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, speeds 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 0.6 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) .

With:

3 single metal slides in pouch. The slides are marked Ica. Two quarter-plate reducers. 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.

Code Names:

250/7.

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