Carl Zeiss Jena Lens Serial Numbers
Harold Yengo
Would be good if you could locate the Zeiss Ikon body serial number. It should start with a letter.
This is sometimes located on the back, sometimes on the upper lip of the back (you have to open the back then)
107 months ago(permalink)
TitusLucretiusCarus:
Do you have any recommendation which film is best?
This particular Ikonta is still from a time when Black&White film was the standard. Maybe you should stick to that as I really am not sure if the Tessar used was already color-corrected.
Use a rather low ISO film, e.g. 100 to 200 to be in tune with the shutter speeds.
Use the fastest shutter speed (1/250 ??) to minimize the effect of camera shake or use a tripod.
However it is wise to first check the bellows for possible ligh leaks and check if the shutter speeds you want to use are Okay.
Originally posted 107 months ago. (permalink)
Hans Kerensky edited this topic 107 months ago.
One note - what you suggested above (that the lens may be made in one year and installed on a camera made later) can frequently be true. It's more of a common problem in post-WWII German cameras when parts were scarce. For example, my 1950's Zeiss Ikon Nettar 515/16 has the "wrong" combination of lens and shutter for that model. But my 1937(ish) Voigtlnder Brillant TLR also has a lens with a serial number suggesting it's from a couple of years earlier than the body. I think this is fairly typical, that lenses were probably bought in batches, warehoused, and used as needed. So you might get different answers from the serial numbers on the lens, shutter, and camera. Doesn't really matter though, you should be able to get into the right ballpark, but there may be no one "right" year.
As to which film is best I'd say don't worry about it, stick something in it and go out and shoot! If you're worried about whether it will work well, use the cheapest film you can find, which will likely be colour. If you feel like being a purist, go for black and white if you can find someone to develop it (or you know how to do it yourself). Or try some Ilford XP2 Super, which is black and white film that is developed in regular colour (C41) chemicals, and should therefore be easier to find a lab that will do it. But as noted above, beware faster film (400 ISO) in bright daylight with that shutter.
10.5 cm is an interesting focal length, more of a short telephoto on medium format. Normal lenses are usually 7.5 cm or so.
Enjoy!
107 months ago(permalink)
I use both black and white and color film in my 1937 Ikonta. The Tessar lens is still an uncoated one so it can flare up sometimes but the colors are lovely, I especially like Portra in it. Even the flares are lovely sometimes;)
I have e-mailed serial numbers of my camera and lens to Zeiss and they got back to me with the production years. Try contacting photoapp...@zeiss.de
106 months ago(permalink)