Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta 532/16 Camera

[@SilntObsvr]

I have a 532/16 that I got in trade for a Patent Etui and three plate holders back in 2006 or so. I've modified the frame counter on mine to give 12 negatives on a roll instead of 11. Spacing of the last frame is a little wide, but it works. Heavy camera, but the lens is fast for what it is and the automatic frame counter is great. I don't use it much, though; I have a Mamiya Six folder with as good a lens and moving film plane focus (equivalent to unit focusing vs. front element focusing) that's much lighter and produces images at least as good, plus has built-in 6x4.5 masks. Red window frame advance, though; I may shop for another with the automatic advance when I have money to spend again...

[@devonspina7656]

All i want to say is keep these coming. I am completely obsessed with the photo culture of japan and your videos are very well put together. I hope i can make it out there sometime in my life. I have a feeling i'll never leave.

[@inevitablecraftslab]

The only thing you have to remember is you have to set the 1/400th before you cock the shutter and if you cocked the shutter on 1/400 you cant change it back to a slower time. Seems to have something to do with the mechanism and a stiffer spring on the 1/400th setting

[@Foxglove963]

The bellows is not paper, but is leather, the inside has a netting for extra strength.

[@GeorgiosKalaydjian]

Hello, thanks for the demonstration, but I can’t find your eBay store.

[@ruilinren2605]

Thanks for the great demonstration. Do you know how to clean the inside of the view finder? I guess it needs to take off the top plate, but cannot figure out how to take the top plate off. Thanks.

[@alexcarrillo5510]

Don't you just know it since I also have this model too, but it does not have the Flash Synch Outlet - But Who needs it? and also a 1933 Plaubel Makina which that has a 6x9 back, and when Japan opens theirs borders that I will be bringing these two models to photograph along with my Contax RF.

[@murraykriner9425]

Thanks for the review. Most of these early bellows camera's have become collectable's for display purposes any longer. Sure it will take amazing photo's, even if it will rarely be used for the purpose ever again. Hope its sale went well.

[@RonFreeman-e8o]

THE RINGE FINDER CAN FADE OUT SO USE USE ATHER CAMARA KONIKA OR YASIKA 2.8 SHORT I SIDE USE FED-2

[@legionchef]

I had one of these CLA’d by Newton Ellis up in Liverpool. They had some replacement bellows handmade for £50.

[@christos1973]

Great video as always. One question: How does the VF/RF on these older Super Ikontas compare to that on the latter ones (531/16 for example or the IV) in terms of size, patch visibility, etc? Thanks.

[@jmtubbs1639]

Bernd K Otto's catalogue No 170.2.16 entry says 532/16 was built by Carl Zeiss, Jena

[@JanneRanta]

7:25, isnt that shutter speed up to 1/400th? At least thats the marking on the lens.

[@inevitablecraftslab]

jup got the same camera it goes up to 400

[@soulsonicfx3826]

Mine goes to 1/500th

[@soulsonicfx3826]

Mine also includes "T" setting and you have to cock it to use "B". That's because it has a Syncro-Compur instead of a Compur-Rapid.

[@SRC1711]

My 534/16 which I recently acquired annoyingly locks the aperture and shutter speeds together. If you change one, you've changed both. How do I get around this?

[@ae4102]

Hello. I have a question? I purchased a fujica six. It has an old type of flash input i have never seen. It is also on the Super Ikonta B 530/16. Its not a pc sync but something else with a small metal rod sticking out of the flash port. Do you happen to know what this flash port is called and where I might find an adapter or cord for it in order to use my pc flashes. thanks

[@neilpiper9889]

If people want to use these old cameras with red windows they should make sure the film backing paper has clear dark numbers. If not, wasting film will become a bit of a pain.This one is better, because it has a frame counter dial.

[@japanvintagecamera8869]

You can clean the red plastic to make it much clearer using metal polish on a cotton swab, or even tooth paste. Make sure to remove the traces of the polish or tooth paste using cotton swabs with lens cleaning fluid.

[@soulsonicfx3826]

I've used red window cameras many times without a problem. If I worry about taking it out in bright sun, I put some black tape over it.

[@itsiknoah8630]

Thanks for the video. Can you connect a cable release to this model?

[@soulsonicfx3826]

Yes you can. I have one. It screws into the shutter release button.

[@japanvintagecamera8869]

You can use a cable release on the shutter button, like more modern cameras, its very convenient.

[@leewilkes7186]

Hi, great videos thank you. Do you recommend a 6x45 version of this camera? Is there one with a rangefinder? Thanks in advance. Lee.

[@brandonscherff9344]

All of the Super Ikonta have coupled rangefinders. They are all excellent.

[@japanvintagecamera8869]

The Super Ikonta A is a 6x4.5 version, it is similar in operation, but has a fold out rangefinder lens instead of the fixed lens in the 532 model.

[@abelb8455]

In the 30's Zeiss Jena did built the finest and most advanced camera among which the Contax II and this 6x6 camera. I agree with Jeremy Keller that the 2.8 aperture do not give very good results. The best results were at 5.6 or 8. This was still the case with 4 elements lenses much later (Rollei 35). But even the Minox 35 with it's more sophisticated lens was not that good at 2.8! Most lenses prior the late 50's were not very good at full aperture.

[@hansemannluchter643]

Pretty much ALL vintage lenses have problems when used "wide open".

[@peskymacaw9033]

Hey Jeffrey, kind of an off topic question. You constantly talk a bit about the life in Japan and I really liked your video about your life, so I really wanted to ask you your opinion on living and working there. I'm a mexican college student in my last year, and I got an opportunity to study aboard in Japan (veterinary medicine) but also other places. I really want to live and work aboard for a time, and Japan interest me, but is kind of intimidating (been there a couple of times). Could you give me a word of advice. There's a lot of videos about this topic, but I woul'd love to hear your opinion. Thanks!

[@japanvintagecamera8869]

Honestly, I love living and working here. Everything is clean, there is almost no crime, the food is good. The people are friendly, everyone gets along, and the food is good. You don't need to speak a lot of Japanese to be able to get around. I have no regrets about moving here, except that it is hard to find good pizza for a reasonable price.

[@japanvintagecamera8869]

I said "food" twice, which shows how much I like it.

[@peskymacaw9033]

@@japanvintagecamera8869 Yeah haha, I love the food too. Thank you so much for your response, I really apreciate it.

[@רוןפרימן]

Arly in the mornig or agod lihting nassry no liht matar Tip for 400 ASA Day liht 1:100 f11 Or1:50 f 16 to 22 100 to f 11 f16 200 f11 to 2oo 16

[@רוןפרימן]

ו rgamamd by anrw harmonika 10000 Nil Or 400 yuor not

[@jeremykeller211]

Sir: PLEASE don't let your fine camera open with a snap! You will 1) pull the film out of its plane and 2) eventually wear out the struts and the bellows. Re the f2.8 Tessar I tried to get sharp photos out of several of these without much luck. With some research I found out that the f2.8 had been "stretched" for marketing purposes. I moved on to a mid 1950s SI with a much superior f3.5 Novar lens (a Cooke triplet.) Stopped down to at least f8 it gives excellent negatives.

[@e-mat6077]

I also own one (made in 1938) and it´s true that the Tessar is a bit soft wide open, but once stopped down a couple of stops, it´s really razor sharp. Have you checked if the lenses are clean, well aligned and the rangefinder calibrated correctly? I completely agree about opening and closing the camera with care if you want it to last.

[@soulsonicfx3826]

These are made to snap open! Are you kidding me? Press the button and it opens, and yes there's a little snap sound. He wasn't in any way aggressive with it.

[@anotherguycalledsmith]

Don’t worry, this ain’t no bug, this is a feature ;-) This is approved rock solid German craftsmanship meant to last… From the original German manual: „Die Super Ikonta 6×6 ist eine wirkliche ‚Springcamera‘, das heißt, beim Öffnen der leicht nach vorn geneigten Camera mit einer Hand springt das Objektiv sofort in die Gebrauchsstellung.“ [sic]

[@jeremykeller211]

Smith--Ich stimme voellig uberein!

[@christopherhowell3209]

Why do you always talk about the weather?... this is about photography!!

[@hukumongdu]

if you have to ask that, then you dont know photography 😂