Home/Butkus archive/Zeiss Ikon
Film cameras

Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta IV User manual

User manual for Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta IV. 35 pages in English. Read the original PDF, download or print a copy without registration.

35 pagesEnglish5.5 MB PDF
Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta IV manual cover
Read the manual Original PDF
Download PDF
Loading your manual…Open PDF directly

Document details

Brand
Zeiss Ikon
Model / document
Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta IV
Document type
User manual
Language
English
Pages
35
File size
5.5 MB
Category
Film cameras
Document date
Not specified in catalog

Search available document text

Find a term, then jump to its page in the original PDF. Image-only pages may not be searchable; check the PDF for exact wording and diagrams.

Page 4 · Read text
THE COMPONENTS OF THE SUPERIKONT/  IV

 1 Adjusting knob with       6 Struts for closing the
    dial of the exposure            calllera
   meter.                   7 Shutter tensioning
                                  lever   Film speed adjusting                            8 Locking bar for   knob of the exposure                                carnera back   meter.                            9 Shutter speed
   Pointer of the expo-         adjusting ring with
   sure tneter                .            light value scale
                                                                    i 0 Adjusting ring for   Button for opening                                 the rangefinder   the car-lrera                          11 Adjusting lever for
   Obiective lens of the           Iight value and
   viewirangefinder              diapl-rragm
              Continuedon paqe 34.



      ,W.y?Wi   ,
View original page 4
Page 5 · Read text
-
                                                                                                                                                                                           l
THE COMPONENTS OF THE SUPER IKONTA  IV
12 Distance scale           19 Knob for opening
13 Depth-of-field ring            the exposuremeter
14 Flash contact socket     20 Filrn wind knob
15 Shutter speed scale        2l Body shutter release
16 Lever for synchro-           with thread for
   contact and delayed         cable release
   action mechanism.                     tno'
17 Diapnragrnscale ,        :? 3t"-o:I-.                         25 trrallle counter
18 Eyepieceof view/
                          24 EYePiece.of view/     ;;;;;it"d;;     (obj.c-
    tive" lens              ,,,          rangefinder
   rangefinder)"f              25 Fihn window
  Someof tbe ligures ref er also to tbe front-oiew on
                   tbe front flap.





                    www.orphancameras.com
View original page 5
Page 6 · Read text
X         fi,tf ,l/",fr n

         Tbe most important features of tbe supERIKoNrA IV
         The lens is a zrrss rEssARf  : z.s/zs mm which for
        many years has been famous all over ,the world.  It
               is, of course,coated and colour corrected and yields    '
           black and white as well as colour pictures of unsur-
         passedbrilliance and definition.
         The built-in rangefinder is coupled to the lens and
      .ib.  ensurescorrect focusing. It  is combined with the
    ,,%. oiewfinder, which mearisthat the distancesetting and
           the image field can be observedsimultaneously.
        The red dot settingincreasesthe versatility of the
         camera and makes it ready for action any time you    f.,#         want to take candid shots.
         The built-in pboto-electricexposuremeter ensures
           '  ,   the correct exposure time for black and white and
                 *!    colour films even in poor lighting conditions.Thi;
          experiencegathered in 20 years of making photo-
            electric exposuremeters has borne good fruit in the     -'d           SUPER IKONTA.
        The Syn&ro-Compurshutterwith light oaluescanbe
             set to  shutter speeds from  1 second to 1/roo second
          and time exposures of any period. A synchro-contact'n
                                                                                                            ;t           enables coupling to  all types of flashguns and there t    is also a delayed action rnechanism built-in.                  I
          The interlo&.ed  shutter tensioninQ and film  adoance'
          combined  with  the frame  counter  sirnplify  the ope-
             ration  of the camera and exclude double exposures
          and blanks  automaticalll'.
         A  No.  120 ro11 film  should be used with  the su-
                                j   pER TKoNTA giving 12 negatives in the 21/E" x2rlc" fi(6x6  cm) size.  d I
r,'
View original page 6
Page 8 · Read text
Openingand closingihe clmera

       Span the back of the camerawith your hand, slightly
           tilting  it forward. \7hen the opening button (a) is
       depressedthe camera will open and the lens snap
         into the taking position (ill. 2).  If the struts (6) do
        not snap in completely press the front edge of the
       baseboard downward with your finger.
       To close the camera press against the upper sections
         of botb struts (6) which makes the baseboard slide
       upwards.The cameracan then be convenientlyclosed
          until the lod< catches(ill. 3).
       The camera can also be opened and closed in thd'
           a     taking position. Hold the camera with both hands
        t l
       as shown in illustrations13 and 14 on pages20 and        tt  l.
   J t    2l and press the button (4) with the index finger.     , 1 t
     iJ r1   The lens will then snap into the taking position if
       ri  i i    the camera is slightly tilted. For closing both struts
                                                                                                     'r         (6) are pressed inwards and the baseboard closed
        with the other fingers.                                                                                                                   ' j '
                                                                                                                                                                    t
      The supsn TKoNTAcan be closedno matter whether
        the shutter is tensionedornotor whatdistancethelens
          is focusedupon. This makes the cameraalways ready
         for immediate use. lVhen a  filter  is screwed in,
       however, the camera can be closed only when the
        lens is set to oo.#
View original page 8
Page 9 · Read text
Measuringthe ligbt value

Prior to each exposurethe light value necessaryfor
the exposure should be measured with the built-in
photo-electricexposuremeter. (lll. 4). You can rely
absolutelyon the reading even if the lighting con-
ditions are poor and no matter whether the camera
is loaded with bl4pk and white or colour negative or
reversalfilm.
First thing to do is to set the exposuremeter to the
speedof the film in use. The inner disc is turned by
means of the small button (2) until the black stroke
                                                         ,ffmark at the right-hand window (seen in the taking r$i*
direction) coincides rvith the DlN-speed or that at                                                                                                '*.s
the left window with the ASA speed of the film in   &
use. The disc can also be set to intermediatevalues.
If the makers of the film have used film speedratings
other         DIN              and               ASA                          the                            corresponding      than                                         values         +.a.,,,s                       page       foundcan be                in the                    table                     on                                 11.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          i.,i
The speed of colour films cannot be determined as
with blackand white films sinceall filrn rating systems    *,
are based on values obtained from black and white
film. The film manufacturers,therefore, give the         "ri*..
speedof their colour films by comparisonwith black     is,
                                                                                                                                 1and white films, recommending,,tobe exposedlike . . .".
In general this method has proved quite reliable,
but  to make quite sure, you can calibrate your           *r
exposuremeter for the colour film used by exposing      ,|
                                                          *s'*




               www.orphancameras.com
View original page 9
Page 10 · Read text
severalframes of the sameobject with different shut-
ter speeds.
To determinethe light value the flap of the exposure
meter should be opened by pressing button  ( 19)
slightly to the left. The supER rKoNrA rv  is then
directed to the object so as it is intended to be taken.
This will carrsethe white pointer (3) to deflect. By
turning the adjusting ting  (1) the small white cir-
cular mark is moved so that  it appears symmetri-
cally on top of the pointer when looked at from
above.The light value'required (red figure) can now
be read off from the adjusting ring and will be found
View original page 10
Page 11 · Read text
opposite the red triangle mark placed on the setting
disc for the film speed.
If the exposure time  is found  to become longer than
1 second the shutter must be set to ,,B" (see page 12)
and  the exposure times  in seconds (black  figures)
should be read off the adjusting ring. They are oppo-
site the  various  stop  of  the diaphragm  placed on
the inner disc of $t,  film speed windows. The figures
can be continued by doubling the last value.  lf ,  for
instance, a measurement results in an exposure time
of 8 seconds at  ,[ z 8, the exposure tirne should be
16 secondsat  f  :ll,  32 secondsat  [: 16 and 64 se-
conds -   or 1 mifiute -   at  [ :22. The light value or
stop and  shutter  speed measured shculd  then be
transferred  to the shutter  of the sLrpER rxoNja   rv.





              www.orphancameras.com
View original page 11
Page 13 · Read text
Since this lever has a
                              limited travelling space
                             only  the  light  value                             1
                         can sometimesonly be
                             set by also turning the                          t
                               adjustirrg ring  (9) on
                          which the  light value
                           scale is placed.
                        $7hen the correct light
                           value has been set the
                        diaphragm  and   the
shutter speed are coupled. The amount of light ne-
cessary for the correct exposure of a film is always
determined by the size of the lerrs aperture (dia-
phragrn) and the time the light is effective(exposure
time). The figure of the light value denotesthe cor-
rect pairing of diaphragm and shutter speed for the
prevailing lighting conditions. If the shutter speedis
altered by one or two values of the scale after the
light value has been set, the coupling will set the
diaphr agnl automatically (17) to the correct ratio
ancl vice versa.

Settinstheshutterspeed
Turn the milled front ring (9) until its mark (black
dot)  is opposite the shutter speed required. The
various shutter speedsare placed on scale(15). The
f igures engraved on this scale indicate fractions of



                        12

               www.orphancameras.com
View original page 13
Page 14 · Read text
a second (60 -  tluo second, etc.). \Yith the setting
     ,,8" the shutter remains open as long as the release
    knob (21) is depressed(see page 22). The shutter is
    tensionedby p.rshingthe cockinglever (7) to the left,
     until  it stops (seerrfrom the taking direction). It  is
    immaterial whether the shutter speed is set prior to
    tensioning or after it'.*.-                                         -
                                                                                                                                                   i
   Settin!tbediapbragm
    Turn the same millecl ii,',g (9) until the red mark is
    oppositethe stop required (scale 17).
     tVith  one light value once determined only such,
    combinationsof diaphragm and shutter speedwhich'
     result in a correctly exposednegative can be set. It
      is recommendedto place the thumb on the light
    value lever (11) and the index finger on the opposite
     side of  the  adjusting
     ring (9). (Seeillustr.6).
    This manipulation pre-
    vents an unintentional
    changirg of  the  iight
    value.
       If , after having deter-
    mined the .light value,
    the  stop becomes so
    small that a time ex-
    posure (shutter setting
.4 e  t
E:  i ,f'  "i ;'1Le eK/cJt*re,
                          1 3       n
     u ir cil
View original page 14
Page 15 · Read text
,,8") is indicated the exposuretime required is 2 se-
conds. If  it is intended to use a snraller stop (to do
this pull out lever (11) as it is dcne for the setting of
the light value), the exposuretime required can be
read off from the exposuremeter as describedon page
10. This means, of course/that the light value setting
is out of action. Vhen the shutter setting is changed
from ,,8" to one pf the various shutter speeds,the
light value must also be re-set in the first place.

Melsuring the distance
The object distance is determined by means of the
built-in rangefinder. Looking through the eyepiece
(24) of the cornbinedview/rangefinder,you see the
image as it will be recorded by the camera but with
a  light square portion in  its centre in which the





                        14

               www.orphancameras.com
View original page 15
Page 16 · Read text
outlines of the object will
appear double (ill. 7). By
turning the  milled, ring
( 10) vrith the middle fin-
ger of the left hand these
double  outlines  in  the
centre of  the measuring
                          "tofield can be broughg
coirrcidence.(The best ob-
jects   f or  obtainirg  an
accurate focus are vertical lirres, such as the edge of
a house,a tree, etc.) (ill. 8). As soon as the contours
coincidethe lens is accurately focused at the correct
distancerequired. Moreoverf the correct distancemay,
be read off frorn the blacl..distance setting mark oll'
the scale(12) of the lens ring (ill. 9).

Deptbof        t'teld
When the lens is focusedon sornedefinite object dis-
tance it yields a sharp picture not only of the object
at this distance but also of those objects that are :
                                                                                           tnearer to the camera or further away from  it. This
zone of sharp definition is called the depth of field
which, however, is rather srnall when the diaphragm
is fully open (stop f :3.5). The depth of field increa-
ses gradually the more the lens is stopped down.
The depth of field for any given lens aperture and
distancecan be read off from the depth-of-fieldring



                        1 5
View original page 16
Page 17 · Read text
(13). Diaphragm figures
                               will be found on the right
                     and left side of the distance
                          setting mark. The figures
                     on the distance scale (12)
                       oppositethese stop figures
                         indicate the extent of the
                      depth of field. The strokes
                        without figures beside the
                          triangular nrark indicatethe
                      depth of field at stop f z 4
and the strokesbetween8 and 16 that of stop f  : 11. .
For instance: \When focused at 15 ft the stroke for
f :77 on the right-hand side indicates48 ft, that on
the left-hand side a little more than 9  ft. Focusedon
15 ft with stop [ :17 the lens will yield a sharp zone
reachingfrom approx. 9 ft. in the foreground,to 48 ft
in the background. The exact range of the depth of
field can be found in the iable on page 33.
A different way of utilizing the depth of field is this:
the range that is required to be sharp is measured
with the rangefinder, f irst the  f oreground then the
background. The necessary stop to cover this p'arti-
cular depth of field is then determinedby the depth-
of -field ring (13).
A specialsnapshottecbniQue
The  fact that the supER IKoNTA is always ready  for
action  especially when  carrdid shots are concerned




                            1 6

               www.orphancameras.com
View original page 17
Page 18 · Read text
increasesthe versatilitl' of
            this  carnera. Vhen   the
          prevailing light conditions

    f;'         aregoodand rapid sequcnce
         shots have  to  be taken
                  it  is no good losing time
          with  rangefinder reading
        and  distance setting.  Ifr

r,i-lj!v          this casethe red-dotsetting
         should be used. Set the
          diaph ragm and the distance  lJ;' t,   I /   r (  /f^   lt H'#a&r@
           to the individual red dcitsa'd everything from 13 ft
           to ,,infinity" will be sharp.
        when fast moving objeits have to be taken, a diffe-
          rent method is advisable.Set the rangefinder to d:
           srritabledistance.Then, by looking into the eyepiece
         you approach your object until  its clouble outlines
         coincide in the rangefinder. Vhen  the image field
         required appears in the viewfinder you press the
         button and expose.
       Fla,sb           DhutograybvanddeXayednctionreleas(
        The speedsynchronized Synchro-Compurshutter can
        be coupledto all types of flashgun.\7ith the Synchro-
          lever(16), three different settings are possible(ill .12).
     W ith tlte ,,X" seiling the shutter fires the flash at the
       moment the shutter blades are fully open. Most flash-
         bulbs can be fired by this setting when the shutter
        speed does not exceed 1 -    t /ro second.I-lowever,it



                                      1 7
View original page 18
Page 19 · Read text
firlrstbe borne in mind, that
                                    the flash duration of inost
                                                                   'lro, second                                  bulbs is appr.
                                so that you actually expose
                                                                             t                                      t/uo                                            to                                                                              I ns second.Electro-               {
                                       nic flashesmust always be
                                        fired with the ,,X" setting.
                             The ,, A4"settinEallows for
                                    the firing delay to peak of                                                                                                                                        {
                               most average flashbttlbs.
           This setting is, therefore, sttitablefor standard flash-
           bulbs at all shutter,speeds.
        When sel f cr ,,V " the delayed action mechanismis
          switchedon. After depressingthe body shutter rele-
          ase (21) this mechanisrnruns for about 8 seQonds
          and then releasesthe shutter automatically at the
            shutter speedto which it is set. Time exposureswith
              ,,8" setting cannot be made with the delayed action
          mechanistn.If the shutter is set to ,,Y" and a flash-
          gun is connectedto  it the flash will be fired in the
         same way as if set to the ,,X" position. Setting the
           synchro-lever  (16) to "V"  must, on no acount'
          be done  before  the shutter has been tension-                                                                          *$
          ed by means  of  the lever  (7) I This important
           operation has to be done prior to any exposurewith
           the delayed action nrechanism.
           For flash exposuresset the synchro-lever(16) to the
           required position. Connect the flash lead from the      '
            flarhg.rn to the flash contact socket (14,  ill.  12).
                                 g-f e lf,r,t{ t vv q pa -tr  V,' YYLII-sf
                .t[* ke{' ,tou&.e^ te
                                  {t                               /
                           www.orphancameras.com             fffLon. wov'(s
View original page 19
Page 21 · Read text
How to holdthe camera
The supER IKoNIA tv must be held as steady as pos-
sible during exposure/ if sharp negatives are to be
obtained.  It  is one of the advantages of the sqLlare
format  that  no weighty  decisior-r is needed as  to
whether to take an object with the carnera in a hori-
zontaT or vertical position.
Hold  the camera r^rith both hands, the fingers span-
ning the camera body while the thumbs are on the
back. The middle finger of the left hand operates the
                                     -fhe
milled ring (10) of the rangefinder.     index finger
of the right hand releases the shutter (21).





               www.orphancameras.com
View original page 21
Page 22 · Read text
When  looking trough  the view lrungefinder with  the
right  eye the camera must be held  as shown  in
illustr. 13.In  this case the left eye should be closed.
It  is, therefore, more convenient to use the  left eye;
for sighting through the eyepiece,since then the right
eye need not be closed (ill. 14). Instantaneous expo-
sures of a longer duration than 1/s, second and time
exposures should always be rnade from a tripod  or
some other firm  support. The srrpER TKoNTArv has
a tripod bush at the base of the carnera.
View original page 22
Page 23 · Read text
Hsw to relensethe shutter
The shutter is releasedby completelydepressingthe
body shutter release knob (21). Do not press but
squeezethe button gently without a jerk, taking up
the slackin the releasingmechanismslowly. Releasing
the shutter is possibleonly if :
1. the film is corAectlyadvanced (see page 22)
2. the shutter is tensioned(see page 13).

Ftlmaduance
After every exposurethe film must be advancedone
frame by turning the film wind krrob (20) uritil  it
stops ill. 15). The sarne movement automatically ad-
vances the frame-counter (23) by one figure. The
frame counter indicatesthe number of the film frame
which is ready for exposure.Since the film can be
advanced only when the shutter release has been
                      depressed (21), while on
                         the otherhand releasittgthe
                         shutteris only possiblewhen
                         the film has been advanc-
                         ed, double exposuresand
                       blanks are excluded.





                         22

              www.orphancameras.com
View original page 23
Page 24 · Read text
Loadingthe camerd

For  the  srrPER TKoNTA  IV
standard roll film No. 120
is used. The camera can be
loaded in  daylight, but do
it in the shade and never in
bright sunshine, even yqdr
own shadowwilldo. The back
of the canlera can be open-
ed after the locking bar (8)
has been pulled out. T'he
full  film  spool is inserted
into the spoolcharnberbelow
the setting knob of the expo-
suremeter(1). Ill .16.Pull out
the spring loaded prong at
the undersideof the camera.
The spool must be inserted
so that the tapered end of
thc red backing paper points
toward the empty (take-up)
spcol. Break the gummed
seal of the film and draw
the  tapered end  of  the
backing paper across the
fiLn gate until you can slip
it into the longer slot in the
core of the empty take-up
View original page 24
Page 25 · Read text
spool.Pull the red backing paper taut by a few turns
of the film wind knob (20) until the two triangular
marks on the paper (or, with other makes of film,
a doubleheadedarrow) are exactly oppositethe two
white marks on the film guide of the carnera(ill. 17).
The backing paper must lie flat between the flanges
of the take-up speol and must on no account chafe
them. Then clos6 the back of the camera and push
the locking bar (8) completely home. The film wind
knob (20) should now be turned several tirnes until
it locks automatically. The film counter is thus set
to  " \"  and when the shutter is tensioned (Z) the
supERTKoNTAtv is ready for the first shot.
                                                                     i

Unloadlngtbe camera
After the 12th exposurefturn the film wind knob (20)
until  it locks. The frame counter now shows a red
dot. The camera back can then be opened, ,which
makes the frame counter (23) snap back automa-
tically into its initial position (black dot). The lower
spring-loadedprong is then ptrlled out and the spool
removed cautiously (in the shade, never in bright
sunshine).Seal the exposedfilm imrnediately.Before
inserting a fresh film remove the empty spool and





             www.orphancameras.com
View original page 25
Page 27 · Read text
AC CESSO RIES                                4l

Eoer-readycase
The  practical  ever-ready  case protects  the .Supen
TKoNTA from damage and  dust. The camera  is held
in  its case by means  of a screw and need not be
taken  out   of  the  case  for  taking  photographs.
(illustr.  18). Order  No.  1237116

zErssrKoNprecision                   flhers           ;ip
For special effects zErss rKoN precision fllt..i
                                                                 "..available in yellow, yellow-green/ orange, red and
blue (Ixolon) as well as U.V. filter. They are screrved
onto the lens mount and need not be removed when
the camera is closed (lens focused at  oo). Dianreter
35.5 mm. \When filters are used the exposuretime
has to be extended in accordance with the  filter





              www.orphancameras.com
View original page 27

From the M. Butkus archive. Original publisher and archive notices are retained.
Check the model and edition against your equipment.

PDF verified 2026-10-10.