Zeiss Ikon AG Camera Information Page

Our thanks to Mr. Clayton Rye. This information is reprinted with some additions from Clayton's Website.  For a really great wealth of information on Zeiss Ikon  cameras visit Clayton's Website at the Link Below.
 For Zeiss Ikon 120 Medium Format Cameras Visit This Link
 For Zeiss Ikon 35mm Cameras Visit This Link


Zeiss-Ikon  Ikoflex Twin Lens Reflex Cameras
Zeiss No. Model Years Built Lens Shutter
Comments
850/16 Ikoflex 1934-37 f6.3 or 4.5/80 Novar Compur-Rapid,Klio, Derval "coffee can" model, lever focus 1936, knob focus after 1936
850/16 Ikoflex 1 1939-51 f3.5/75 Tessar Compur, Klio,Prontor S same as Ikoflex II from 1937-39 (851/16)
851/16 Ikoflex II 1936-39 f3.8 CZJ Triotar or f3.5/75 Tessar Compur-Rapid lever focus in 1937, knob focus after '37, continued as Ikoflex I (850/16) after 1939
851/16 Ikoflex II 1939-51 f3.5/70 Novar or f3.5/75 Tessar Prontor similar to Ikoflex II of 1937-39
854/16 Ikoflex Ia 1952-56 f3.5/70 Novar or f3.5/70 Tessar Prontor shutter release located on top next to viewfinder
856/16 Ikoflex Ib 1956-58 f3.5/75 Novar or f3.5/75 Tessar Prontor improved version of 1a, shutter release located on side next to taking lens
856/16 1956-60 f3.5/75 Novar or f3.5/75 Tessar Prontor metered version of 1b
852/16 Ikoflex II/III 1950-52 f3.5/75 Tessar or f3.5/75 Triotar Compur-Rapid or Compur new style Ikoflex II after 1939
855/16 Ikoflex IIa 1950-52 f3.5/75 Tessar Compur-Rapid early version with peep window on each side of taking lens. film advance does not automatically cock shutter. 
855/16 Ikoflex IIa 1953-56 f3.5/75 Tessar Compur-Rapid restyled version with peep windows directly over viewing lens. film advance automatically cocks shutter
853/16 Ikoflex III 1939-40 f2.8/80 Tessar Compur-Rapid Albada finder
887/16 Ikoflex Favorit 1957-60 f3.5/75 Tessar Synchro-Compur LVS light meter, last Ikoflex
* Filters and Lens Shades: The Ikoflex Cameras, with the exception of the "coffee can" use 35.5mm screw in or 37mm push on filters and/or adapter rings over the taking lens. The viewing lens takes either a Zeiss S27 (27mm screw in) or 28.5mm push on filter. Original Zeiss Filters and shades are extremely hard to find these days.
 For More Detailed Descriptions and Photographs of Each Ikoflex Produced, Visit This Website

Zeiss-Ikon Contarex Single Lens Reflex 35mm Cameras


Zeiss No. Model Year Lens Shutter Comments
10.2401 Bullseye 1959-1966 f/2 Planar 50mm Focal Plane Mr. Zeiss told his engineers that he wanted the finest 35mm ever built. The result was the Bullseye which was the finest 35mm of its time. There was nothing cheap about the Contarex and there is nothing cheap about them today.  Be prepared to nuke  your pocketbook if you're lucky enough to get one.
10.2500 Special 1960-1966 f/2.8 Tessar 50mm Focal Plane No Meter
10.2600 Super 1968-1970 f/2 Planar 50mm Focal Plane
10.2600 Super Electric 1970-1972 f/2 Planar 50mm Focal Plane Switch under wind lever
10.2700 Professional 1970-1972 f/2 Planar 50mm Focal Plane Only 1500 of these units were ever produced 

* Filters and Lens Shades: The Contarex Cameras, (standard lenses) use both a B-56 or 49mm screw in filters and shades over the lens.
For More Detailed Descriptions and Photographs of Each Contarex Produced, Visit This Website

For A Detailed Article About the Zeiss Contarex Cameras by Bernd K. Otto, Visit This Website
 

Zeiss-Ikon Contaflex 35mm Single Lens Reflex Cameras


Zeiss No. Model Year Lens Shutter Comments
861/24 I 1953-1958 f2.8 45mm Tessar Synchro-compur 
Leaf Shutter		 not metered. 3 different versions, filter thread changed from male to female halfway through production
862/24 II 1954 f2.8 45mm Tessar Synchro-compur 
Leaf Shutter		 metered version of I, filter thread changed from male to female halfway through production
863/24 III 1957-1959 f2.8 50mm Tessar Synchro-compur 
Leaf Shutter		 not metered
864/24 IV 1957-1959 f2.8 50mm Tessar Synchro-compur 
Leaf Shutter		 door over meter, LVS settings
10.1102 125 1970 f2.8 45mm Tessar or Pantar Focal Plane 28mm X 28mm on 126 film
10.1241 Alpha 1958-1959 f2.8 45mm Pantar Synchro-compur 
Leaf Shutter		 same as III but with less expensive lens
10.1251 Beta 1958 f2.8 45mm Pantar Synchro-compur 
Leaf Shutter		 metered version of Alpha
10.1291 Prima 1959-1965 f2.8 45mm Pantar Synchro-compur 
Leaf Shutter		 Rapid with  Pantar lens, match needle meter
10.1261 Rapid 1959-1961 f2.8 50mm Tessar Synchro-compur 
Leaf Shutter
10.1273 S Automatic 1970-1972 f2.8 50mm Tessar Synchro-compur 
Leaf Shutter		 Chrome & Black Models
10.1262 Super 1959-1962 f2.8 50mm Tessar Synchro-compur 
Leaf Shutter		 similar to Rapid, coupled exposure meter
10.1271 Super New 1962-1967 f2.8 50mm Tessar Synchro-compur 
Leaf Shutter		 Exposure meter on top
10.1272 Super B 1963-1968 f2.8 50mm Tessar Synchro-compur 
Leaf Shutter		 Looks like the Super New but has auto exposure control
10.1273 Super BC 1967-1970 f2.8 50mm Tessar Synchro-compur 
Leaf Shutter		 Cds Exposure Meter * Meter designed for mercury batteries no longer sold in the U.S. Modern non-mercury batteries are available but fall short of original mercury batteries. The Super BC also has TTL metering 
Battery door is located on the front and it is a very common to encounter a broken battery door
Super BC "BW" 1965 f2.8 50mm Tessar Synchro-compur 
Leaf shutter		 BW=bundeswehr (German Army)

* Filters and Lens Shades: The Contaflex  Cameras generally will use either  27mm screw in or 28.5mm push on  filters and/or adapter rings over the 50mm Tessar & 45mm Pantar lenses.  Pro Tessar 35mm & 85mm lenses use the Zeiss S-60 filter. Pro Tessar 115mm Telephoto Lens uses Zeiss S67 filters or standard 67mm filters. There is a second Pro Tessar 35mm lens that takes standard 49mm filters.
For More Detailed Descriptions and Photographs of Each Contaflex Produced, Visit This Website


Zeiss-Ikon Historical Information

Zeiss-Ikon ceased productions in the early 1970's.  The company as it was no longer exists. The following is addresses of workshops formerly under contract to Zeiss which may be able to assist you . I tried in the past to contact them about resetting, etc. my Ikoflex, Contaflex, and Contarex cameras by sending a facsimile.  I never received any response. I'm providing the information anyway because you may have better luck than I did.

Pre-War and Post-War Products:

Firma Gima GmbH
Herr Scheller
Bunzlauer Platz 1
D- 80992 Munchen
Tel: +49(0)89/14 01 914
Fax: +49(0)89/14 09 365

Zeiss Jena Products:

Firma Docter GmbH
Herr Kraus
Carl-Zeiss-Stafe
D- 07318 Saalfeld
Tel: +49(0)3671/589-0
Fax: +49(0)3671/589-191

Information Concerning Historical Zeiss Ikon Cameras can also be obtained by contacting:

Bernd K. Otto
Wendelsweg 6
D - 60599 Frankfurt am Main
(Zeiss Ikon AG, Stuttgart)

User Instructions and Information may be available by contacting:

Lindemanns Buchhandlung
D -70173 Stuttgart
Tel: +49(0)711/24899977
Fax: +49(0)711/2369672


Zeiss Lens Serial Numbers Between 1912 and 1942


Year of Manufacture Serial Number Range
1912 173418-200520
1913 208473-249350
1914 249886-252739
1915 282820-
1916 Unknown
1917 289087-298157
1918 298115-322748
1919 322799-351611
1920 375194-419823
1921 433273-438361
1922 422899-498006
1923 561270-578297
1924 631869-
1925 652230-681743
1926 666790-703198
1927 722196-798251
1928 903096-
1929 919794-1016885
1930 922488-1239697
1931 1239699-1365582
1932 1364483-1389279
1933 1436671-1456003
1934 1500474-1590000
1935 1615764-1752303
1936 1674882-1942806
1937 1930150-2219775
1938 2267991-2527984
1939 2527999-2651211
1940 Unknown
1941 2678326-2790346
1942 2799599-

Our Thanks to John S.  Craig  for the Information Regarding Serial Numbers of Zeiss Lenses
Visit John at the Link Below for Loads of Resource materials including original user manuals
 John S. Craig, Serving Photo Collectors Since 1969


Editor's Note
In the upcoming months, I'll be adding additional information on other Zeiss-Ikon cameras. This information is being provided in order to save Zeiss-Ikon lovers much of the time I spent through trial and error including buying and using many Ikoflex, Contaflex, and Contarex cameras.  I've used many, many cameras over the years and since my introduction to Zeiss lenses, I've never looked back.  I sold all of my cameras and now use exclusively cameras with Zeiss lenses (Hasselblad, Ikoflex, Contax 11a, Contaflex Super B, Contaflex Super BC, Contarex Bullseye, Exa,  Exakta VX 11b, Pentacon 6, and Kiev 88CM).  The quality of workmanship is the best I've ever seen bar none and I prefer to produce black and white photographs without autofocus, etc.  I'll also be adding additional information regarding Zeiss-Jena and the Ihagee Company (Exa and Exakta cameras).  Besides my wife and children, photography and golf are my passions in life without which I might lose my sanity. Thanks for stopping by and all the best.  If you've never explored Zeiss-Ikon, you've missed an excellent and fulfilling photographic experience in my humble opinion.  All the best.
Stephen Spring

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Contact via E-Mail at: stspring@sprynet.com