Mess Ikonta 524/16

[johnnyrod]

So the madness took me in the end and I bought another camera, this time medium format. A Zeiss mess Ikonta 524/16 with novar anastigmat 75mm f3.5 and Pronto S shutter. It comes from ebay (Lord forgive me) and should be here in a few days, but from a guy who has used it and has been as honest as I can tell about it. It works, though the shutter speeds are a little sticky (he just used one setting faster to compensate) and the red indicator works back to front; things I presume I can fix when I ever get around to it. So I need to get a handle on exposure but at least I should be able to get things in focus! Any tips you guys have would be gratefully received, I am very much an amateur. I found with the two 35mm rangefinders (Tessar lenses, 1960s) that they were sharp enough but the colour contrast really only came in when stopped down quite a lot (figures not to hand) - how would you guess this one will fair?

Does this count as GAS? I'm not even sure what that stands for! Giggles and...?

 

[Solinar]

;Yep - this would be GAS.

If this was my 524/16 - I would send it off to someone in the UK that could service the Prontor shutter or even do a full CLA. Just bring to bring everything up to speed. 😉

or

Learn to how to remove the lens elements from the shutter and then the shutter assembly from the camera to service the Prontor yourself.

http://www.rolandandcaroline.co.uk/repair/prontors1.html

I have the larger sibling of your camera, the 524/2. To speed up focusing, I set both the lens and the RF dial to the same distance. Peer into the RF finder, while moving forward or backward until the RF images coincide. Then switch over to the main viewfinder to compose and shoot.

Enjoy you new camera.

 

[Solinar]

P.S. - If you do the shutter service yourself - you will have to collimate the lens to infinity - upon reassembly.

Some folks use the ground glass method: http://www.rolandandcaroline.co.uk/focadj.html

I use the back-sight method: http://photo.net/medium-format-photography-forum/00WD2u

 

[johnnyrod]

Thanks for the tips, the previous owner said he did the same trick with the rangefinder. It arrived this morning, looks great. I think the double exposure red dot is the right way round, just opposite to the signal Nettar. I've found a German manual (only!) but I think I've figured out the operation anyway. Thanks also for the links; I am prepared to sort out the shutter some day, but first will give it a go, I've fixed just about everything I've ever come across. Just need to find an adapter for the PC socket to fit a semi-modern electronic flash to it.

 

[johnnyrod]

Um, about the flash connector... is there a name for this? It's tiny. Anyone seen an adapter for it? I don't really know how to start searching. Or shoudl I get an Ikoblitz of some sort as cheaply as possible just for the cable?

 

[Solinar]

As far as I know - the Prontor S shutter uses a flash with a bogg standard, Compur PC synch cable - which has been in common use since the end of WWII.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/682574-REG/Impact_10032360_Hot_Shoe_to_Male.html

Best Regards,

 

[johnnyrod]

Sorry you're right, it was my eyes playing tricks on me, I tried it with a flash unit and cable and it fits and works. I think all my other cameras have them in a little recess whereas this one sticks out on its own so it looks smaller without the bezel around it. Buying film tomorrow! Will be B&W as I can only seem to find colour in packs of 5 anyway.

 

[farlymac]

I thought I had taken photos of when I did my 524/16, but apparently not. However, IIRC, the second element of the Novar-Anastigmat is held in by a split-ring. You have to watch out for it flying off when removing it, and also try not to chip the element.

PF

 

[johnnyrod]

Ah nice one, thanks. Not sure when I'll get around to it though, but for now have loaded the film and trying to figure out where to point it!

 

[johnnyrod]

Finally got my pictures back this morning from Peak imaging ( in the UK). I got them printed on 5x5" as they were test pics really, not like I went to someone's wedding. Look really good, I think they would enlarge well if needed, only really the corners show any stretching. I'll have to scan a couple and upload them. I used Ilford FP4 125ISO black and white, though in hindsight I'd should have got 400 as I intended to stop it down a bit so I found I was using some slow shutter speeds.

The rangefinder could do with a clean but it seems to be accurate. Will get around to looking at the shutter someday, I've just gone to town on a Vitomatic and Contessa (fixed lens) so am getting my hand in.

I had a stab or two with a flash, not really sure what settings to use for it though?

 

[someonenameddavid]

The reason PC connectors are so called is because they were developed for Prontor and Compur shutters

 

[johnnyrod]

Scanned a couple of pics. First one at f11 and 1/300th:

This one at f22 and 1/10th:

Sharpness seems good except in the very corners, even the ones at larger apertures. I should have got them printed larger really! Now I can see them on the screen they aren't anywhere near as good as on paper. I just scanned them at 600dpi and din't make any corrections though.

 

[johnnyrod]

I got these two enlarged to 8x8" and the quality of the prints is pretty good, to say the least. The corners are where it starts to go but the sharpness and level of detail even on such a big print is mighty impressive to me as a 35mm user. Think I need to try some colour film!