Zeiss Ikon Ikonta III User manual

The rr<orr,t  rrI  is an ingeniouslyconstroctedhigh
quality zErss r(oN  camerawith built-in rangc ffnder
guaranteeing excellent, needlesharp pictures. Having
made yourself thoroughly familiar with the few mani'
pulations describedin this instruction booklet, you rvill
easily obtain Sood pictures and you rvill derive great
pleasure from photography.

The rxoNre  rrr fumishes1l' exposures,21/t'X21h',
on standard B II/S (120) .6fi  fflrn. Fo. ascertainDent
of the exact distance betlveen object and carnera the
IXoNTA rr  is cquippedwith e built-in prec;sionrrnge
ffnder.Thc rKoNT^ rrr is availablewith a NovAR or a
rrss,rr  lens. AI1 lensesof the rxorrl    rrr, which are
factory (T) coated in order to eliminate flare and re-
0exes, ensure unrnatchcd sharpnessand colour correc-
tion. An automatic shutter release lock with signal de-
vice prevents double exposures.                  www.butkus.us

TIf

 1 =  Rotating  front  lens  for  distance  setting
 2 = Distance  setting mark
 3 = Depth  of  field scale
 4 = Exposure time setting ring
   = Exposure time setting scale
   = Diaphragm  setting  ring
   = Diaphragm setting scale
   = Shutter winding  lever
 9 =  Syndrro-switdr
10 = Marks  for syndrronization
11 = Lever  for  winding  delayed  action  and  syndrronization
     mechanism
 12 = Flash syndrronization  contact
 13 = Film  winding  knob  with  ftlm-type  indicator
 14 = Range finder window
 15 = Knob  for  opening camera
 16 =  Buiit-in  optical viewffnder
 17 = Visrv6rder  shoe for  attachment of  slip-on accessories
 18 = Body shutter release threaded for  fttting cable release
 19 = Focusing ring  for range ffnder with  focusing scale
 20 = Bolt for opening and closing camera back
 2! = $11u1t
 22 =  Signal  for  film  winding  lock

H O I Y  T O O P E N  T I T E
C A T T E R A
 Crasp  the camera  at  the  ca-
 mera back and  tilt   it  slightly-
 forrvard.  Upon  pressing  the
 knob  (15)  ihe  c-amera auto-
matically   erects   itself  and
springs  into  the  talcing  posi-
tion.


ITOIIT TO CI,OSE  TIIE
CAII E ItA
Take the carnera in both hands
as  in  the  illustration. When
pressing with  your thumbs on
the struts, the camera can be
conveniently closed.
In order to close the TKoNTArr r
in the taking position, the struts
are pressed down with  the  in-
d e x  f t n g e r s .T h e  T K o N T A   r r r
can be closed with any setting,
even with a slipped-on fflter.

HOIV TO SET   TIII'
    IDI STAN CE
    Distances  in  terms  of  meters
    are engraved on the mount  of
    the  rotating   front   lens. The
    lens  is focused on  the  object
    by  turning  the  front  lens on
    the distance setting previouslY
    ascertained with the aid of the
     built-in range ftnder (see P. t3).



   H O I V  T O S E T  T I T E
   DIAPITRAG]II
    For setting the diaphragm, set
    the  mark   of  the  diaphragm
    setting lever on the desired lens
    aperture  ftgure.
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IIOW TO S-ET TIIE
EXPOSUBE   TIIIIE
Turn  the milled ring  (4)  until
the exposure time setting mark
is opposite the required expo-
sure time  setting. The  figures
indicate fractions of a second,
 i. e. 50 means r/so sec. When
                  ttBtt,using setting      the shutter
remains open as long as the
release is pressed.
  The shutter must be wound
with the winding lever (8) prior
to e\/ery shot. It does not rnat-
ter whether the shutter is wound
ftrst  or  whether  the  shutter
speed is set ftrst. The exposure
time  is set before the shutter
is wound only when the shor-
test shutter speed (L/soosec) of
the Synchro-Compur shutter is
the used.

IITIIE SITUTTITR                                                                                                                                               I
The rxoNre  rrr is fftted either with a fully synchro-       --1I
nized Prontor-SV shutter or with a Synchio-Cornp,r,
shutter. Both shutters are synchroniz.d fo.  flash,'so
that the camera can be used with any current flash
 t m i t ,e . g . t h e z E r s s r K o N - r K o B L r r zo r r K o r R o N
After setting the required shutter speed, the shutter is
wound by pushing lever (8) as far as possible.The
shutter is releasedby pressingthe body release(17).
rilfhen setting "B" (time exposures)is used, the shutter
remains open as long as the releaseis presseddown.
For time exposures it  is recommendabli to use the
cable release, which is  fitted into the thread of the
body release(17).

TIIE DDIiAYED  ACTIOIT 'RELDASE
The rxosre   rrr with Prontor-SV shutter is equipped
y]th u delayed action release.Time expos.tr.. (r.tiirrg
"B") cannot be made when the delayed action release
is used. In addition to the above mentionedmanipula-
tions, push lever (9) must be set on the red dot beside
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the X  (position X),   if  snapshots have to be made.
Furthermore, lever (1 1) must be pushed clockwise as
f ar as possible. Thus  the delayed action mechanism
is rvound and will  start running as soon as the body
release is pressed down. After a delay of approxima-
tely 7 sec. the shutter  is automatically released. Po-
sition X  also permits flash photographs to be made
with the delayed action release.



I'I/ASII  PIIOTOGBAPIIS
Vhen releasing the shutter, the
built-in  flash  contact  perrnits
igniting the flash bulb connec-
ted to contact nipple (12), dt
the moment when the shutter
is wide open. The instructions
for  the various types of  flash
bulbs contain cletails regarding
distances and Iens apertur es to
be used.

The fully synchronizedshutters Prontor-sv and Syn-
chro-compur do not only  ftre a  flash at  the mo-
nrent when the shutter is opened (position X)  but
also permit ftring the flash  ftrst and releasing the
shutter after a delay of approximately r/5a sec. (po-
sition M).  Thus, any instantaneous exposure coin-
cides with the peak light intensity of the flash bulb,
so that even the shortest shutter speeds may safely
be used.

P O S I T T O N     $ M $
Flash  photographs   with  pre-ignition   can be made,  using
all shutter speedsup to ll30o sec. or ll5oo sec. Our
table on page (1 1) shows the proper flash bulbs to
be used.





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M A N I P U L A T I O N S
Set lens aperture and shutter
speed and  wind  shutter  as
usual. Set push lever  (9) on
M.  \Yith the Prontor-SV shut-
ter, lever (11) must furthermore
be  set on  the M.  Connect
flash cable with contact nipple
(12). Release shutter.  In  the
case of the Prontor-SV shutter
the  position M   is  valid  for
one  exposure  only,  so that
lever (9) has to be set on M
for every exposure.

PO SITION  .x'-
Flash photographs without pre-ignition can be made
 1) with  electronic flashes in  conjunction with   all                    I
   shutter speedsfrom 1 to 1/300 sec.;
2) with  flash bulbs  in  conjunction with  all  shutter
   speedsfrom 1 to l/25 sec.



MANIPULATIONS
Set lens aperture and shutter speed and wind shutter
as usual. Set pwh lever (9) on red dot beside the X.
Connect flash cable with contact nipple (12). Release
shutter.





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I r 0 \ l y  T O U S T : T I I E  R A N G + . ET ' T I T I D E B
Looking  through  the range  finder eyepiece you see in
the middle of the image, a rectangular bright  section
in which the object appears with double contours. Turn
the  focusing  ring  of  the  range  ftnder  until  the two
images merge. Then  ascertain from  the scale of  the
distance meter the exact distance of the object. After
focusing  the  front  lens  accordingly,  you  may  rest
                         assuredthat the camera
                                     is correctly focused on
                            the object. \Whenthe ex-
                          posure is to be made,
                            the exact ffnal framing
                                     is  done  through  the
                            viewftnder.


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The following nrethod has proved to be the most prac-
 tical oD€:
 If   it  is,  for  instance, intended  to photograph  a  child
 at  play ,  the  front   I ens is set on  the most favorable
distance. By turning the focusing ring, the range ftnder
can be focused on the same distance as the lens. Then
observe the  child  through  the  range  ffnder  eyepiece
while slowly approaching the child until  the two range
Iinder images merge. Then,  after a  ftnal look through
the viewffnder, make the exposure.

I/ENS APEBTURD    DDPTII   OX! X'IDI/I)
A N D D X P O S U R E   T T I T E
In good lighting  conditions a larger  depth  of  fteld can
be obtained by reducing the lens aperture. Lens aper-
ture and lens aperture settings are reciprocal,  i. e. the
smaller the lens aperture, the higher the lens aperture
setting  figure.  Every  reduction  of  the  lens  aperrure
however, necessitates an increase of the exposure time.
In reducing  the Iens aperture, the depth  of  field  in-
creases both  in  forward  and backward  direction  from
the distance on which the lens  is focused. The  depth
of  ffeld .for  any given lens aperture and distance set-
ting can be ascertained from  the depth  of  ffeld scale
of ihe  camera. The depth of  fteld .un  b.  read off the
distance settings opposite the two  diaphragm  setting
{igures on the right and  left side of the setting mark.
Using distance setting 3 m (10  ft.) and diaphragm set-
ting  " ll"  you can read  off  2 m  (6.5  ft.) on the  left
side and on the right side 5 m (appr. 17  ft.). Conse-
quently, everything between 6.5  ft. and 17  ft.  will be
rendered  sharply  with  diaphragm  setting   " ll'   and
distance setting 3 m (6.5  ft.). The exact depth of  fteld
for any given Iens aperture and distance setting can be
found on page 21.
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T I T E C O E R E C T   E X P O S U B E    T T N I D
      can  be  ascertained  from  exposure  tables  or,  most
       exactly, with the photo-electric zErss rKoN  exposure
      meter IKopHor.  The  required exposure time depends
      on the diaphragm  setting, the fflm  sensitivity, and the
       prevailing  lighting  conditions.
     B A S I C R U L E :
      Outdoor photographsin        Outdoor photographs,
       bright sunshine:              sky overcast:
        film sensitivity17110DIN          film sensitivity1210 DIN
      diaphragmsetting 8            diaphragmseting 5,6
       1/roosec,                          1/rosec.

                                                                                                                                         ;
      T H E  Z E T S S  T I I O N  R E D - D O T  S E T T T I G
      enables the rKoNrA rrfHiltake          rapid snap-
      shots.Set the diaphragm lever and the distancesetting
     mark  on  the  red  dots and  everything from  ap-
      proximately 13 ft. to inftnity will be rendered sharply.                                                                                                                                                       i
     According to the prevailing lighting conditions,expo-                    i
      sure times from L/zsto 1/roosec may be used in con-
-      junction with the red-dot setting.                            www.butkus.us
                                      t6

LOADIITGl, OF TIIE
 CADIERA
 The camera back can be open-
 ed after  pulling  out the  bolt
 (20). For loading the camera
 with  a  21/+"X37/a"  roll  ftlm,
 pull  out  the spring prong  at
 the bottom of the camera and
 insert the spool into the lower                                                              Digitally signed by mike butkus
                                                                                                                     DN: cn=mike butkus,

                                                                                                                                c=US spool chamber. Then  slit  the      mike butkus o=orphancameras,email=mike@butkus.org,Date: 2019.08.22 18:19:24ou=29,                                                                                                                                                                                    -04'00'
 Iabel of the ftlm and pull out
                                                          , the protective paper so that  its
 beginning can be inserted into
 the wider slot of the take-up
spool. Tighten  the  protective
paper  by   turning   the   frlm
transport knob  several times.

               1 7

Close the camera back and ad-
                    vance the  ftlm  until  number
                                     tt                            1tr appears in the red aper-
                         ture on the camera back.





TIIB  D OUBI/E  EXPOSU.R'IX  PR, I{)Y-EITTI O N
After every shot the film has to be advanced by one
frame, i. e. by one number. The rKoNrA  rrr does not
take any double exposures because it has a  built-in
automatic shutter release locking mechanism. Even  if
the shutter has been wound the body shutter release
cannot be pressed down unless the film has been pre-
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                               1 8

viously advanced by one frame. A  red dot  in the
signal window indicates that the fflm has been duly
advanced and that the camera is ready for the next
shot.


U N I T O A D I N G i O X ' T H n  C A I I D B A
After the twelfth exllosure turn the fflm transport knob
until the end of the protective paper passesthe window
on the bad< of the camera. Open the camera back, pull
out the spring prong as when inserting the fflm, care-
fully remove the spool in the shadow (not in bright
sunlight) and glue it. Before inserting a new fflm, re-
move the empty spool and insert  it  into the take-up
spool chamber. By tuming  the  fflm  transport knob
make sure that the empty spool has engaged with the
prong of the fflm transport.

HOI/y TO IT('LD  TIIE
                  CAIIIERA DURING  TIIE
                  E X P O S U R E

                   T h e T K o N T A I r I m u s t b e h e l d
                                  still during the exposure. The
                       distance meter focusing ring  is
                        manipulated'r^rith index ftnger
                    and  thumb. The  picture  can
                    be  taken   after  focusing  the
                          front lens on the distance as-
                       certained with the range ftnder.
The index finger rests on the body shutter release.The
shutter is released, i. e., the exposure is made, by pres-
sing down the body shutter release. Time exposures
are to be made from a tripod or some other solid sup-
port, preferably with a cable release.




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AC C I I S S O I T I D S       T 'O I I  TIID   IITON| IA    rrt
T H E E V E R E A D Y C A R R Y I N G  C A S E
The elegant zErss  rr<oN Evereadl' Carrying Case protects  the
rKoNrA ru from  dust and  other  detrimental  cxternal  inf.luences.
The camera is screwed into  the case and need not be removed
for taking a picture.

C A B L E R E L E A S E
A cable release is especially useful for time exposurcs and photo-
graphs from a tripod.   It  is screwed into  the thread of  the body
shutter release. Thc ze rss  rxoN  cable release is equipped with
a plunger catch for  long  time exposures.

Z E I S S  I K O N  F I L T E R S
improve the rendering  of tone values  in  black and white  photo-
graphy. The fflters are screwed on the front lens mount and need
not  be removed when  the camera  is  closed.  Available   filters:
yellow,  green-yellow, orangef and red  fflters.

S U P P L E M E N T A R Y  L E N S E S F O R C L O S E . U P S
With  the standard lens equipment of the rKoNrA  rn  photographs
can be made of objects from 4  ft.  to inftnity.  Objects closer than
4ft.  can be photographedonly with  the aid of  zErss   rKof,r

supplementary lenses (nnoxen   lenses), whidr  are slipped on the
front  lens mount. Two  different pRoxAR lenses are available  for
the  rxorre    rlI.  Vhen  using supplementary lenses, the photo'
grapher  should  take  into  account  that due to  parallax  the view-
finder shows too mudr  of  the upper part  of  the object and cuts
off  part  of  the lower end  of  the object whidr  ist  actually em-
braced by  the camerar  i.  e. when framing  close-up objects take
care that you duly   tilt  the canrera. (See table p'23.)

T H E  L E N S H O O D
prevents  flare and haze  in  against-the-light photographs. More-
over,  in bad weather,  it  protects the lens from  rain and snow.


C O I / O U R   P H O T O G . R A P I I Y
The  rxoNre  IIr is  excellently  suited  for  colour photography,  be-
cause  it  is equipped with  high  quality  colour  corrected z s I s s
lenses. Contrary  to  black and  white  ftlms,  colour  films  permit
 little  deviation from  the exact required exposure time. Therefore,
the photo-electric exposure meter IKoPHor   is indispensable for
 colour  photography.



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