell focussing lens.
- Film Holder For Zeiss Ikon Maximar
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- Zeiss Ikonta Models
History of Zeiss Ikon Ikoflex Cameras
Recently I started restoring a vintage Ikoflex TLR camera. Before purchasing the camera I ultimately got, I did some internet research on Ikoflexes. They are not a particularly famous brand, so it was a little harder to get information about them. Fortunately, a lot of great information has been recorded at sites like the camera wiki, Pacific Rim Camera, and Barry Toogood’s TLR Cameras Website. As great as these sites are, there seems to be some minor discrepancies between them in places. Having received some basic training as a historian, I wanted to look over the primary sources. As I started gathering source material and sorting through references to the somewhat confusing Ikoflex model designations, I started taking notes. Rather than just keeping my notes to myself, I thought I would contribute back to the internet by posting them.
The title suggests that this post will contain some sort of narrative history of Ikoflex cameras. But, it doesn’t really. It’s mostly data I grabbed from other sources, organized in a way that makes sense to me. This page is a work in progress, so I will continue to update it as I learn more.
Models
The history of the Ikoflex line of cameras is bisected by World War II. So, there are pre-war cameras, a void when the war was raging, and post-war cameras. The post-war cameras start out being just a continuation of the pre-war models: I (850-16), II (852-16), and maybe III (853-16). While researching I found references to new Ikoflex III’s being sold after the war, but it’s not clear if those were produced after the war if they were old stock.
It makes sense that Zeiss Ikon would be happy to just get back to producing the same quality cameras it had been making before the war. The war was very destructive for most of the world. The company was located in Dresden, a city who’s fate was documented in Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-Five. Virtual dj pro 7 dmg crack free apps free. And, after the war a portion of the company moved to the opposite side of the country – from Dresden to Stuttgart – to escape the fate of the portion. Russia requisitioned the latter’s equipment to help rebuild their own destroyed photography industry.
Film Holder For Zeiss Ikon Maximar
The real post-war models, when the company was innovating and not just rebuilding, seem to begin with the Ia and the IIa. The models with lowercase letters, and the Favorit, represent true post-war models to me.
| Name | Number | Years | Model | Viewing | Taking Lens | Shutter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ikoflex¹ | 850-16 | 1934-37 | E | f/3.5 | Novar f/6.3 | Derval |
| Ikoflex¹ | 850-16 | 1934-37 | I | f/3.5 | Novar 80mm f/4.5 | Derval |
| Ikoflex¹ | 850-16 | 1934-37 | IK | f/3.5 | Novar 80mm f/4.5 | Klio |
| Ikoflex¹ | 850-16 | 1934-37 | CR | f/3.5 | Novar 80mm f/4.5 | Compur-Rapid |
| Ikoflex I² | 850-16 | 1936-39 | Ik | Teronar f/3.5 | Novar 75mm f/4.5 | Klio |
| Ikoflex I² | 850-16 | 1936-39 | Ik | Teronar f/3.5 | Triotar 75mm f3.5 | Compur |
| Ikoflex I² | 850-16 | 1936-39 | Lcr | Teronar f/3.5 | Triotar 75mm f3.5 | Compur-Rapid |
| Ikoflex I² | 850-16 | 1936-39 | Fc | Teronar f/3.5 | Novar 75mm f/4.5 | Compur |
| Ikoflex I² | 850-16 | 1939-51 | Fps | Teronar f/3.5 | Novar 75mm f/4.5 | Prontor-S |
| Ikoflex I² | 850-16 | 1939-51 | Lps | Teronar f/3.5 | Tessar 75mm f/3.5 | Prontor-S |
| Ikoflex I² | 850-16 | 1939-51 | Lps | Teronar f/3.5 | Tessar T 75mm f/3.5 | Prontor-S |
| Ikoflex II³ | 852-16 | 1936-39 | Kc | Teronar f/3.5 | Triotar 75mm f3.5 | Compur |
| Ikoflex II³ | 852-16 | 1936-39 | Lcr | Teronar f/3.5 | Tessar 75mm f/3.5 | Compur-Rapid |
| Ikoflex II³ | 852-16 | 1939-51 | Lcr | Teronar f/3.5 | Tessar 75mm f/3.5 | Compur-Rapid |
| Ikoflex III | 853-16 | 1939-40 | Teronar f/2.8 | Tessar 80mm f/2.8 | Compur-Rapid | |
| Ikoflex Ia | 854-16 | 1952-56 | Fpms | Teronar f/3.5 | Novar 75mm f/3.5 | Prontor-SV |
| Ikoflex Ia | 854-16 | 1952-56 | Lpms | Teronar f/3.5 | Tessar 75mm f/3.5 | Prontor-SV |
| Ikoflex IIa | 855-16 | 1950-52 | Teronar f/3.6 | Tessar 75mm f/3.5 | Compur-Rapid | |
| Ikoflex IIa | 855-16 | 1950-52 | Teronar f/3.7 | Tessar 75mm f/3.5 | Synchro-Compur | |
| Ikoflex IIa | 855-16 | 1953-56 | Teronar f/3.6 | Tessar 75mm f/3.5 | Compur-Rapid | |
| Ikoflex IIa | 855-16 | 1953-56 | Teronar f/3.7 | Tessar 75mm f/3.5 | Synchro-Compur | |
| Ikoflex Ib | 856-16 | 1956-58 | Fpms | Teronar f/3.5 | Novar 75mm f/3.5 | Prontor-SVS |
| Ikoflex Ib | 856-16 | 1956-58 | Lpms | Teronar f/3.5 | Tessar 75mm f/3.5 | Prontor-SVS |
| Ikoflex Ic | 886-16 | 1959-60 | Fpms | Teronar f/3.5 | Novar 75mm f/3.5 | Prontor-SVS |
| Ikoflex Ic | 886-16 | 1959-60 | Lpms | Teronar f/3.5 | Tessar 75mm f/3.5 | Prontor-SVS |
| Ikoflex Favorit | 887-16 | 1957-60 | Teronar f/3.5 | Teronar 75mm f/3.5 | Synchro-Compur |
Table Notes
- Sometimes called Ikoflex I (when below was named Ikoflex II), also nicknamed the “coffee can”
- Was originally named Ikoflex II with number 851-16, took over the name Ikoflex I and number 850-16 when the coffee can model was discontinued
- Was originally named Ikoflex III, took over Ikoflex II when the coffee can model was discontinued, number stayed the same
Data from Primary Sources
The only primary sources I really have are: Zeiss brochures, dealer price lists, and camera shop advertisements. Maybe the company contributed their documents to an archive somewhere, but it would be in Germany and I won’t be traveling there soon, so I am limited to what I can find on the internet. As I looked through these sources I was noting the models available at the time. I tried to find material from various countries. It seems that models may have been selectively available by country at times. If I want to understand what was being produced, then I need to take a more wholistic view.
The table below records the year of the source, how it referenced the Ikoflex line, and the options which it stated were available. I don’t explicitly state the country of origin, mostly because I cannot say for sure. However, the prices are usually a giveaway, which is why I include them. The prices themselves are not super useful since sometimes it represents the dealer prices, but normally it represents the retail price.
| Year | Nomenclature | Option | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1934 | Ikoflex | Novar 1:6,3 | Lr 355.00 |
| 1934 | Ikoflex | Novar 1:4,5 | Lr 430.00 |
| 1935 | Ikoflex | With Novar f/4.5 | $36.00 |
| 1936 | Ikoflex 6x6¹ | Novar 1:6,3 Derval | Fr 460 |
| 1936 | Ikoflex 6x6¹ | Novar 1:4,5 Derval | Fr 535 |
| 1936 | Ikoflex 6x6¹ | Novar 1:4,5 Klio | Fr 600 |
| 1936 | Ikoflex 6x6¹ | Novar 1:4,5 Klio (nickle plated) | Fr 700 |
| 1936 | Ikoflex 6x6¹ | Triotar 1:3,8 Comp. (chrome plated) | Fr 870 |
| 1936 | Ikoflex 6x6¹ | Triotar 1:3,5 Comp. R (chrome plated) | Fr 1215 |
| 1937 | Ikoflex Model I | Novar f/6.3; Derval | £7.0s.0d. |
| 1937 | Ikoflex Model II | Novar f/4.5; Derval | £8.5s.0d. |
| 1937 | Ikoflex Model II | Novar f/4.5; Klio | £9.0s.0d. |
| 1937 | Ikoflex Model II | Zeiss Triotar f/3.5; Compur 00 | £15.12s.6d. |
| 1937 | Ikoflex Model II | Zeiss Tessar f/3.5; Compur 00 R | £20.10s.6d. |
| 1938 | Ikoflex II | Zeiss Tessar f/3.5; Compur Rapid | $95.00 |
| 1938 | Ikoflex, II | Zeiss Tessar f/3.5; Compur Rapid | $88.00 |
| 1939 | Ikoflex I (850/16 Fc) | mit Novar 1:3,5; Compur 00 | RM 96.00 |
| 1939 | Ikoflex II (852/16 Kc) | mit Zeiss Triotar 1:3,5; Compur 00 | RM 144.00 |
| 1939 | Ikoflex II (852/16 Lcr) | mit Zeiss Tessar 1:3,5; Compur 00 R | RM 186.00 |
| 1939 | Ikoflex III (853/16 Pesr) | mit Zeiss Tessar 1:3,5; Compur 00 R | RM 320.00 |
| 1939 | Ikoflex II | ZEISS Tessar f/3.5; Compur-Rapid | $116.00 |
| 1939 | Ikoflex II (852/16 Kc) | Zeiss Triotar 1:3,5; Compur 00 | £18.0s.0d. |
| 1939 | Ikoflex II (852/16 Lcr) | Zeiss Tessar 1:3,5; Compur 00R | £23.5s.0d. |
| 1940 | IKOFLEX I 6x6 | con Novar 1:3,5 Compur | Lr 895 |
| 1940 | IKOFLEX II 6x6 | con Triotar Zeiss 1:3,5 Compur | Lr 1350 |
| 1940 | IKOFLEX II 6x6 | con Tessar Zeiss 1:3,5 Compur Rapid | Lr 1725 |
| 1940 | IKOFLEX III 6x6 | con Tessar Zeiss 1:2,8 Compur Rapid | Lr 2825 |
| 1941 | IKOFLEX I | Triotar Zeiss 1:3,5 | |
| 1941 | IKOFLEX II | Tessar Zeiss 1:3,5 | |
| 1941 | IKOFLEX III | Tessar Zeiss 1:2,8 | |
| 1944 | IKOFLEX I² | Novar F:3.5 Compur | $64.00 |
| 1944 | IKOFLEX II² | Zeiss Triotar F:3.5 | $74.25 |
| 1944 | IKOFLEX II² | Zeiss Tessar F:3.5 Compur Rapid | $94.20 |
| 1944 | IKOFLEX III² | Zeiss Tessar F:2.8 Compur Rapid | $164.25 |
| 1946 | Ikoflex I | F3.5 Tessar, case | $82.50 |
| 1946 | Ikoflex II | F3.5 Tessar, case | $132.50 |
| 1947 | Ikoflex I | f3.5, case | $165.00 |
| 1947 | Ikoflex III | Tessar f2.8 | $375.00 |
| 1948 | Ikoflex I | Novar F3.5, Del. Action | $111.00 |
| 1948 | Ikoflex I | Tessar F3.5 “T.” Coated | $132.00 |
| 1948 | Ikoflex I | Tessar F3.5, 1-1/500 | $147.00 |
| 1949 | Ikoflex I | Novar F:3.5 | $111.00 |
| 1949 | Ikoflex I | Tess. F:3.5 ctd., case | $132.00 |
| 1952 | IKOFLEX Ia | NOVAR f/3.5; Prontor SV | $113.00 |
| 1952 | IKOFLEX Ia | TESSAR f/3.5; Prontor SV | $140.00 |
| 1952 | IKOFLEX IIa (automatic) | TESSAR f/3.5 Synchro Compur (delivery in 1953) | $200.00 |
| 1953 | IKOFLEX Ia | NOVAR f/3.5; Prontor SV | $113.00 |
| 1953 | IKOFLEX Ia | TESSAR f/3.5; Prontor SV | $140.00 |
| 1953 | IKOFLEX IIa (automatic) | TESSAR f/3.5 Synchro Compur | $200.00 |
| 1955 | IKOFLEX Ia | NOVAR f/3.5, 75mm; Prontor SV | $76.00 |
| 1955 | IKOFLEX Ia (854/16 Lpms) | TESSAR f/3.5, 75mm; Prontor SV | $96.00 |
| 1955 | IKOFLEX IIa (855/16 Lcm) | TESSAR f/3.5, 75mm Synchro Compur | $126.00 |
| 1956 | IKOFLEX Ib (856/16 Fpms) | NOVAR f/3.5; Prontor SVS | $99.00 |
| 1956 | IKOFLEX Ib (856/16 Lpms) | TESSAR f/3.5; Prontor SVS | $119.00 |
| 1956 | IKOFLEX Ic (886/16 Fpms) | NOVAR f/3.5; Prontor SVS | $119.00 |
| 1956 | IKOFLEX Ic (886/16 Lpms) | TESSAR f/3.5; Prontor SVS | $139.00 |
| 1957 | Ikoflex Ib (856/16 Fpms) | Novar f/3.5 | |
| 1957 | Ikoflex Ic (886/16 Fpms) | Novar f/3.5 | |
| 1957 | Ikoflex Ic (886/16 Lpms) | Tessar f/3.5 | |
| 1957 | Ikoflex Favorit (887/16 Lcms) | Tessar f/3.5 Synchro-Compur | |
| 1957 | IKOFLEX Ib (856/16 Fpms) | NOVAR f/3.5 Prontor SVS | $99.00 |
| 1957 | IKOFLEX Ic (886/16 Fpms) | NOVAR f/3.5 Prontor SVS | $126.00 |
| 1957 | IKOFLEX Ic (886/16 Lpms) | TESSAR f/3.5 Prontor SVS | $146.00 |
| 1957 | IKOFLEX Favorit (887/16 Lcms) | TESSAR f/3.5 Synchro-Compur MXV | $209.00 |
| 1957 | IKOFLEX Ib (856/16 Fpms) | NOVAR f/3.5 Prontor SVS | $99.00 |
| 1957 | IKOFLEX Ic (886/16 Fpms) | NOVAR f/3.5 Prontor SVS | $126.00 |
| 1957 | IKOFLEX Ic (886/16 Lpms) | TESSAR f/3.5 Prontor SVS | $146.00 |
| 1957 | IKOFLEX Favorit (887/16 Lcms) | TESSAR f/3.5 Synchro-Compur MXV | $209.00 |
| 1958 | IKOFLEX Ic (886/16 Fpms) | NOVAR f/3.5 Prontor SVS | $126.00 |
| 1958 | IKOFLEX Ic (886/16 Lpms) | TESSAR f/3.5 Prontor SVS | $146.00 |
| 1958 | IKOFLEX Favorit (887/16 Lcms) | TESSAR f/3.5 Synchro-Compur MXV | $159.00 |
Table Notes
- Ikoflex II (851-16) was pictured
Lens Serial Numbers
All of this information comes from Jason Greenberg Motamedi’s website, he cataloged it from other sources which are no longer available. He lists serial numbers for other old large format lense manufacturers too, so if you want information on non-Zeiss lenses take a look at his site.
Pre-war: Carl Zeiss Jena Serial Numbers
| Serial From | Serial To | Year |
|---|---|---|
| 173,418 | 200,520 | 1912 |
| 208,473 | 249,350 | 1913 |
| 249,886 | 252,739 | 1914 |
| 282,800 | 284,500 | 1915 |
| 285,200 | 288,100 | 1916 |
| 289,087 | 298,157 | 1917 |
| 298,215 | 322,748 | 1918 |
| 322,799 | 351,611 | 1919 |
| 375,194 | 419,823 | 1920 |
| 433,273 | 438,361 | 1921 |
| 422,899 | 498,006 | 1922 |
| 561,270 | 578,297 | 1923 |
| 631,500 | 578,297 | 1924 |
| 631,500 | 648,500 | 1925 |
| 666,790 | 703,198 | 1926 |
| 722,196 | 798,251 | 1927 |
| 903,100 | 908,150 | 1928 |
| 919,794 | 1,016,885 | 1929 |
| 922,488 | 1,239,697 | 1930 |
| 1,239,699 | 1,365,582 | 1931 |
| 1,364,483 | 1,389,279 | 1932 |
| 1,436,671 | 1,456,003 | 1933 |
| 1,500,474 | 1,590,000 | 1934 |
| 1,615,764 | 1,752,303 | 1935 |
| 1,674,882 | 1,942,806 | 1936 |
| 1,930,150 | 2,219,775 | 1937 |
| 2,267,991 | 2,527,984 | 1938 |
| 2,527,999 | 2,651,211 | 1939 |
| 2,652,000 | c2,678,000 | 1940 |
| 2,678,326 | 2,790,346 | 1941 |
| 2,800,000 | ? | 1942 |
Post-war: Carl Zeiss Jena, East Germany
| Serial Number | Years |
|---|---|
| 3,000,000-3,200,000 | 1945-1949 |
| 3,200,000-3,470,000 | 1949-1952 |
| 3,470,000-4,000,000 | 1952-1955 |
| 4,000,000-5,000,000 | 1955-1958 |
| 5,000,000-6,000,000 | 1958-1961 |
| 6,000,000-6,000,000 | 1961-1964 |
| 7,000,000-8,000,000 | 1964-1967 |
| 8,000,000-9,000,000 | 1967-1970 |
| 9,000,000-10,000,000 | 1970-1975 |
Post-war: Carl Zeiss (Opton), Oberkochen, West Germany
| Serial Number | Years |
|---|---|
| 10,000-500,000 | 1946-1951 |
| 500,000-1,100,000 | 1951-1953 |
| 1,100,000-2,600,000 | 1953-1959 |
| 2,600,000-3,000,000 | 1959-1961 |
| 3,000,000-4,000,000 | 1961-1965 |
| 4,000,000-5,000,000 | 1965-1969 |
| 5,000,000-6,000,000 | 1969-1971 |
| 6,000,000-7.300,000 | 1971-1975 |
References
Credits
- Cover photo: Library of Congress, call number LC-USF34-029239-D
- Pre-war models: Emanuel, Walter Daniel, Ikoflex Guide: How to Make Full Use of your Ikoflex (New York: Focal Press, 1957)
Improved model
Zeiss-Ikon
Stuttgart
West Germany
Lens:
f2.8, 45 mm Tessar, automatic iris diaphragm to f22. Depth-of-field scale. Serial no. 1310119 .Shutter:
Compur, speeds 1 - 1/500, B. Delayed action. X and M flash synchronisation.Construction:
Metal body.Format:
36, 24 x 36 mm exposures on 35 mm film in cassette. Two Contax cassettes can be used or one standard cassette with re-wind.Focusing:
Front cell to 3 feet.Attributes:
Reflex viewing through taking lens. Roof pentaprism finder, split-image rangefinder and ground glass circle on focusing screen with Fresnel condenser. Mirror trips and is raised by spring.Auto-stop on film advance. Film advance tensions the shutter. Exposure counter.
Serial Number:
D72420 .With:
- 1.7x Teleskop. Depth-of-field scale, focus to 1.2 metre. Front and rear caps. Accessory bracket. Serial no. 1737243.
- Accessory shoe. Instruction book. Brochure on the Contaflex.
- Filters for 45 mm standard lens, female thread: Yellow, in case, box; Green, in case; Red; in case, box.
- Metal push-on lens hood for 45 mm lens.
- Ikolor A filter, S55 size female thread for Teleskop. Metal, lens hood for Teleskop. Female thread that screws into the knurling around the lens.
- Proxars, push-on A28.5 size for 45 mm lens: 1m, 0.5 m, 0.3 m, 0.2 m. In case.
- Two re-loadable Contax cassettes.
Code Names:
861/24 - Camera. 861/03 - Teleskop. 861/07 - Accessory bracket. 861/02 - Accessory shoe. A1110 - Lens hood for 45 mm lens. 355 - Ikolor A filter S55. 319/861/24 - Instruction box. 540/1 - Cassette.Zeiss-Ikon
Stuttgart
West Germany
Lens:
f2.8, 45 mm Tessar, automatic iris diaphragm to f22. Depth-of-field scale. Serial no. 1819893 .Shutter:
Compur, speeds 1 - 1/500, B. Delayed action.Construction:
Metal body.Format:
36, 24 x 36 mm exposures on 35 mm film in cassette. Two Contax cassettes can be used or one standard cassette with re-wind.Focusing:
Front cell to 3 feet.Attributes:
Reflex viewing through taking lens. Roof pentaprism finder, split-image rangefinder and ground glass circle on focusing screen with Fresnel condenser. Mirror trips and is raised by spring.Auto-stop on film advance. Film advance tensions the shutter. Exposure counter.
Uncoupled selenium exposure meter.
Serial Number:
J10488 .With:
- Steritar A. Prism attachment with front plate and rear cap. Baffle. For 24 x 18 mm exposures. 2 ½' separation. In box. Accessory bracket.
- Filters for 45 mm standard lens, female thread: UV; Yellow; Green.
- Metal push-on lens hood for 45 mm lens. Ever-ready case.
The Contaflex was one of the first in a small group of 35mm SLR cameras having a leaf shutter, several further models were to follow in the Contaflex range. They were aimed at the upper end of the amateur market but were also used professionally especially for flash work as they had synchronisation at all speeds.
The model II was the same as a model I but with the addition of a selenium exposure meter.
Zeiss-Ikon Nettar 516/2, What Year? | Photo.net Photography ..
Steritar
The stereo unit comprises two prisms positioned in front of the lens to provide the stereo separation. The lens transposes the two images, so they can be mounted directly in a slide holder or printed in an enlarger. This is different to the Contax which used a pair of primary lenses where the images have to be transposed. Zeiss provided viewers and stereo projectors, the latter using the polarising principle.Zeiss Lens Serial Number
This is a Steritar A, the model B fits the later Contaflex with Tessar lens, the model D fits the Contaflex with Pantar lens, the model C fits the Contax. There is also a model B for close-up photography.
Year Of Zeiss Ikon Camera Based On Serial Number | Photo.net ..
The Steritar and 1.7x Teleskop attach to the camera via a bracket. The bracket slides onto the camera, the Steritar and Teleskop then screw into the bracket.
Zeiss Ikonta Models
Code Names:
812 - Stereo Prism. 814/02 - Baffle. 861/07 - Accessory bracket. A1110 - Lens hood for 45 mm lens.References & Notes:
ZI Price List 1957.Further Information:
Bomback, Contaflex Manual, p. 164.