Ideal

Model of 1926

Zeiss-Ikon A. G.

Dresden

Germany

Lens:

f4.5, 15 cm, Tessar, iris diaphragm. Bayonet mounted lens/shutter. Serial no. 852252 (1928).

Shutter:

Rim-set Compur, speeded 1 - 1/200, B, T. Serial no. 200127.

Construction:

Leather covered body, leather bellows.

Format:

9 x 12 cm plates held in single metal slides.

Focusing:

Bellows, to c.6 m, scale to 2 metre, rack and pinion movement. Double extension. Infinity catch.

Attributes:

Brilliant view-finder, frame view-finder. Spirit level. Clip-on dark-slides. Drop-bed.

Movements:

Rise and cross front. Tilting back via drop-bed.

Serial Number:

N89307 (c.1928) .

Notes:

ZI model no. 250/7.

With:

3 single metal slides in pouch. The slides are marked Ica. The pouch has both Ica and Zeiss markings.
Carl Zeiss Distar 3/IV, case, instructions. Serial no. 146463.; Carl Zeiss Distar 2/IV, case, instructions. Serial no. 147482.; Carl Zeiss Proxar x2, case. Serial no. 170287.
Cable release by AGC.; Zeiss-Ikon delayed action device. In aluminium case with ZI logo. Instructions.
Lens cap stamped Carl Zeiss Jena.; Case.
Diaphot exposure meter. Version with 'Ica' star. Black case.

The Ideal was Zeiss-Ikon's top model in the amateur 'Hand and Stand' range. Its origins were with Ica and before that Hüttig. The Ideal was made in sizes of 6.5 x 9 cm, 9 x 12 cm, 10 x 15 cm, 13 x 18 cm, 6 x 13 cm stereo and 9 x 18 cm stereo. Under the Zeiss name lenses were usually f4.5 Tessar, f6.3 Tessar or f6.3 Double Protar. The shutter was a Rim or Dial-set Compur or Compur Rapid.

References & Notes:

BJA 1925, p. 705.; BJA 1927, p. 705.; BJA 1928, p. 679.; BJA 1929, p. 678.; BJA 1930, p. 659.; BJA 1931, p. 578.; ZI Cat. 1936, p. 64.

Further Information:

Tubbs, ZI Cameras, p.31.

Illustrations:

Prague Cat. 114 - 124.

Early Photography