MFLenses

MFLenses 2026

Manual Focus Lenses

Explore the world of vintage lenses through repair notes, real test shots, and detailed forum threads packed with images.

Explore the world of vintage lenses through repair notes, real test shots, and detailed forum threads packed with images.

Spotlight

Featured partner placement for the forum front page.

Zeiss Ikon folder cameras (120)

02/03/2010

Zeiss Ikon was founded in 1926 by the merger of Contessa-Nettel, Goerz, Ernemann and Ica, which itself was the product of a merger of Huttig, Krugener, Wunsche, Zulauf and Carl Zeiss Palmos factory. Zeiss Ikon built cameras at all levels of price and features, from the fabled Contax, Contarex and Twin Lens Contaflex cameras that many photographers dreamed of owning, but many could afford, to the simplest box cameras and folding cameras. All were Zeiss top quality construction, some just had more features than others. But as good as they were at designing cameras, they seemed equally unable to efficiently manage their business affairs. All of the parties of the merger brought camera lines with them, and it was difficult to kill off lines that competed with each other. They made too many models, each available with too many lens and shutter combinations. In one year, they had 104 different models in their catalog, with a choice of nearly 1000 combinations of model, format, lens and shutter! The war changed everything. The plant at Dresden was destroyed in the fire bombing by US and British Army.

 Zeiss Ikon 6 X 4.5

Nr Model Year Lens Shutter
520 Ikonta A 1933-1940 f6.3 75mm Novar Derval
520 Ikonta A 1933-1940 f3.5 75mm Tessar Compur Rapid
521 Ikonta A 1940 f3.5 75mm Novar & f3.5 75mm Novar Prontor
510 Nettar 1937 f4.5 75mm Novar Telma
530 Super Ikonta A 1934-1937 f3.5 75mm Tessar Compur
531 Super Ikonta A 1937 f3.5 75mm Tessar Compur Rapid
531 Super Ikonta A 1948 f3.5 75mm Xenar Compur Rapid
531 Super Ikonta A X 1950 f3.5 75mm Tessar Compur Rapid X
531 Super Ikonta A MX 1953 f3.5 75mm Tessar Compur Rapid MX
531 Super Ikonta A MX 1953 f3.5 75mm Tessar Synchro Compur

Zeiss Ikon 6X6

Nr Model Year Lens Shutter
520/16 Ikonta B 1937-1939 f3.5 75mm Tessar & f3.5 75mm Novar Compur Rapid, Compur, Klio
523/16 Ikonta B 1954 f3.5 75mm Opton Tessar Synchro Compur
521/16 Ikonta B 1948-1953 f3.5 75mm Novar Compur
523/16 Ikonta B 1954-1956 f4.5 75mm Novar & Opton Tessar Prontor-SV, Synchro Compur
524/16 Ikonta B 1954-1956 f4.5 75mm Novar, f3.5 75mm Tessar Prontor SV, Synchro Compur
515/16 Nettar 1937 f4.5 75mm Novar Telma
515/16 Nettar 1937 f4.5 75mm Nettar Telma
517/16 Nettar 1937 f4.5 75mm Novar Vario
517/16 Nettar 1937 f4.5 75mm Telma Telma
518/16 Nettar IIb 1949 f4.5 75mm Novar Pronto
518/16 Signal Nettar Eg 7/53 – 11/54 6.3/75 (Rodenstock) Novar Gauthier Vero shutter
518/16 Signal Nettar Ev 12/53 – 6/54 6.3/75 (Rodenstock) Novar Gauthier Vario shutter
518/16 Signal Nettar Iv 7/58 – 12/59 4.5/75 (Rodenstock) Novar Gauthier Vario shutter
518/16 Signal Nettar Ih 4/53 – 7/58 4.5/75 (Rodenstock) Novar Gauthier Velio shutter
518/16 Signal Nettar Its 7/52 – 2/59 4.5/75 (Rodenstock) Novar Gauthier Prontor shutter
518/16 Signal Nettar Ips 2/55 – 3/56 4.5/75 (Rodenstock) Novar Gauthier Prontor S shutter
518/16 Signal Nettar Ipms(later 10.3013) 4/53 – 1/59 4.5/75 (Rodenstock) Novar Gauthier Prontor SVS shutter
518/16 Signal Nettar Fps 7/53 – 12/55 3.5/75 (Hensoldt) Novar Gauthier Prontor S shutter
518/16 Signal Nettar Fpms 7/53 – 7/55 3.5/75 (Hensoldt) Novar Gauthier Prontor SV shutter
513/16 Nettax 1955-1957 f4.5 75mm Novar Pronto
530/16 Super Ikomat B 1935 f2.8 80mm Tessar Compur Rapid
530/16 Super Ikonta B 1935-1937 f2.8 80mm Tessar Compur Rapid
532/16 Super Ikonta B 1937 f2.8 80mm Tessar Compur Rapid
532/16 Super Ikonta B MX 1951 f2.8 80mm Tessar Synchro Compur
533/16 Super Ikonta B X 1937 f2.8 80mm Tessar Compur Rapid
533/16 Super Ikonta B X MX 1952 f2.8 80mm Tessar Synchro Compur MX
533/16 Super Ikonta B X MX 1952 f2.8 80mm Opton Tessar Compur Rapid
531/16 Super Ikonta III 1954-1958 f3.5 75mm Novar Synchro Compur MX
531/16 Super Ikonta III 1954-1958 f3.5 80mm Opton Tessar Synchro Compur MX
534/16 Super Ikonta IV 1956-1960 f3.5 75mm Tessar Synchro Compur MX

Zeiss Ikon 6X9

Nr. Model Year Lens Shutter
520/2 Ikonta C 1930-1940 f4.5 105mm Novar, f3.8 or 4.5 Tessar in 1936-1937
521/2 Ikonta C 1947 f3.5 105mm Tessar, f3.5 or f4.5 Novar Compur
523/2 Ikonta C 1950-1956 f3.5 105mm Tessar, f3.5 Novar Compur
523/2 Ikonta C 1950 f4.5 105mm Tessar Compur
524/2 Ikonta C 1954-1956 f3.5 105mm Tessar, f4.5 or 3.5 Novar Compur
510/2 Nettar 1937 f4.5 105mm Novar Telma
515/2 Nettar 1937 f4.5 105mm Tessar Compur
517/2 Nettar 1949 f4.5 105mm Novar Pronto
518/2 Nettar IIc 1949 f4.5 105mm Novar Pronto
530/2 Super Ikonta C 1934-1936 f4.5 120mm Triotar Klio
530/2 Super Ikonta C 1934-1936 f3.8 105mm Tessar Compur Rapid
531/2 Super Ikonta C 1950 f3.5 105mm Tessar Compur Rapid
531/2 Super Ikonta C 1938 f4.5 105mm Tessar Compur Rapid
531/2 Super Ikonta C 1938 f3.5 105mm Tessar Compur
531/2 Super Ikonta C MX 1950-1955 f3.5 105mm Tessar Synchro Compur MX

21 Comments

  1. This list is missing some basic models as well as various lens/shutter combinations.
    I have the Nettar 515, 4.5×6 75mm Nettar in Telma, the Nettar 516 4.5×6 75mm Novar in Klio, Nettar 516/2, 105mm Tessar in a Compur shutter, and I know the 516/16 exists though I don’t have one.

  3. One more combination which i have and not on the list:

    Nettar 517/16 Novar 4.5/75mm in Prontor-S.

    Also Ikonta 522/24 Schnider-Kreuznach Xenar 1:2,8/45 in Compur Rapid – this one is not 120 but 35mm

  4. Two more to add to the list.

    1. I have a “524/16” with Opton Tessar T f3.5, 75mm in Synchro Compur MX. In excellent cosmetic and good working condition no doubt partly due to still having it’s leather case, which, in this case is what has taken a beating.
    2. Also a Zeiss Opton “Ikonta 521” with Tessar f3.5, 75mm in Compur Rapid. In excellent cosmetic and good working condition again due in part to having it’s case, this time in very good condition as well.

  5. Ikonta 521 1:4.5 (to 1:22) f=7.5cm Novar in Prontor – S

  6. Ikonta 521 1:4.5 (to 1:22) f=7.5cm Novar in Prontor – S

  7. The kist above does not mention the above, which I believe were in small quantities before the war. Does anyone know where to get more details?

    Thanks.

  8. the list above does not include this combination:
    Nettar 515 – f4.5 75mm – Nettar Anastigmat – Klio

  9. Nettar 515/2 1934-38 Nettar Anastigmat 1:3,5 / f=10,5 cm.
    Conpur Rapid

  10. Nettar 515/2 1934-38 6×9 cm.
    Lens : Nettar Anastigmat 1:3,5 / f=10,5 cm.
    Shutter : Compur Rapid

  11. Nettar 515/2 1934-38 6×9 cm.
    Lens : Nettar Anastigmat 1:3,5 / f=10,5 cm.
    Shutter : Compur Rapid

  12. Super Ikonta C MX
    Lens : tessar Zeiss-Opton f3.5 105mm (Coated lens) serial number 883932
    Shutter Compur

  14. I have a Zeiss Ikon, Nettar 515/2, Telma, Anastigmat 1:4.5 f=11cm 6×9. I can’t find it anywhere. Does anyone have any information at all?

    1. Hi!..I have the exact same camera Zeiss Ikon, Nettar 515/2, Telma, Anastigmat 1:4.5 f=11cm. I havent been able to find it in the cataloges yet. Have you found anything?

      1. Hi, having also the same camera. The quality of the Nettar-lens?

  15. Nettar 515/2, serial number begins with V, i cant find the year; any ideas? No serials on lens/shutter.
    lens= Novar-Anastigmatic 1:4.5, f=105mm. but stops down to 2 1/4
    The shutter=Pronto, no serial no.
    Can anyone shed any light?year?

  16. How do I tell the difference between the option tessar and regular

    1. very simple you can read Opton on front ring , Opton made at West Oberkochen Carl Zeiss Opton Tessar.., Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar Eastern factory.

  17. Zeiss as all other manufactures where given coded year of mfg by the NS regime. These where for all products of that company and that time. In 1952 when the letter V was used they still had not gone to next numberings system.

  18. I have a Zeiss Ikon Ikonta. It has a 7.5 cm f 4.5 Novar Anastigmatic, with a Klio shutter. When you open the film compartment it says 6X9.

Comments are closed.