Zeiss Ikon

Zeiss Ikon is a German company that was formed in 1926 by the merger of four camera makers, and indeed the word Ikon came from Ica and Contessa-Nettel, two of the constituents in the merger. The other two companies were Ernemann and Goerz. The company was a part of the Carl Zeiss Foundation, another part being the optical company Carl Zeiss. Logically, most of the Zeiss Ikon cameras were equipped with Carl Zeiss lenses. After World War II, Zeiss Ikon was reformed in West Germany, and trademark disputes followed with the part that was left in East Germany. Zeiss Ikon ceased the production of cameras in 1972. It was a terrible shock for all the German camera industry.

Today Carl Zeiss is reviving the Zeiss Ikon name. The new Zeiss Ikon camera, introduced at the 2004 Photokina show, is a rangefinder camera compatible with Leica M-mount, developed in Germany and built by Cosina in Japan (with lenses made in both Japan and Germany, like those for the Contax G1 and G2).

Folding Plate

• Maximar

Folders

• Nettar II
• Ikonta
• Super Ikonta A
• Super Ikonta B
• Super Ikonta C
• Super Ikonta III
• Super Ikonta IV
• Contessa 35

TLR

• Contaflex
• Ikoflex Ic
• Ikoflex II
• Ikoflex IIa
• Ikoflex III
• Ikoflex Favorit

SLR

• Contaflex I
• Contaflex II
• Contaflex III
• Contaflex IV
• Contaflex Alpha
• Contaflex Beta
• Contaflex Prima
• Contaflex Rapid
• Contaflex Super
• Contaflex Super B
• Contaflex Super BC
• Contaflex S
• Contarex Bullseye (Cyclops)
• Contarex Professional
• Contarex Super

Interchangeable Lens Rangefinders

Dresden

• Contax I
• Contax II / III
• Nettax
• Tenax II

Stuttgart

• Contax IIa / IIIa

Fixed Lens Rangefinders

• Contessa
• Contina

Zeiss Ikon / Cosina

• Zeiss Ikon Rangefinder