Ikonic

Some manufacturer's names become legendary - Rolls Royce, Rolex and Armani are but three such examples in their respective worlds. When considering the realm of photography and cameras, one might first think of Leica in that context. There was a time, though, when another name may well have rolled off the tongue - Zeiss Ikon.

Their folding cameras from the late 1920s through to the 1950s with names like Super Ikonta and the more budget-friendly Nettar were some of the best that money could buy. Thoughout the ‘50s and ‘60s their range expanded incorporating quite a variety of high quality models *.

Back in 1948, production began of a range of 35mm models, both folding and rigid bodied. The high end models went by the rather regal name of Contessa**, whereas the simpler more budget-friendly were known by the more modest title of Contina.

Contina 1a

Meet the 1a, the first of the rigid body variety, from around 1954-5.

Despite it's modest specification, the quality of it's manufacture was the equal of it's more expensive siblings and feels as though it was hewn from a solid block. It is a delight to use with silky smooth, precision controls and built to last a lifetime.

Views from around the Northallerton area in North Yorkshire.

The little Novar lens is surprisingly good..

Trees in and around Tadley Common and Mount Pleasant, Tadley.

The course of the comany’s history is rather convoluted and the camera maker Zeiss Ikon, based in Stuttgart in the post ww2 period, sadly stopped manufacturing cameras back in the 1970s. The parent company, nowadays known simply as Zeiss AG, is still a global player in the fields of optics and opto-electronics.

Westward Ho! in North Devon.

Saltaire, near Shipley, West Yorkshire.

To give some idea what that little lens can ‘see’, here is a 1,000 pixel square crop from the first of the Saltaire photos :-

All photos taken on Ilford FP4+, lab processed in Xtol.

Thank you for dropping by. I hope you ejoyed this selection of images from a rather lovely little camera. Until next time..

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*A couple of those lovely old Nettars may make an appearance on here in due course

**Contessa-Nettel was the name of the factory where they were built.

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