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cmdrray
07-05-2009, 08:10 PM
Howdy all,
I was recently given a Zeiss Ikon Icarette 551/2, with a Zeiss Tessar 10.5 cm
4.5 lens in a Compur-Rapid shutter. It came with the manual, case, Zeiss red, green, and yellow filters, sun shade, a Zeiss ground-glass back (for critical focusing when using sheets and plates), 10 6.5x9 cm sheet film holders, and a Kodak film pack holder (loaded with a full pack of Plus-X film). The camera can take both 120 and 620 films, and take photos in the 6x9 format, or, with the supplied mask insert, 6x4.5. I've seen (and owned) a number of Zeiss folders, but this one is unusual in that its lens can be removed and interchanged with...not sure. The manual says: "The shutter with lens can be removed in order to fit a different lens to the camera..." nothing about what the other lenses were. I can find nothing in Zeiss catalogues that mention other lenses for the Icarette, either. The lens mount is a bayonet, and has a short throw to it, much like that of the Contax mount (and the Leica M mount). Does anyone know if in fact Zeiss made a series of lenses for this? Any info would be appreciated.
Almost forgot...this has two viewfinders...the usual waist level finder on the front standard and an Albada finder on the body. The lens serial number is
1925271; the shutter number is 4039123; the body serial number is X60269.
The camera is in great shape and I'm about halfway through cleaning it
(whover owned this had one serious cigar habit!). I will post photos of (and from) this soon.

pj1860
07-06-2009, 03:34 PM
Hi, I've got a ZI general catalogue from 1937, it states that the Icarette has a detachable shutter and lens, and a footnote states "Price of suitable Tele Tessar f/6.3 on application". The price of the camera in 1937 was £21, 7s, 6d. The page also suggests use of Distar and Proxar accessories with the standard lens, also noting "We regard this as one of the finest Zeiss Ikon cameras".

There is some information about the Tele Tessar in the Zeiss Objectives catalogue, which can be found online at the information page of the Camera Eccentric website:

http://www.cameraeccentric.com/info.html

Edit, just noticed there is a 1924 Tele tessar brochure at that site too, that should help.

cmdrray
07-08-2009, 05:39 PM
Thanks for the info! I looked up the current value of the original cost of this camera...more than $1.500 in today's money. I am going to try to run a roll of film through this tomorrow or Friday.

valek
10-14-2009, 07:58 PM
Hello!
I had camera Icarette 551/2.... Help to understand, how many it costs now...
In advance to YOU it is grateful!!!!!