Icarette
Ica Icarette II (500) and Zeiss Ikon Icarette 551/2 image by Danipuntocom (Image rights) |
The Icarette series of cameras were made by ICA from 1912 and are non-self-erecting folding bed cameras for roll film. Additionally some featured removable backs for plateholders. After the incorporation of ICA into Zeiss Ikon the camera series was continued under the Zeiss Ikon name but keeping the former ICA product codes. In 1930 the cameras were given new Zeiss Ikon product numbers. They were discontinued around 1934.
Contents
Icarette I series (6×6)
Icarette I with Novar Anastigmat 1:6.8 F=7,5cm image by Mark O'Brien (Image rights) |
Icarette I (495)
- Ica Icarette I (495) (1912-1925)
- Zeiss Ikon Icarette 493 (1928-1929)
- Zeiss Ikon Icarette 509/16 (1930-c.1934)
- Icarette A (US catalogs)
The first Icarette was introduced in 1912 as a horizontal folding camera. It has a back with a pull-out tab. In one tab position the red window is uncovered for checking film advance, in another position the tab served as visor of the wire finder. The back is easily removable by pressing two little buttons at once. When closing the door the brilliant finder collapses automatically to fit in the closed body. The camera has a sturdy metal construction, covered with fine grained leather.
- Film: 120 roll film (some early versions for 117 roll film)
- Frame size: 6×6 cm
- Viewfinders: Collapsible brilliant finder and some versions with Iconometer (wire finder)
- Focusing: Lever
- Rising front: No
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Icarette I (496)
- Ica Icarette I (496) (c.1920-1925)
- Zeiss Ikon Icarette 496/1 (1928-1929)
- Zeiss Ikon Icarette 512/16 (1930-c.1934)
- Icarette B (US catalogs)
Same camera as above but with a removable back that enables the use of 4.5×6 cm plates as well as roll film. It was introduced around 1920-1921.
- Film: 120 roll film (some early versions for 117 roll film) and 4.5×6 cm plates
- Frame size: 6×6 and 4.5×6 cm
- Viewfinders: Iconometer (wire finder), collapsible brilliant finder and removable ground glass screen
- Focusing: Lever
- Rising front: Yes
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Icarette II series (6×9)
An early Ica Icarette II (500) image by Danipuntocom (Image rights) |
Icarette II (500)
- Ica Icarette II (500 or 500/1) (1914-1925)
- Zeiss Ikon Icarette 500/1 (1927-1929)
- Zeiss Ikon Icarette 500/2 (1930-c.1934)
- Icarette C (US catalogs)
Vertical folding camera introduced in 1914. Early versions don't have rising front and some neither Iconometer finder.
- Film: 120 roll film
- Frame size: 6×9 cm
- Viewfinders: Collapsible brilliant finder and some versions with Iconometer (wire finder)
- Focusing: Lever
- Rising front: Yes (some versions)
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Icarette II (500/2)
- Ica Icarette II (500/2) (1925)
- Zeiss Ikon Icarette 500/2 (1927-1929)
- Zeiss Ikon Icarette 551/2 (1930-c.1934)
- Icarette L (US catalogs)
The top-of-the-range Icarette was introduced in 1925 and was designed to take either 120 film or 6.5×9 cm plates. The camera has a removable ground glass screen for use with 6.5×9 cm plateholders, or a back with an orange window and pressure plate for 6×9 cm exposures on 120 film. The camera also features rising front movement, double extension bellows and rack and pinion focusing.
- Film: 120 roll film and 6.5×9 cm plates
- Frame size: 6×9 and 6.5×9 cm
- Viewfinders: Iconometer (wire finder), collapsible brilliant finder and removable ground glass screen
- Focusing: Rack and pinion
- Rising front: Yes
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Ica Icarette II (500/2) images by Nicholas Middleton (Image rights) |
Icarette IIA (498/1)
- Ica Icarette IIA (498/1) (c.1925)
- Zeiss Ikon Icarette 498/1 (1927-1929)
- Zeiss Ikon Icarette 509/2 (1930-c.1934)
- Junior Icarette C (US catalogs)
Initially introduced around 1925 as a less expensive Icarette II version with a simpler construction, it was sold later also with higher quality lenses and shutters.
- Film: 120 roll film
- Frame size: 6×9 cm
- Viewfinders: Collapsible brilliant finder and some versions with Iconometer (wire finder)
- Focusing: Fixed scale
- Rising front: No
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Icarette III series (6.5×11)
Icarette III (501)
- Ica Icarette III (501) (c.1920-1925)
- Zeiss Ikon Icarette 501/1 (1927-1929)
- Zeiss Ikon Icarette 500/15 (1930-c.1934)
- Icarette D (US catalogs)
Vertical folding camera introduced around 1920-1921, same as the Icarette II series but for the larger 116 roll film.
- Film: 116 roll film
- Frame size: 6.5×11 cm
- Viewfinders: Iconometer (wire finder) and collapsible brilliant finder
- Focusing: Lever device
- Rising front: Yes
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Icarette III (502)
- Ica Icarette III (502) (c.1920-1925)
- Zeiss Ikon Icarette 502/1 (1927-1929)
- Zeiss Ikon Icarette 512/15 (1930-c.1934)
- Icarette DA (US catalogs)
Same as above but it also takes 6×9 plates. Introduced around 1920-1921.
- Film: 116 roll film and 6×9 cm plates
- Frame size: 6.5×11 and 6×9 cm
- Viewfinders: Iconometer (wire finder), collapsible brilliant finder and removable ground glass screen
- Focusing: Lever device
- Rising front: Yes
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Icarette IIIA (503)
- Ica Icarette IIIA (503) (c.1925)
- Zeiss Ikon Icarette 503/1 (1927-1929)
- Zeiss Ikon Icarette 509/15 (1930-c.1934)
- Junior Icarette D (US catalogs)
Initially introduced around 1925 as a less expensive Icarette III version with a simpler construction, it was sold later also with higher quality lenses and shutters.
- Film: 116 roll film
- Frame size: 6.5×11 cm
- Viewfinders: Collapsible brilliant finder and some versions with Iconometer (wire finder)
- Focusing: Fixed scale
- Rising front: No
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Icarette 0 series (4×6,5)
Ica Icarette 0 (488) from the 1925 Ica catalog image by Danipuntocom (Image rights) |
Icarette 0 (488)
- Ica Icarette 0 (488) (1925)
- Zeiss Ikon Icarette 488 (1927-1929)
- Zeiss Ikon Icarette 500/12 (1930-c.1934)
- V.P. Icarette (US catalogs)
Vertical folding camera introduced in 1925 for Vest Pocket film (127).
- Film: 127 roll film
- Frame size: 4×6.5 cm
- Viewfinders: Iconometer (wire finder) and collapsible brilliant finder
- Focusing: Lever device
- Rising front: No
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Sources
All the research is based on the following Ica and Zeiss Ikon catalogs:
- Ica Haupt-Katalog, 1911, Liste 5 (German)
- Catalogo Generale Ica, 1911, No. 6 (Italian)
- Les Appareils Photographiques Ica, 1912 (French)
- Catalogo Generale Ica, 1913-14 (Italian)
- Catalogue Général Ica, 1913-14, No. 21 (French)
- Ica Photoliste, 1914 (German)
- Ica Cameras 1919, Liste 101 (German), available at From the focal plane to infinity
- Catalogo Generale Ica, 1921 (Italian)
- Ica Cameras 1922, Liste 116C (German), available at From the focal plane to infinity
- Liste des Appareils photographiques et Accessoires Ica, 1924-25, No. 129 (French)
- Catalogo degli Apparecchi Ica, 1924-25, No. 155 (Italian)
- Ica Cameras, 1925, Liste 125C (German), available at From the focal plane to infinity
- Ica Cameras, 1925 (English), available at Orphan Cameras
- Ica Cameras Auszugsliste, 1925 (German), available at Camera Eccentric
- Ica-Zeiss Ikon Cameras Auszugsliste, 1927, Liste 161Bb (German)
- Zeiss Ikon Cameras, 1927-28, Catalogue C252 (English), available at Holoceen
- Zeiss Ikon Camera-Auszugliste, 1928, C292b (German), available at Holoceen
- Appareils photographiques Zeiss Ikon, 1928, C292 (French), available at collection-appareils.fr
- Zeiss Ikon Cameras, 1928, C328 (English), available at Orphan Cameras
- Zeiss Ikon Camera Auszugsliste, 1929, C292c (German), available at Holoceen
- Appareils Photographiques et Accessoires Zeiss Ikon, 1930, C352 (French), available at collection-appareils.fr
- Zeiss Ikon Cameras und Zubehör, 1931, C473 (German), available at Holoceen and Orphan Cameras
- Appareils Photographiques et Accessoires Zeiss Ikon, 1931, C434B (French), available at collection-appareils.fr
- Foto-Raadgever aangeboden door Zeiss Ikon, 1931, C473 (Dutch), available at Holoceen
- Zeiss Ikon Cameras, 1932, C432 (English), available at Orphan Cameras
- Zeiss Ikon Camera-Auszugliste, 1932, C505 (German), available at Holoceen
- ...avec un Zeiss Ikon, 1932 (French), available at collection-appareils.fr
- Zeiss Ikon Cameras, 1934, C505g (German), available at Holoceen
Links
In English:
- Ica Icarette L, at Photo-Analogue, by Nicholas Middleton
- Zeiss Ikon Icarette, at John Margetts' old camera blog
- Ica AG - founded 100 years ago, at The homepage of Klaus-Eckard Riess
- Zeiss Ikon Icarette 551/2, at The Living Image
- Ica catalogs and product list, at From the focal plane to infinity, by Daniel Jiménez
- Images of the horizontal version Icarette I, at David Richert's
In German:
- Zeiss Ikon - Kameras der Vorgängerfirmen Ernemann, Contessa-Nettel, Ica und Goerz, at The homepage of Klaus-Eckard Riess
In French:
- Pages at collection-appareils.fr by Sylvain Halgand:
In Spanish:
- ICA Icarette (No. 495), at Cámaras sin fronteras by Daniel Sánchez
- Ica Icarette II, at Cámaras sin fronteras by Daniel Sánchez
- Restauración de la Ica Icarette II, at Cámaras sin fronteras by Daniel Sánchez
Instruction manuals:
- Zeiss Ikon Icarette 551/2, at Michel Butkus' Orphan Cameras