From a “Photography” magazine of 1953

 

SUPER IKONTA, 16-ON

1934. Model 530 first made its appearance with 1/3.5 Tessar and Compur 00 shutter (without D.A.) speeded from one second to 1/300. This was the smallest and neatest of the Super Ikonta series, and still is by virtue of its negative size. The coupled range-finder was a unique design, particularly well suited to this type of camera, and has been retained right down to the present day models. This 1934 model cost £16 12s. 6d. The viewfinder was the eye-level direct vision optical type. The 1935 price rose to £17 10s. and the camera was also offered with Compur Rapid at £18 12s. 6d.

1937. Enter Model 531, with body release, Albada viewfinder and double-exposure prevention device, with 1/3.5 Tessar in Compur Rapid, costing £22 10s. (Model 530 was still listed with the same lens and Compur shutter, but then at £19 5s.). The Albada view-finder is automatically opened with the camera Called Super Ikonta II.

1938. Price of the 531 was the same, with same shutter and lens. The Compur Rapid, incidentally, was speeded to 1/500 sec. and did not have D.A. Model 530 no longer listed.

1939. 531, with 3 in. 1/3.5 Novar, Compur, cost £16 17s. 6d.: 531 with 3 in. (previously 2¼ in.) 1/3.5 Tessar, Compur Rapid, cost £22 10s. Post-War. The 531 was fitted with the 1/3.5 Xenar, coated, until the return of the Tessar in 1950. The flash­ synchronised Compur Rapid now ap­peared.

1951. Now indeed an expensive 531! Listed at £79 19s. 0d. with 1/3.5 Tessar and synchronised Compur Rapid. The June 1951, list shows the addition of the Synchro-Compur’ shutter (X-M).

 

        SUPER IKONTA, 8-ON 120 (AND 16-ON)

1934. First appearance. The second largest of the family, providing also for the smallest size negative by fitting the 16-on mask. Mechanical specification similar to the 530, reference 530/2. Fitted with 1/4.5 . Tessar and delayed action Compur, price £17.

1935. Intended to appeal to every pocket by being made available with 1/4.5 Triotar and D.A. Klio shutter at £14 7s. 6d.; with f/4.5 Tessar and D.A. Compur £17 17s. 6d.; or with Compur Rapid D.A. £19. In July came the model with 1/3.8 Tessar and D.A. Compur Rapid £22 10s.

1936. The Compur model (£17 17s. 6d.) was dropped. In June came a new model, the 531/2, with 1/3.8 Tessar, Compur Rapid D.A., body release, double-exposure prevention device and Albada finder, chrome trim, price £27.

1937. 530/2 reduced to two models only: the f/4.5 and 1/3.8 Tessars. The 531/2 reduced in price to £26 0s.

1936. 530/2: two models the same as previous year. 531/2 1/4.5 Tessar with D.A. Compur to 1/250, £21 1/3.5 Tessar and DA. Compur Rapid to 1/400 at £26 10s.

1939. Now only the 531/2, with a cheaper model added to make a range of three. This one had an f/3.5 Novar with D.A. Compur, and no mask so that only 3¼ in. x 2¼ in. pictures were possible. Price £18 2s. 6d.

1950. The coated f/3.5 Tessar is fitted and the shutter is the synchron­ised Compur Rapid.

1951. The 531/2 costs £88 10s. 9d.

1952. The shutter is changed to the Synchro-Compur (X-M).

 

SUPER IKONTA, 8-ON 616 (AND 16-ON)

1934. Started life with the two other models, but this one was destined to be short-lived, lasting only five years. However, at the beginning the 530/15 had a 1/4.5 Tessar in D.A. Compur, and cost £18 10s.

1935. Additional model with D.A. Compur Rapid, and yet another with 1/4.5 Triotar and D.A. Klio shutter at £16 5s

1937. Now only one model :—f/4.5 Tessar, D.A. Compur Rapid to 1/400 at £21 10s. (never had double-exposure prevention device nor certain other minor modifications as compared with other sizes).

1939. Listed for the last time with the same specifications and price as above.

 

SUPER IKONTA, 12-ON

Perhaps the most famous of all the Super Ikontas, and with the most re­finements.

1935. The fourth and last model to enter the field. Ready in July of that year, it featured a similar rangefinder mechanism as other models, 12 2¼ in. square negatives, accessory shoe, direct vision optical viewfinder, exposure counter, body release, 1/3.5 Tessar (£25 10s.) or 1/2.8 Tessar (£28 5s.) both with D.A. Compur Rapid. Known as 530/16.

1937. Small increase in prices of the 530/16’s. A new model, the 532/16, now introduced (for Il-on). Featured combined rangefinder/viewfinder window at rear and an automatic stop for the film transport. Only fitted with 1/2.8 Tessar and Compur Rapid D.A., £30 7s. 6d.

1936. The 532/16 is the only 2¼ in. square model now listed.

1939. 532/16 as before. But yet another model appears—the 533 / 16— reverting to 12-on and having a built-in photo-electric exposure meter, 1/2.8 Tessar, Compur Rapid D.A. at £43 10s.

1949. 533/16 produced again, but with a different meter.

1950. Coated lenses and flash syn­chronised Compur Rapid. 532/16 known as Super Ikonta I 533/16 as Super Ikonta II.

1951. Prices: 532/16, 1/2.8 Tessar, £113 10s. 2d.; 533/16. 1/2.8 Tessar, £135 10s. 6d. Then the Synchro-Com­pur (X-M) shutter was introduced.

 

(None of these new cameras can be imported freely under the present regu­lations.)