Hans, you are a true expert !!! So, my camera is from early 1937 ? I am looking forward to using it I saw pictures in the internet, taking with this camera, which are fantastic: connealy.blogspot.jp/search/label/Zeiss%20Ikon%20Ikonta%20A%20520 Unbelievable for a 30s camera. And it is so small and compact.



Wow ... so from when would a Zeiss lens Nr. 2002771, Tessar 1:2.8 f=7,5 cm be ? That's the one on my Welta. It might help, dating the camera then.



What an effort ... another "wow" again. If it is of some help, I can give you the data of my Super Ikonta and Nettar too.

Hans, thanks for your quick response !!! But ... I can't find any body number. The leather seems to be original, because there are original engravings like "ZEISS IKON", "IKONTA 520" or "Made in Germany - Industria Alemana" but no number I also checked the viewfinder, but nothing there. Any idea, what 520 model that is ? I think, there are many as I checked at Google.

Thanks for your help,

Berndt

So here comes a picture of the camera after a severe cleaning. Still showing signs of aging but I also just paid the price of a lunch for it ;D

Remarkable, the bright 2.8 lens, I think. My brightest folder from that time. I don't have much information about this particular model. So, if anybody has something more, it would be much appreciated


Welta Perle by bokuwanihongasuki, on Flickr

Fantastic pictures. I had no idea, that those steamboats still exist. Thanks for sharing !!!

Today, I went to the annual flea market in my neighborhood and was lucky to get two interesting new members for my collection. One a Zeiss Ikonta 520 and the other one a "Welta Perle". Both cameras have been in really sad condition ... but ... the lenses are clean and the shutters still working smoothly like a swiss watch.

The thing is just ... and everybody, don't laugh please ... I can't get the Welta open Not really surprising for a pretty rotten camera, it jams. There is a lever, which obviously needs to be moved, but I am not 100% where to start the force and not breaking it. My speciality somehow ... breaking things, which actually opens smoothly ... if you know how

I didn't post a picture, because I didn't want to break any collectors heart by looking at the poor condition of this camera ... but if somebody has a similar one and could post a picture of it slightly open, it would be of tremendous help.

Some more specs: T,B,1-1/400sec Compur Rapid shutter, Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 1:2,8, F:7.5 cm ( Nr. 2002771 ) lens. A pre-war model, something around the late 30s ? Surprising, that it survived the war here in Japan and still exists. Saved it our of a box, together we just junk cameras ... what a shame

Wayne, I can't exactly tell from your post, why you can't get decent pictures out of your iPhone 4s, but you should be able to, I think.

OF COURSE, a phone camera can not be compared to a DSLR regarding a creative work with the depth of field, etc., but it should be at least capable of taking sharp, colorful and well exposed pictures and that is, what it normally does.
I don't own an iPhone myself but I saw many excellent pictures taken with it. Here also a very simple and surprising comparison between your iPhone 4s and a Canon 5D Mark II: I think, the iPhone 4s camera is quite good for what it is

Or ... there is also an older video, I like pretty much, taken with a GH1 AND the even older iPhone 4 model. Hard to tell for me in some shots, which camera has been used.

Newer iPhone models ( I am not sure, if 4s or 5 though ) are also pretty strong at low light. You can usually get indoor pictures in very good quality, which haven't been possible without using flash before ... plus a lot of cameras apps, which let you get various effects but also different controls over the camera. THAT is probably the main benefit of the iPhone ... it can be any camera by design. It does not have a fixed firmware and it just depends on the app, you are using.

Good luck !!!