Zeiss Ikon Compur

leolamil

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Can anybody tell me where I can find manual for a: Zeiss Ikon Compur with a Tessar 1:6,3 f 13,5 n?108208 Which is the year?? Is it good or bad?? It's belong to my father, and now i intend to take some photos with her. I live in Portugal, but i don't find film! Do you know a place in Europe where i can buy?? Sorry for my english: :( Thanks!!
 
Can you post a digital photo or two of the camera? The description sounds like possibly early '30's so there are many possibilities.

William
 
That'll be a Zeiss folding camera. Probably a Nettar or equivalent like mine. More likely a higher spec than the one I use tho.

If it's a folding camera, post some photo's of it and we can talk you through the operation. It'll be very simple
 
you want to use IMG (bbcode) not A HREF (html)

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As I thought, Zeiss Folder. You've discovered how to get the front opened. Does the shutter fire at all speeds?
 
On inspection it looks more like a plate camera than a rollfilm camera (correct me if I'm wrong). Using it in today's age will be pretty difficult.

You could use the lens/shutter on another camera though.
 
you see the little lever on the side of the lens - that is to fire the shutter.
the dial on the other side is shutter speed
you have a focusing scale on the base, push it and the whole thing will return inside the case
 
Yep, that's a plate camera. 9x12cm most likely from the look of it and the focal length of the lens. It's a good camera & the Tessar will likely still perform admirably.

If you have plate holders (they slide into the back of the camera) then it may be possible to use the camera with modern cut sheet film. ISTR that the format is available in Europe.

A good place for information is Craig Nelson's nelsonfoto forums: http://www.nelsonfoto.com/v/ and post in the "Bigger is Better" forum. There are a number of gentlemen there who regularly shoot plate cameras. I've pondered getting one myself, but my Speed Graphics work more than well enough for me.

William
 
You need a dark room to load the film into the dark slide and to process the film after exposure.

Have you a room without a window or a understair cupboard?

Is there a dark slide in the camera?

Noel
 
Hi!

Seeing the pictures of your camera it looks like the Zeiss Ikon Maximar. There were several models of that camera depending on the film size used. I had one named Maximar 207/5 and it was also for 9x12 cm IIRC. I was also so ... so as to sell it many years ago:bang: .
The compur shutter is typical for the ´30s, an should be ###### manually. Speeds go up to 1/200 or 1/250 maximum +B & T.
The bellows has a pair of latches to allow you to extend it more than what you need in regard of the focusing scale, so you can do some macro shots with it.
To use it, you must have (or at least is convenient to have, specially for macro) the ground glass for focusing with enough accuracy, and the plate holder.
Unfortunately, there is no cut film of the size you need so you must find 4x5" sheet film and cut it (in a darkroom or a changing bag) to the size needed.
Loading of the plate holder should also be done in absolute darkness.
Check if the plate holder has the blind plate. Otherwise you must get one or make one by yourself.
The lens if clean is a very good one, sharp as only a Tessar can be.

Focusing is done by means of the knob that´s in the right side of the folding plate (seen from the back). You extend it and rotate to get subject in focus. When done, just push it back again then focus is locked (if it still works).

Hope this helps.
Cheers

Ernesto


leolamil said:
Can anybody tell me where I can find manual for a: Zeiss Ikon Compur with a Tessar 1:6,3 f 13,5 n?108208 Which is the year?? Is it good or bad?? It's belong to my father, and now i intend to take some photos with her. I live in Portugal, but i don't find film! Do you know a place in Europe where i can buy?? Sorry for my english: :( Thanks!!
 
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