Super Ikonta 533/16 marked 6x9?

[blackwave]

I'm confused..

I just bought a Zeiss Super Ikonta 533/16 which clearly looks like it shoots 6x6cm squares. The opening behind the lens is square. However, on the film door it is stamped as 6x9. What gives?

On a side note, who are the go-to people for a CLA of these type cameras? This one is beautiful but the focus wheel is gummy.

Thank you!

 

[RichL]

120 film was sometimes referred to as 6x9. Several of my 6x6 cameras are marked the same way.

 

[blackwave]

I learned something new today, thanks! Although I secretly hoped for some rare mismatched camera that is super sought after and worth thousands. A guy can dream, right? 🙂

 

[farlymac]

Zeiss did that because at the time the cameras came out, 6x9 "Post Card" was the common size of 120 roll film cameras, and the films of the day were marked as such. It was to assure the new owner that they could indeed put "6x9" film in their camera, and it would work.

PF

 

[JPD]

6x6-film and 6x9-film were different back then.

B1 - 6x6 (117) for six 6x6 shots per roll. The backing paper had markings for 6x6 only. The spool was thicker but the flanges had the same diameter as the later 620.

B2 - 6x9 (120) for eight 6x9 shots. Backing paper with markings for 6x9 only.

In the early days the 6x6-cameras for 120-film had to use a mechanical frame counter because the backing paper lacked the numbers for 6x6. That's why the Rolleiflex Standard and Rolleicords have a red window for the first number for 6x9, and when it shows up you set the mechanical counter to (1) and then it's used instead of the red window.

The placement of the red window on your Super Ikonta seems to be for the 6x9 number. I'm not familiar with the Super Ikontas, but it leads me to guess that it has a mechanical counter.

120 got the numbers for 6x6 and 6x4,5 in the mid 30's which increased its usefulness and popularity, and the 117-film was discontinued in the late 40's.

 

[steveyork]

All the early Zeiss MF I've seen (Ikoflex and Super Ikonta B) has that 6x9 sticker. We just a test roll through a Super Ikonta BX, and I was impressed with the layout of the camera. Unlike the A & C, it was ergonomic.