Zeiss Ikonta Beauty

[alexkerhead]

I got this yesterday when I got the Yashica FR-II(shown in the SLR section).

I think it is the 522/24

Here are the pictures.

[PeterW]

That is indeed a beauty. I think this is the second version of the Ikonta 35, I don't think the first version had an accessory shoe on top. Later Zeiss Ikon renamed it the Contina.

It was designed by the brilliant Hubert Newin after he left Dresden in 1945 to work at the new Zeiss Ikon in the west but wasn't actually produced until after Nerwin left Germany to work in the US.

Nerwin was chief designer at Zeiss Ikon before the war and while still aged only 29-30 headed the team that produced the Contax II, the Contaflex 35mm TLR and other most desirable cameras.

As early as 1937/38 he started on the design for a Contax SLR but, so it is said, the prototypes were put aside during the war and destroyed in the bombing of Dresden in 1945.

The SLR design was rekindled in 1945 and redesigned with a horizontal cloth shutter by Wilhelm Winzenberg, who took over as chief designer in Dresden after Erwin left, and eventually appeared in 1949.

PeterW

[olroy2044]

Man, I gotta go shoppin' in Alabama! Way to go, Alex! Roy

[Just Plain Curt]

Beautiful Alex. I have the same Ikonta and a Yashica FR (thanks Bob) myself. Sure wish we had decent flea markets here. Sad to wait 9 months of the year only to search yard sales through mountains of baby clothes, chewed toys and worn out tools just to find an old battered Kodak or Polaroid.

[alexkerhead]

Thanks for the comments guys! And an extra thanks to Peter for the awesome information.

Curt,
I must admit, I have several birddogs(people looking for cameras) out there, so I am not playing a level field here..hehe

But, fleamarkets here are good and some have booths dedicated to cameras here.

If there is a specific camera you need, that I already have, just PM me and let me know. I will be on the lookout for you.

[casualcollector]

Alex. Your enthusiasm is contagious!