Tag Archives: Zeiss Ikon

shining Leitz on the human condition

Posted on October 27, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. Before photography, we relied on paintings and sketches, like those of Hogarth in 18th century London, to depict the human condition. Later in the 19th century when photography found its legs, some enterprising photographers, like Mathew Brady  (American civil … Continue reading →

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a modest merger

Posted on August 6, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. In 1729, an anonymous article called, “A Modest Proposal” was written by Jonathan Swift, known for his satirical tales like, “Gulliver’s Travels“. The article was also intended to be a satirical piece but was taken as very serious when … Continue reading →

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hi-yo kinamo

Posted on April 2, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. In April, 1923 this ad appeared in the American Cinematographer. ICA in Germany announced its 35mm (standard film) Kinamo camera – the smallest movie camera of the time. The Kinamo was designed for both professionals and (advanced) amateurs, hence … Continue reading →

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introducing a photographer to minicams in 1938

Posted on October 2, 2021 by Robert

Toronto. When Leitz announced the Leica mid 1920s, most photographers used larger cameras and rarely needed to enlarge their negatives. In 1926, the German government arranged for Zeiss to form the mighty Zeiss-Ikon conglomerate in Dresden to rationalize the German … Continue reading →

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doing it better (sometimes)

Posted on September 19, 2021 by Robert

Toronto. On page 31 of the March 1950 edition of Popular Photography, an advertisement touts the Zeiss-Ikon Contax-S camera at whopping price of $475USD with the coated Zeiss Biotar lens. The model S was briefly sold while later models were … Continue reading →

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eye of the storm

Posted on August 31, 2021 by Robert

Toronto. It was ‘the best of times and the worst of times‘ between the world wars. After the first war, pent-up demand blossomed into unprecedented wealth in the first decade, followed by the worst depression ever in the next (world … Continue reading →

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way too much, way too late

Posted on April 7, 2020 by Robert

Toronto. The Contarex was Zeiss-Ikon’s SLR flagship. With some 1,100 plus precision measured components, it was an engineer’s dream – and a repairman’s nightmare. The $500 US  “Bulls-eye” Contarex was announced at the 1958 Photokina but didn’t hit the shelves … Continue reading →

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das Nettar das ist gut

Posted on February 23, 2020 by Robert

Toronto. Ahhh, “the Nettar – that is good”, as they say in Europe. Your collection should have at least one German folder. The Nettar, as it was known, was also called the BOB in Germany. It was a less expensive … Continue reading →

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fold it up and tuck it in your pocket

Posted on October 29, 2019 by Robert

Toronto. I often think “Kodak” when I see a folder (a pocket-sized camera that unfolds a bellows to keep film and lens separated the correct distance) since I was used to my Dad’s Kodak Brownie Six-20 folder which he used … Continue reading →

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high five

Posted on November 9, 2018 by Robert

Toronto. Before the fall of Germany at the end of WW2, Dresden was a major camera manufacturing centre. Ernemann built its famous Pentacon tower building and upon the founding of Zeiss-Ikon, it became the central manufacturing works of Zeiss-Ikon.  Sadly, … Continue reading →

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