Photographica Pages

An online guide to collectable cameras and related stuff

Zeiss Ikon Ikoflex III

The Ikoflex III (853/16) was a major advance in TLR design. It featured a 80/2.8 Tessar in Compur Rapid, more than a decade before Rollei launched the Rolleiflex 2.8A. The crank advance simultaneously cocked the shutter. The viewing hood contained a large Albada finder for action shots. The aperture and shutter speed displays were on the top of the lensboard so they could be viewed while the camera was still pointed at the subject.

Introduced in 1939, it was discontinued the following year. Unfortunately, when the Ikoflex line was revived after the war, the model III was not carried over.