Ica Ideal

Ica Ideal Nr. 205

scanned by Uwe Kulick  (Image rights)

Nr. 225 image by Brian Eager (Image rights)

scanned by Brian Eager  (Image rights)

The Ica Ideal was a folding bed 9×12cm plate camera by Ica, originally launched in 1908 as Hüttig's Ideal. When opened the front standard had to be pulled along the rails of the folding bed until it snapped in at the position for infinity focusing. Other distances could be set through releasing the standard from its infinity position by pressing the distance scale inwards and turning the knurl for moving the standard forward. The specialty of this camera was its option to change the right angle position of the folding bed to a smaller or larger alternate angle. That feature meant ability of image plane tilt movement for architecture image improvement. Of course this feature needed ground glass focusing. The camera also had a brilliant finder with spirit level for snapshot photography with folding bed in right angle.

The camera was equipped with an Ica auto shutter X, an Ica auto shutter XI, or a Compur shutter. A Dominar Anastigmat or a Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 1:4.5 13.5 cm or 15 cm was delivered with the Compur shutter. The whole lens/shutter unit could be replaced easily by another.

image by Tony Kemplen (Image rights)

image by Brian Eager (Image rights)

image by Brian Eager (Image rights)

Links

• Ica Ideal No. 225 at Ken Lyndrup's Collection of photo-curiosa
• Ideal camera instructions for No. 225, 325, 385 and their shutters - English found at OrphanCameras.com