Super Ikonta III - a couple of questions

[abumac]

Hi, I got it this morning. It seems a great camera, good shape.

1.) But just one little problem: The last three negatives are totaly together. Is there anything I could do to avoid this?

2.) Could I close the camera when shutter is activated?

Thank you.

 

[ZeissFan]

1) I've heard of people using a thicker take-up spool or winding some tape around the take-up spool to make it a bit thicker.

2) Yes, no problem in closing the lens door with the shutter tensioned. However, you might accidentally trip the shutter when you open the camera. You can always release the shutter using the small tab near the front hinge -- make sure to cover the lens and set the aperture to its smallest opening and the shutter to 250.

 

[Steve M.]

This is a characteristic of that particular model. You're fortunate that it is only on 3 frames. The only real cure is to send it out for a CLA or just get used to it, but it might possibly get better w/ use. Even when they're working properly the space between frames is very narrow. As long as the frames aren't actually overlapping you should be ok. You shouldn't store the camera for any length of time w/ the shutter tensioned, and make sure the lens is at infinity when you close the camera.

I really like the Ikonta III's because they have excellent lenses & bellows and nice, bright viewfinders. My first one had strap lugs installed on it by the previous owner and it made a big difference in shooting it.

 

[Ikontafan]

I have found that when I advance the film a little past the regular starting point when first loading the film and then close the camera, it helps. If you see some relief in frame spacing by using this technique,you can try different amounts and find a usual setting that works best for your particular frame spacing. RB

 

[FallisPhoto]

That is typical of several models. The frames indeed are close together when it is working correctly. A CLA is not going to cure it, because -- it is working properly. The reason the first few frames typically overlap is that the film they made (back at the time they were making Super Ikontas) was thicker. Thinner modern films wrap up tighter on the roll and so they overlap. The thinner the film, the more overlap. Plus-X overlaps a little and Efke overlaps a lot, for example. After a few photos, when the film has wrapped around itself a couple of times, the problem disappears except on the very thinnest films. To get rid of it even on the first few frames, it would be necessary to do something to thicken the film, or to space a thicker film out from the spool a little.

Edit: Taking a roll of thin film (Efke) into a darkroom and putting two layers of backing paper on it might work, for example. Adding another foot of backing paper to the beginning of a roll of thicker film (Plus-X) might work too.

 

[hanskerensky]

With my Super Ikonta III (also with a Novar btw) i just wind some layers of paper masking tape on the empty take-up spool. Then cut through the Tape where the spools film insertion slot is.
This gives extra diameter to the take-up spool and a larger movement of the film per turn of the windingknob. Works like a charm.