I’ve searched my archives on an external HDD and I’ve found an old post
from another forum. It seems the spacing is wider in this model. 10 years ago
Paul Wheatland wrote: “I have a 1937 Super Ikonta B since the early 1980's.
It's a wonderful camera and I would caution you not to try to fool the counting
mechanism as it's almost a given the camera will jam. The 11 count feature was
adopted to avoid losing part of an image at the beginning or the end because of
the use of wood core (thicker) metal end spools found back in those days.
You'll notice the spacing on the negatives is wider with 11 shots.”.
So the author gives a different reason why they reduced the number of
frames. Anyway, if the frame counter / winding mechanism is as meticulous as
the one in my Super Ikonta BX, I wouldn’t dare to modify it.
Richard, I’m not shy about posting. I’ve learn a bit about photography in the
past 50 years, since I was 4, but when it comes to Rollei’s, all of you know so
much more than me. :)
-----Original Message-----
From: rollei_list-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <rollei_list-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On
Behalf Of `Richard Knoppow
Sent: Friday, March 6, 2020 1:10 AM
To: rollei_list@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [rollei_list] Re: Super Ikonta B
Thank you Pawel. I have long been curious about the cameras.
Its interesting that the mechanism was modified to reduce the number of frames.
I wonder if it was done by increasing the spacing. If so I would think it
unlikely that the camera could be fooled into making more. I wish I could
remember where I saw this, perhaps in some photo magazine in the dim, distant,
past.
Please don't be shy about posting.
On 3/5/2020 3:27 PM, Paweł Mazur wrote:
Hello everyone," .n + ^ y _ ]9 x" 0 y b ( ' r y k Y^ X -~ +- +a
I've been reading this great forum for years, but it’s my first post here.
I'm impressed with your knowledge!
There were a number of Zeiss Super Ikonta 6x6 cameras. The letter “B” in the
name stood for “6x6 cm format”. What was sold in the US as Super Ikomat B
(and as Super Ikonta 530/16 here in Europe) was an exception: they redesigned
it to reduce the number of frames from 12 to 11, because the previous model
had a problem with overlapping frames. Super Ikomat B was produced from 1935
to 1938. It used uncoated Tessar 3.5 (or 2.8)/8.0 lenses in a Compur-Rapid
shutter. I don't think it would make sense to buy it and force it to take 12
pictures. Later models were greatly improved and they took 12 pictures
again. I would recommend one of the postwar models from this series: Super
Ikonta BX 533/16 (aka Super Ikonta II, 1939-1955, Tessars in the postwar
version were coated), Super Ikonta III 531/16 (1953 to 1957) or Super Ikonta
IV 534/16 (1955 to 1959, unit focusing).
I have a postwar Super Ikonta BX 533/16 with a coated Tessar 2.8/80 and a
WORKING selenium meter (that is nearly as accurate as the matrix light
metering mode in my Nikon D/SLRs). Ikonta BX has a coupled rangefinder, as in
all Super Ikontas. When you load a film, you advance it till the arrows on
the paper back align with dots on the film chamber – like in my Rolleicord
V), I love it as much as I love my Rolleicord V, Certo Six and Iskra (they
are both 6x6 rangefinders with unit focusing, while my Super Ikonta BX is
front-focusing). BTW, Iskra also has this feeler that senses the beginning of
the film. I don’t see any significant differences between the 4 cameras in
terms of IQ or the ease of use. And I have more than a dozen of other 6x6
folders and TLRs to compare, most of them with Tessar-type lenses.
-Pawel
-----Original Message-----
From: rollei_list-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<rollei_list-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf Of `Richard Knoppow
Sent: Thursday, March 5, 2020 11:17 PM
To: rollei_list@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [rollei_list] Re: Super Ikonta B
To be clear, I am not sure if the trick works, one reason I am asking
about it. I am not even sure how to load a Super Ikonta. I can't tell from
the instruction books what the procedure is. Most "automatic" cameras have
either a red window to set the first exposure or else a marking on the film
gate like the later Rolleicord cameras. The film has a arrow across the paper
which is set to the gate mark. The earlier Rolleicord has a red window with a
shutter on the bottom. The film is wound until the Number 1 showws in the
windor, the shutter closed and the film wound to the stop for the first
frame. Many other cameras use a similar arrangement. The Rolleiflex Automat
is unique in that the starting point of the film is found by a feeler
arrangement and no pre-setting is required. I don't think any other camera
had a similar system.
I think there were post-war versions of the Super Ikonta that took 12
frames per roll.
Zeiss Ikon made a perfectly enormous number of models with much self
competition but a few had unique features, perhaps most notably the Contax. I
have lots of Zeiss lenses but no zeiss cameras.
On 3/5/2020 1:30 PM, David Stumpp wrote:
That's interesting. I do have one, but I didn't know you could fool--
it into taking 12 per roll. It is an interesting camera, and, much
like Rolleiflex TLRs, well engineered. I must admit that I never use
mine, though, because I'm loathe to use anything but a TLR for a
square image. I also have a Super Ikonta D that I've intended to
adapt to 120 film, but that's a project that has yet to be allocated
some spare time.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
*From:* rollei_list-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<rollei_list-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> on behalf of `Richard Knoppow
<dickburk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
*Sent:* 05 March 2020 19:40
*To:* rollei_list@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <rollei_list@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
*Subject:* [rollei_list] Super Ikonta B
Also known as a Super Ikomat. A folding camera that took pictures
on 120 film. It had automatic winding, took 11 2-1/4 x
2-1/4 images on 120. It seems to me that there was a way of fooling
it into taking 12 images, like a Rolleiflex, but can't remember how
that worked or where I saw it. I don't have a Super Ikonta and
probably never will but they are interesting. The camera used front
element focusing Tessars. The corrections must be compromised to make
a lens front element focusing but the Super Ikonta had a good
reputation for sharpness, perhaps because it had an excellent coupled
rangefinder.
Perhaps some Rollei person has had experience with them.
--
Richard Knoppow
dickburk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
WB6KBL
---
Rollei List
- Post to rollei_list@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Subscribe at rollei_list-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'subscribe'
in the subject field OR by logging into
https://nam05.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=www.freelists.org
&
amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7Ce1042072df95494571b808d7c152e853%7C84df9e7fe9f6
4
0afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637190434132965459&sdata=L0rfqS2Wga
U
J9HZrTgd8yFtNtnVtR2A8mQDG6wHWaAw%3D&reserved=0
<https://nam05.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.
freelists.org&data=02%7C01%7C%7Ce1042072df95494571b808d7c152e853%
7
C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637190434132970451&sd
a ta=dZ6dd2GG9S0DVN9M84yLQvn0fvaeV4Sj1lZBlOA1%2Fdg%3D&reserved=0>
- Unsubscribe at rollei_list-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'unsubscribe'
in the subject field OR by logging into
https://nam05.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=www.freelists.org
&
amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7Ce1042072df95494571b808d7c152e853%7C84df9e7fe9f6
4
0afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637190434132970451&sdata=jJ4lEEmV8Q
V
qWlcUAms%2B3VqMZmW70LLHDAK9gz4iWTQ%3D&reserved=0
<https://nam05.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.
freelists.org&data=02%7C01%7C%7Ce1042072df95494571b808d7c152e853%
7
C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637190434132970451&sd
a ta=dZ6dd2GG9S0DVN9M84yLQvn0fvaeV4Sj1lZBlOA1%2Fdg%3D&reserved=0>
- Online, searchable archives are available at
https://nam05.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.
f
reelists.org%2Farchives%2Frollei_list&data=02%7C01%7C%7Ce1042072d
f
95494571b808d7c152e853%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C6
3
7190434132970451&sdata=cNGaEfrbEyHrR1XWQknvS711nDsCLHxA1RBptvyQee
I
%3D&reserved=0
Richard Knoppow
dickburk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
WB6KBL
---
Rollei List
- Post to rollei_list@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Subscribe at rollei_list-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'subscribe'
in the subject field OR by logging into
https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=www.freelists.org&;
amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7C900186b6bad3458fecaa08d7c162b595%7C84df9e7fe9f64
0afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637190502004805508&sdata=AcQ6%2FFxaF
QDJmgUcyMHJgnuqCCzwSgUen%2F1%2B0jIlgow%3D&reserved=0
- Unsubscribe at rollei_list-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'unsubscribe'
in the subject field OR by logging into
https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=www.freelists.org&;
amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7C900186b6bad3458fecaa08d7c162b595%7C84df9e7fe9f64
0afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637190502004815500&sdata=JD22vtJGeeT
6AceKSzaZm%2Bs8i%2Fxn%2BBGeVpILIIMByqU%3D&reserved=0
- Online, searchable archives are available at
https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.f
reelists.org%2Farchives%2Frollei_list&data=02%7C01%7C%7C900186b6ba
d3458fecaa08d7c162b595%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C63
7190502004815500&sdata=cB3r2XLPsPYnHUxSRy7erXHnWVfrr%2FfF9gl%2Ffu5
cdJ8%3D&reserved=0
F ez" h ez)b y b ( n + % 襊 kz y b (
