Film cameras
Zeiss Ikon Ikonta M User manual
User manual for Zeiss Ikon Ikonta M. 27 pages in English. Read the original PDF, download or print a copy without registration.
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Document details
- Brand
- Zeiss Ikon
- Model / document
- Zeiss Ikon Ikonta M
- Document type
- User manual
- Language
- English
- Pages
- 27
- File size
- 4.1 MB
- Category
- Film cameras
- Document date
- Not specified in catalog
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Page 4 · Read text
www.butkus.us 1 Rotating front lens for distance setting 2 Distance setting mark 3 Depth-of-fteld scale 4 Exposure time setting ring 5 Exposure time setting scale 6 Diaphragm setting lever 7 Diaphragm setting scale 8 Shutter winding lever 9 Synchro-switch 10 Marks for synchronization of Prontor SV-shutter ll Lever for winding delayed action and synchronization mechanism of Prontor SV-shutter 12 Button for delayed action release of Synchro-Compur shutter 13 Flash syn:hronization contact 11 Film winding knob with fflm-type indicator 15 Range ftnder window 16 Knob for opening camera 17 Built-in optical viewftnder 18 Viewftnder shoe for attachment of slip-on accessories 19 Body shutter release threaded for fttting cable release 20 Focusing ring for range ftnder with focusing scale 21 Bolt for opening and closing camera back 22 Struts 23 Signal for fflm winding lockView original page 4
Page 5 · Read text
TIf IIIONTA ,lt prlt" X illh" '
The IKoNTA M is an ingeniously constructed high
quality zErss rKoN camera with built-in range {inder
guaranteeing excellent, needlesharp pictures. Having
made yourself thoroughly familiar with the few mani-
pulations described in this instruction booklet, you will
easily obtain good pictures and you will derive great
pleasure from photography.
The rKoNTn iu furnishes 8 exposures/ 2'lr"X31l+",
on standard B IIl8 roll ftlm for the 21/r" X31/+" frames.
For ascertainment of the exact distance between object
and camera the rKoNrA u is equipped with a built-in
precision range ftnder. The rKoNrA M is available
with a NovAR or a rESSen lens. All lenses of the
rKoNrA M, which are factory (T) coated in order to
eliminate flare and reflexes, ensure unmatched sharpness
and colour correction. An automatic shutter release lock
with signal device prevents double exposures.View original page 5Page 6 · Read text
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IIOIY TO OPDN TIII'
CA]IIE RA
Grasp the camera at the ca-
mera back and tilt it slightl.v
forward. Upon pressing the
knob (16) the canrera auto-
matically erects itself and
springs into the taking posi-
tion.
IIOIU TO CI/OSlt'IIIE
CADI E RA
Take the camera in both hands
as in the illustration. When
pressing rvith your thumbs on
the struts (22) the camera can
be conveniently closed.
ln order to close the lxoNTA M
in the taking position, the struts
are pressed down with the in-
dex fingers. The IKoNTA .\4 I f{;can be closed rvith an.v setting,
even with a slipped-on ftlter.View original page 6Page 7 · Read text
IIOlv TO tiET TIIE
DISTANCE
Distances in terms of meters or
feet are engraved on the mount
of the rotating front lens (1).
The lens is focused on the ob-
ject by turning the front lens
on the distance setting (2) pre-
viously ascertained with the aid
of the built-in range ftnder (see
D. r t).
www.butkus.us
IIOlv TO SDT TIII)
DIAPIIRAG DT
For setting the diaphragm, set
the mark of the diaphragm
setting lever (6) on the desired
lens aperture ftgure.View original page 7Page 8 · Read text
www.butkus.us HOIY TO SET THR EXPOSURE TIDIt,) Turn the milled ring (4) until the exposure tirne setting mark is opposite the required expo- sure tirne setting. The ftgures indicate fractions of a second, i. e. 50 means Ll;o sec. When usirrg setting "8", the shutter remains open as long as the release is pressed. The shutter must be wound with the winding lever (8) prior to every shot. It does not mat- ter whether the shutter is wound ftrst or whether the shutter speed is set ftrst. The exposure time must be set before the shutter is wound only when the shortest shutter speed (r/;oo sec) of the Synchro-Compur shutter is used. 'l'he settings of the Synchro-CgmpurView original page 8
Page 9 · Read text
TIT[' SITUTTER
The rKoNrA M is fitted either with a fully synchroniz-
ed Prontor-SV shutter or with a Synchro-Compur shut-
ter. Both shutters are synchronized for flash, so that the
canlera can be used with any current flash unit, e. g. the
ZEISS IKON II{OBLITZ OT IKOTRON.
After setting the required shutter speed, the shutter is
wound by pushing Iever (8) as far as possible. The shut-
ter is released by pressing the body release (19). \When
setting "B" (tinre exposures) is used, the shutter remains
open as long as the release is pressed down. For time
exposures it is recomrnendable to use the cable release,
rvhich is fitted into the thread of the body release (19).
TIIE DIt f/AYED ACTION IBEI/EASm
After setting Iens aperture and distance, set push
lever (9) of the Prontor SV-shutter on the red dot
beside the X.
Then set shutter (8) and wind delayed action mecha-
nism by pushing lever (11) as far as possible.View original page 9Page 10 · Read text
www.butkus.us In the case of the Synchro- Compur shutter, push lever (8) as far as possible, then move back button (12) ancl push lever (8) a little further, there- by winding the delayed action mechanisnr. \,J(/hen release button (19) is pressed down, the delayed action mechanism starts run- ning and automatically re- Ileases the shutter after ap- proximatelv 8 sec. For time exposures (setting "8") and the shortest shutter speed (rlsoo sec.) of the Syn- chro-Compur shutter the de- layed action release cannot be tused.View original page 10
Page 11 · Read text
f,.LAFtIT PITOTOGBAPITS
\il/hen releasing the shutter, the built-in flash contact
permits igniting the flash bulb connected to contact
nipple (13), at the moment when the shutter is wide ! op.n. The instructions for the various types of flash
bulbs contain details regarding distances and lens aper-
tures to be used.
The fully synchronized shutters Prontor-SV and Syt- ,,
cl'rro-Compur do not only ffre a flash at the moment
when the shutter is opened (position X) brrt also permit
firing the flash ftrst and releasing the shutter after a
delay of approximately r/eo sec. (position M). Thus
any instantaneous exposure coincides with the peak light
intensityoftheflashbulb,sothateventheshortest
shutter speeds may safely be used.
?
POSITTON X
Flash photographs without pre-ignition can be made
shut-.. 1) with electronic flashes in conjunction with all
ter speeds front 1 to 1,/roo sec.; tView original page 11Page 12 · Read text
www.butkus.us
2) with flash bulbs in conjunc-
tion with all shutter speeds
frorn 1 to 1/z; sec.
MANIPULATIONS
Set lens aperture and shutter
speed and wind shutter as
usual. Set push lever (9) on red
clot beside the X. Connect flash
cable with contact nipple (13).
Release sh utter.
P()t{ITIOIU ]tI
Flash photographs with pre-
ignition can be made, rrsing all
shutter speeds up to l/soo sec.
or r/;oo sec. Our table on page
11 shorvs the proper flash bulbs
to be used.View original page 12Page 13 · Read text
MANIPULATIONS
Set lens aperture and shutter
speed and wind shutter as
usual. Set push lever (9) on M.
With the Prontor-SV shutter,
lever (11) rnust now be set on
the M. Connect flash cable
with contact nipple (13). Re-
lease shutter. In the case of
www.butkus.us the Prontor-SV shutter the po-
sition M is valid for one ex-
posure only, so that lever (1 1) has to be set on M
for every exposure. Flash photographs with the delayed
action release cannot be taken when position M is used.View original page 13Page 15 · Read text
|rOIv TO USIC TIIE RANGEFINDBN
Looking through the rangefinder eyepiece you see in
the middle of the image a rectangular bright section
irr which the object appears with double contours. Turn
the focusing ring (20) of the range ftnder until the two
irnages merge. Then ascertain from the scale of the
distance meter the exact distance of the object. After
focusing the front lens (1) accordingly, you may rest
assured that the camera is correctly focused on the ob-
\When the ex- iect.
posure is to be made,
the exact ftnal fram-
ing is done through
the viewftnder.View original page 15Page 16 · Read text
www.butkus.us
.(t,i
The following method has proved to be the most prac-
tical one:
If it is, for instance, intended to photograph a child
at play, the front lens 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 ch^ld through the rairgeftnder eyepiece
while slowly approaching the ch^td until the two range-
flinder images merge. Then, after a linal lool< through
the viervfinder, make the exposure.View original page 16Page 17 · Read text
I/ENS APERTURE' DEPTII OX' I'IEI/I)'
AN D DXPOSURI) TI]IIE
In good lighting conditiorrs 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 ftgure. Every reduction of the lens aperture,
however, necessitates an increase of the exposure time.
In reducing the lens aperture, the depth of fteld in-
creases both in forward and backward direction from
the distance on which the lens is focused. The depth
of fteld for any given lens aperture and distance set-
ting can be ascertained from the depth-of-fteld
scale (3) of the carnera. The depth of ffeld can be read
off the distance settings opposite the two diaphragm
sctting ftgures on the right and left side of the setting
mark (2). Using distance setting 9 It. and diaphragm
setting "S" you can read off 8 on the left side and on
the right side 11. Consequently, everything between
B ft. and 1l ft. will be rendered sharply with diaphragm
setting "8" and distance setting 9 ft. The exact depth
of ffeld for any given lens aperture and distance set-
ting can be found on page 15.
14View original page 17Page 19 · Read text
TITA CORNECT EXPOSURD TTTTE
can be ascertained from exposure tables orr most
exactly, with the photo-electric zErss IKoN exposure
meter rKopHor. The required exposure time depends
on the diaphragm setting, the ftlm sensitivity, and the
prevailing lighting conditions.
BASIC RULE:
Outdoor photographs in Outdoor photograPhs,
bright sunshine: sky overcast:
film sensitivity 32 ASA ftlm sensitivity 32 ASA
diaphragm setting 8 diaphragm setting 5.6
1/roo sec. l/so sec.
NDD.IDOT FtETTTNGl
enables the rKoNrA M owner to take rapid snap-
shots. Set the diaphragm Iever and the distance setting
mark on the red dots and everything from ap- t
proximately 13 ft. to inffnity will be rendered sharply.
According to the prevailing lighting conditions, expo- I
Isure times from r/z; to 1/roo sec may be used in con-
iunction with the red-dot setting.
iIView original page 19Page 20 · Read text
www.butkus.us LOADfNG ()l'TIII') (:A ltt t) IlA The camera back can be opened after pushing knob (21) in the direction of the arrow. For loading the camera with a 21/n" X31/l" roll film, pull out the spring prong at the bottorn of the camera and insert the spool into the lower spool chrmber. Then slit the label of the lilm 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 fflm transport knob (1+1 several times.View original page 20
Page 21 · Read text
Close the canrera bacl< and ad-
vance the ftlrn until nunrber
tt ltt appears in the red aper-
ture on the canrera back.
TH I.) I)0II I}I,I.) I'x'P()tti I' ITII P Il NI'I.) N T I O II
After every shot the ftlm has to be advanced by one
franre, i. e. by one number. The rKoNrA M does not
take any double exposures, because it has a built-in
autonratic shutter release locking rnechanism. Even if
the shutter has been wound, the body shutter release
cannot be pressed dorvn unless the {ilrn has been pre-
viouslv advanced by one frame. A recl dot in the
lftView original page 21Page 22 · Read text
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signal window (23) indicates that the ftlm has been
duly advanced and that the camera is readv for the
next shot.
UNLOADf N G OI{' Tlrtr) CAMITIIA Af,'TER
TIIE I/AST nXPOSUItE
After the eighth exposure, turn the film transport knob
until the end of the protective paper passes the window
on the back of the camera. Open the camera back, pull
out the spring prong as when inserting the {ilm, care-
fully remove the spool in the shadow (not in bright
sunlight) and glue it. Before inserting a new film, re-
move the empty spool and insert it into the take-up
spool chamber. By turning the {ilm transport knob
make sure that the empty spool has engaged with the
prong of the ftlm transport.
19View original page 22Page 23 · Read text
H ()ll' 'l'() ll () Ll) 'f lI D
('.t lt l.) lt.t t) I' tt I r (; T H 1:
lt\lD()lil'ltl)
'i-hc r K o N'r'A .\1 rrrust be hcld
still clurins thc c\posurc. The
clistarrce nrctcr focusing rirrg is
nraniprrlatccl n'ith inclcx fingcr
ancl thrrnrb. Thc picturc calr
'jt/ bc takcrr aftcr focusing the
( front lcns on the clistance as-
ccrtairrccl n'ith thc rangc lincler.
'fhc inclcx finger rests on the
bocll' shtrttcr relcasc. The shut-
ter is releasecl, i. e. the e\
pos [rrc is nradc, b1' press irrg
clou'n the bocly shutter release.
Tinrc cxposrrres are to be rnade
f ronr a tripocl or sonle other
solicl strpport, preferal'llv u,ith
a cable release.View original page 23Page 24 · Read text
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ACCESSONIDS FOR, TIID TIf OITTA M
THE EVEREADY CARRYING CASE
The elegant zErs s r KoN Eveready Carrying Case
protects the rKoNrA M from dust and other detri-
mental external influences. The camera is screwed into
the case and need not be removed for taking a pic-
ture.
CABLE RELEASE
A cable release is especially useful for time exposures
and photographs from a tripod. It is screwed into the
thread of the body shutter release. The zErs s rKoN
cable release is equipped with a plunger catch for long
time exposures.
ZEIS S IKON FILTERS
inrprove the rendering of tone values in black and
white photography. 40.5 nrm {ilters are screwed and
42 mm filters, slipped on the front lens mount and
need not be removed when the camera is closed. Avail-
able ftlters: yellow, green-yellow, orange/ red, and
ultraviolet ftlters.
SUPPLEMENTARY LE NS ES FO:R CLOSE-U PS
Vith the standard lens equipment of the r K o N r A M
photographs can be made of objects from 5 ft. to in-
21View original page 24Page 26 · Read text
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finity. Objects closer than 5 ft. can be photographed
only with the aid of supplementary lenses (z E r s s
pRoxAR lenses), which are slippedror screwed on the
front lens mount. Three different pRoxAR lenses are
available for the IKoNTA M.
Vhen using supplementary lenses, the photographer
should take into account that due to parallax the
viewftnder shows too much of the upper part of the
object and cuts off part of the lower end of the object
which is actually ernbraced by the camera, i. e. when
framing close-up obiects take care that you duly tilt
the camera. See table on page 22.
THE LENS HOOD
prevents flare and haze in against-the-light photo-
graphs. Moreover, in bad weather, it protects the lens
from rain and snow.
COLOUR PIIOTOGiBAPHY
The TKoNTA r*,r is excellently suited for colour photo-
graphy because it is equipped with high quality colour
corrected z E I s s lenses. Contrary to black and white
ftlms, colour ftlms pennit little deviation fro:n the exact
required exposure time. Therefore, the photo-electric
exposure meter zEISS rKoN tKopHor is indispensable
for colour photography.
r.,aialLView original page 26From the M. Butkus archive. Original publisher and archive notices are retained.
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PDF verified 2026-10-10.