Most Complicated TLR Ever? How to Unload and Load The Zeiss Ikon Ikoflex With 120 Film

[@rubenmartinezperez5341]

I've just bought this exact camera and I would like to thank you the time you invested in doing this video because it helped me a lot to understand the camera and to be able to load it all by myself. Please keep making these type of videos, you are awesome!

[@vintagetechmall]

Glad I could help! Thanks :-)

[@blessiowner]

Thank you so much for creating this video. My mother got me an Ikoflex ia for my birthday since the camera and I entered the marketplace in the same year. I hadn't worked with film in decades, and even then it was point and shot. I was totally lost so your video was wonderfully informative.

[@gauravanand05]

Thanks for the video. I watched this before using my Zeiss Ikoflex for the first time!

[@vintagetechmall]

Great to hear!

[@randybennett6846]

Excellent description of loading the Ikon TLR... I have two of these and I could have saved a couple of rolls of films if I had seen this a few years earlier. Really good job... always enjoy your vids! Again... very good

[@vintagetechmall]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for supporting this channel! Cheers.

[@stevenpeters6909]

Just purchased an Ikoflex 845 in immaculate condition, and knew there were some idiosyncrasies about its usage. Your video has helped me at least get past the loading stage. Thanks for the info, and happy shooting.

[@vintagetechmall]

Glad you found this helpful. Cheers!

[@Agounet]

Thank you for this very helpful video.

[@vintagetechmall]

You are very welcome. Glad this helped :-)

[@harrystevens3885]

Excellent informative video Ben! this will help a lot of people with this type of camera so glad you eventually removed the flash gun assembly, as for self timers I have come across restores of old cameras that remove them from certain models because of the trouble they can cause.

[@vintagetechmall]

Thanks so much! Interesting tidbit about the self timers, learned something new. Cheers!

[@richiereceipts3475]

Thanks, great video and very helpful

[@vintagetechmall]

Glad it was helpful!

[@tristanmurff6586]

Hey Ben, Thanks for the video! this was super helpful in working with the camera!!! Was beating myself up trying to figure it out

[@vintagetechmall]

Awesome, glad to hear!

[@markusklein6309]

Excellent explanation! Very helpful.

[@vintagetechmall]

You're very welcome

[@andrewwilkin1923]

Hi Ben, that was hard work, will stick with my Mamiya C330 :-). Golden rule for old cameras, never try the self timer!

[@vintagetechmall]

Lol, I know right? Certainly the most complicated loading system I have seen. Oh, and yes, the film timer thing, I just pretend they don't exist :-)

[@wonkylondon3204]

What happens if you used the self timer?

[@andrewwilkin1923]

@@wonkylondon3204 There is a risk that the self timer could jam up before it fires the shutter. That would leave you with a dead camera.

[@Bokicazver]

Thank you!

[@vintagetechmall]

You're welcome!

[@manzanoben]

Very useful video. Thanks!!! :)

[@kovbasyukphoto]

thank you for this video!

[@vintagetechmall]

You're very welcome 🙂

[@franchoveler5297]

thanks for this nice explanation !

[@vintagetechmall]

You are very welcome!

[@MrRotflastc]

very clear! thank you for share it!

[@vintagetechmall]

Glad it was helpful!

[@vcarra]

Thank you very much!! very well explained!!!

[@vintagetechmall]

Glad this helped. Cheers!

[@johnmckenna8989]

Thank you....John (west coast, Can.)

[@vintagetechmall]

You are welcome!

[@alexrussell1778]

Thank you so much for these videos, it’s given me a much better understanding of this camera! I was having the same issue with the timer, however when I got that part unstuck, the shutter was still stuck closed. I don’t know if you’ve ever had that issue or if I’m better off taking it to get repaired.

[@vintagetechmall]

You are very welcome. Your issue may require some repairs from a professional. All the best!

[@Farbroe]

I don’t have the “take up roll” you talk about at 06:40. Is it easy to find a new one?

[@vintagetechmall]

Yes, easy to find these in expired film or taking out the spool on a fresh roll in a dark room (wrap the film in foil if you want to shoot with it later by rolling it back on the spool)

[@simonkeslake2782]

Good video Ben but like Andrew.. I'll stick to my Yashica 635!! Keep up the great work, really enjoy your videos.

[@vintagetechmall]

Lol, thanks :-)

[@dankykay1]

Just got my Ikoflex back from repairs and this helped lots! Also, how did attach a string to your lens cap? I can't see any way to do it with mine

[@vintagetechmall]

I bought this camera with the lens attached that way. My camera has a loop on the side for the string to be attached. You can tie the string around the middle of the lens cap between the parts that covers the taking and viewing lenses, if your cap does not come with a loop for the string.

[@alfredbarten4901]

Wow, Thanks!!

[@vintagetechmall]

My pleasure!

[@stephanieleigh6111]

Hey there thank you for the amazing video! I just got one of these and I’m trying my hardest to get it loaded with film however once I get the counter to 12 it doesn’t spin freely… and I have to hit the shutter to get it to go to 1. Is this a user error or am I just out of luck?

[@vintagetechmall]

Try spinning it at every number as you advance from 1 through to 12. See if maybe the counter is somehow misaligned.

[@HawklordLI]

Does the counter have to be on number 12, or just past number 12?

[@vintagetechmall]

Once you fire the shutter at the 12 position it should move freely.

[@HawklordLI]

@@vintagetechmall Thanks, I've had this camera for years. I recently got it cleaned and adjusted and now I can finally use it!

[@StianARasmussen]

How do you use a flash on this camera, or what type of flash do i need? :)

[@vintagetechmall]

This camera has a "pin mount" on side. I used a flash handle which you can see at 00:46. One such compatible flash unit is this one: www.ebay.com/itm/Near-Mint-National-PE-381SG-Handle-Flash-Unit-for-film-Camera-SLR-from-Japan/233519158905?hash=item365ed39679:g:GN0AAOSwvbZeZPWy

[@randallstewart1224]

Between 7:40 and 10:00 he gives an elaborate demonstration of how to avoid a shutter release management issue. He treats this as something of a tip on using the camera. Surprise! This isn't a usage issue. It is "I do not keep my camera properly serviced." issue. What's happening is that after cocking the delayed timer lever on the shutter (and the shutter itself), he's triggering the exposure release and nothing much is happening. It looks like the self-timer is partially counting down, then stopping before exposure release. This is such a common problem with these old leaf shutters that the standing rule seems to be: Do not use the self-timer. What you do not do is what he does in the video. If you try to force the timer to reset or release by forcing the cocking lever, all you will accomplish is to break the f....,ing shutter mechanism. Get your damned camera cleaned! As to Ikoflex series of TLRs, they were produced by Zeiss as a "me too" response to the success of the Rolliflex. Their mechanical engineering is robust. Their lens, a Tessar, was competitive for the period they were produced, but a generation behind the later Rolleiflex models with Planars and Xenotars.. The feature set and controls of the Ikoflex were always less sophisticated than the Rolleiflex, which is why they were generally unsuccessful. I found mine a pain in the ass to use, and quickly resold it.

[@vintagetechmall]

Maybe you should research this well-documented issue on this particular camera before making judgement and broad assertions. This camera is notrious for having this issue. You barely owned one, and yet you are here trying to pretend you are an expert. Have several seats. www.flickr.com/groups/364368@N21/discuss/72157631494763224/

[@rufusvanrugburn]

You need to close the little window on the bottom after you load it.

[@vintagetechmall]

Thanks for the tip!

[@rufusvanrugburn]

My problem is i cant see thru the red window it is real dark cant see the numbers.

[@vintagetechmall]

Yeah, that can be an issue, unfortunately

[@vespa64m26]

Hi there. The red window has a sliding door to stop too much light getting in. It is easy to miss.

[@sombersounds6757]

Hey! Just got my hand on a camera like this. My issue is of course the self timer I think. I can't seem to adjust it, do you have any tips or things to look for?

[@vintagetechmall]

Yeah, the self time mechanism on these cameras are a bit finicky. I would avoid using it as it would likely lead to the shutter lockup issue. Mine keeps freezing up my shutter so I just don't use it a all. I included a tip to unlock the shutter if the self-timer locks up on you. Good luck

[@ghw7192]

Agreed! The Carl Zeiss Ikoflex is Teutonic over-engineerring at its fibest! Ihabe over a dozen TLR's from Rolei, Yashica, Meopta, Minolta and others ans the Ikoflex gers used the least because of its complexity.

[@vintagetechmall]

Truth!

[@titobeme]

One thing, you didn’t close the little window in the bottom, great video though.

[@goiko1986]

never seen a more complicated explanation....